Version 2.1.1.0

Abstract

Grant Number:	1R43HL071470-01A1
PI Name:	BROTHERTON, THOMAS W.
PI Email:	anderson@ischemcorp.com
PI Title:
Project Title:	Automated Plaque Detection and Classification using MRI

Abstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Acute thrombus formation on disrupted/eroded human atherosclerotic lesions plays a critical role on the onset of acute coronary syndromes and progression of atherosclerosis. Pathological evidence has clearly established that it is plaque composition rather than stenotic severity that modulates plaque vulnerability and thrombogenicity. Therefore, the possibility of detecting and characterizing atherosclerotic lesions would have significant clinical implications. Among the different imaging modalities, MRI seems to be the most promising in terms of discrimination and due to its non-invasive nature. We propose to develop an automated MRI image analysis system for detecting, measuring, and classifying atherosclerotic plaques. The proposed project will be conducted by a highly experienced team of experts in signal processing, pattern recognition, statistics, and product development in close collaboration with key cardiovascular researchers, with specific expertise in MRI imaging and atherosclerosis. Automation would establish a fast, objective (observer-independent), and standard diagnostic measure of plaque burden, allowing for comparison of results between laboratories, throughout longitudinal studies, and across different imaging equipment. In a clinical setting, this system would greatly reduce the diagnostic costs involved in measuring the degree of stenosis and detecting thrombosis-prone plaques.

Thesaurus Terms:
atherosclerotic plaque, biomedical automation, cardiovascular disorder diagnosis, diagnosis design /evaluation, image processing, magnetic resonance imaging
artificial intelligence
bioengineering /biomedical engineering, bioimaging /biomedical imaging, human data

Institution:	ISCHEM CORPORATION
	354 GRAVILLA ST
	SAN DIEGO, CA 92037
Fiscal Year:	2003
Department:
Project Start:	01-APR-2003
Project End:	30-NOV-2003
ICD:	NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE
IRG:	ZRG1

---