Atherosclerotic Plaque Characterization Methods Based on Coronary Imaging

Atherosclerotic Plaque Characterization Methods Based on Coronary Imaging provides a complete review of computer methods for atherosclerotic plaque reconstruction and characterization. The authors, with their expertise from biomedical engineering, computer science, and cardiology, offer a holistic view. The focus of the book is on the presentation of major imaging techniques, including their limitations. It includes details on the mechanical characterization and properties of plaques and appropriate constitutive models to describe the mechanical behavior of plaques.

The authors explore the challenges of using multiple coronary imaging technologies, and provide the pros and cons of invasive vs. non-invasive techniques. Methods for plaque characterization and 3D reconstruction of coronary arteries using IVUS, OCT, and CT images are described.

This book will help readers study new trends in image processing analysis and plaque characterization, implement automated plaque characterization methodologies, understand coronary imaging drawbacks, and comprehend 3 dimensional coronary artery and plaque reconstruction methods.

• Describes the multimodality imaging techniques that are commonly used in the diagnosis of arterial diseases, including intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, angiography, computed tomography angiography, and magnetic resonance angiography
• Discusses in-depth the computational methods which can be used for the detection of different plaque types
• Explores plaque in 3D reconstruction methods and plaque modeling approaches

Lambros S. Athanasiou received his diploma degree from the Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, Greece, in 2009 and the PhD degree from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Greece, in 2015. He is currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Medical Engineering & Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. His research interests include medical image processing, biomedical engineering, decision support and medical expert systems.