C.A. Conti

Publications (3)0 Total impact

• Source

  Available from: Emiliano Votta

  Article: Left ventricular modelling: a quantitative functional assessment tool based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

  C A Conti, E Votta, C Corsi, D De Marchi, G Tarroni, M Stevanella, M Lombardi, O Parodi, E G Caiani, A Redaelli
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  ABSTRACT: We present the development and testing of a semi-automated tool to support the diagnosis of left ventricle (LV) dysfunctions from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). CMR short-axis images of the LVs were obtained in 15 patients and processed to detect endocardial and epicardial contours and compute volume, mass and regional wall motion (WM). Results were compared with those obtained from manual tracing by an expert cardiologist. Nearest neighbour tracking and finite-element theory were merged to calculate local myocardial strains and torsion. The method was tested on a virtual phantom, on a healthy LV and on two ischaemic LVs with different severity of the pathology. Automated analysis of CMR data was feasible in 13/15 patients: computed LV volumes and wall mass correlated well with manually extracted data. The detection of regional WM abnormalities showed good sensitivity (77.8%), specificity (85.1%) and accuracy (82%). On the virtual phantom, computed local strains differed by less than 14 per cent from the results of commercial finite-element solver. Strain calculation on the healthy LV showed uniform and synchronized circumferential strains, with peak shortening of about 20 per cent at end systole, progressively higher systolic wall thickening going from base to apex, and a 10° torsion. In the two pathological LVs, synchronicity and homogeneity were partially lost, anomalies being more evident for the more severely injured LV. Moreover, LV torsion was dramatically reduced. Preliminary testing confirmed the validity of our approach, which allowed for the fast analysis of LV function, even though future improvements are possible.
  Interface focus: a theme supplement of Journal of the Royal Society interface 06/2011; 1(3):384-95.
• Source

  Available from: Alberto Redaelli

  Conference Proceeding: Feasibility of a novel approach for 3D mitral valve quantification from magnetic resonance images

  F. Maffessanti, M. Stevanella, E. Votta, M. Lombardi, O. Parodi, D. de Marchi, C.A. Conti, A. Redaelli, E.G. Caiani
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  ABSTRACT: The quantitative evaluation of the morphology of the mitral annulus (MA) could have a great impact in both diagnosis and surgical treatment of mitral valve diseases. In this study we aimed at creating a framework for the 3D reconstruction of the MA from CMR cine images. The developed tool allowed the measurement of several geometric parameters relevant to the MA and the papillary muscles in the 3D space. To test for the repeatability of the measured parameters, CMR datasets obtained from 12 patients with myocardial infarction were acquired, and processed by two operators separately. Results showed high reproducibility in all the measured parameters. The proposed approach could constitute the basis for a reliable assessment of the MA morphology through CMR imaging.
  Computing in Cardiology, 2010; 10/2010
• Source

  Available from: Alberto Redaelli

  Conference Proceeding: Mitral valve modelling in ischemic patients: Finite element analysis from cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

  C.A. Conti, M. Stevanella, F. Maffessanti, S. Trunfio, E. Votta, A. Roghi, O. Parodi, E.G. Caiani, A. Redaelli
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  ABSTRACT: The goal of the present work was to develop a framework for the analysis of time-varying mitral valve (MV) geometry from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, and to integrate these data in a patient-specific simulation of MV closure. CMR imaging of 18 long-axis planes was performed on a healthy subject and on two ischemic patients with MV regurgitation. MV annulus geometry, leaflets surface and papillary muscles position were obtained using custom software. Hyperelastic anisotropic mechanical properties were assigned to the MV tissues, and a pressure load curve was applied to the leaflets. Results concerning healthy MV biomechanics were consistent with previous computational data. Ischemic MV models appear suitable to mimic the pathological malfunctioning of the valve. The proposed models could constitute the basis for the planning of surgical procedures.
  Computing in Cardiology, 2010; 10/2010