Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “AUTOMATION”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

PET-MR image fusion in soft tissue sarcoma: accuracy, reliability and practicality of interactive point-based and automated mutual information techniques.

The fusion of functional positron emission tomography (PET) data with anatomical magnetic resonance (MR) or computed tomography images, using a variety of interactive and automated techniques, is becoming commonplace, with the technique of choice dependent on the specific application. The case of PET-MR image fusion in soft tissue is complicated by a lack of conspicuous anatomical features and deviation from the rigid-body model. Here we compare a point-based external marker technique with an automated mutual information algorithm and discuss the practicality, reliability and accuracy of each when applied to the study of soft tissue sarcoma. Ten subjects with suspected sarcoma in the knee, thigh, groin, flank or back underwent MR and PET scanning after the attachment of nine external fiducial markers. In the assessment of the point-based technique, three error measures were considered: fiducial localisation error (FLE), fiducial registration error (FRE) and target registration error (TRE). FLE, which represents the accuracy with which the fiducial points can be located, is related to the FRE minimised by the registration algorithm. The registration accuracy is best characterised by the TRE, which is the distance between corresponding points in each image space after registration. In the absence of salient features within the target volume, the TRE can be measured at fiducials excluded from the registration process. To assess the mutual information technique, PET data, acquired after physically removing the markers, were reconstructed in a variety of ways and registered with MR. Having applied the transform suggested by the algorithm to the PET scan acquired before the markers were removed, the residual distance between PET and MR marker-pairs could be measured. The manual point-based technique yielded the best results (RMS TRE =8.3 mm, max =22.4 mm, min =1.7 mm), performing better than the automated algorithm (RMS TRE =20.0 mm, max =30.5 mm, min =7.7 mm) when registering filtered back-projection PET images to MR. Image reconstruction with an iterative algorithm or registration of a composite emission-transmission image did not improve the overall accuracy of the registration process. We have demonstrated that, in this application, point-based PET-MR registration using external markers is practical, reliable and accurate to within approximately 5 mm towards the fiducial centroid. The automated algorithm did not perform as reliably or as accurately.

Fluorodeoxyglucose F18↗
PubMed2006

CT angiography in highly calcified arteries: 2D manual vs. modified automated 3D approach to identify coronary stenoses.

BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional axial and manually-oriented reformatted images are traditionally used to analyze coronary data provided by multidetector-row computed tomography angiography (MDCTA). While apparently more accurate in evaluating calcified vessels, 2D methods are time-consuming compared with automated 3D approaches. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a modified automated 3D approach (using manual vessel isolation and different window and level settings) in a population with high calcium scores who underwent coronary half-millimeter 16-detector-row CT angiography (16 x 0.5-MDCTA). METHODS: ECG-gated 16 x 0.5-MDCTA (16 x 0.5 mm cross-sections, 0.35 x 0.35 x 0.35 mm3 isotropic voxels, 400 ms rotation) was performed after injection of iopamidol (120-ml, 300 mg/ml) in 19 consecutive patients (11 male, 62+/-10 years-old). Native arteries were independently evaluated for >or=50%-stenoses using both manual 2D and modified automated 3D approaches. Stents and bypass grafts were excluded. Conventional coronary angiography was visually analyzed by 2 observers. RESULTS: Median Agatston calcium score was 434. Sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values for detection of >or=50% coronary stenoses using the 2D and modified 3D approaches were, respectively: 74%/63%, 76%/80%, 45%/34%, and 91%/93% (p=NS for all comparisons). Overall diagnostic accuracies were 75 and 78%, respectively (p=NS). Uninterpretable vessels were, respectively: 37% (77/209) and 35% (73/209) - p=NS. Time to analyze a single study was 160+/-23 and 53+/-11 min, respectively (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This modified automated 3D approach is equivalent to and significantly less time consuming than the traditional manual 2D method for evaluation of >or=50%-stenoses by 16 x 0.5-MDCTA in native coronary arteries of patients with high calcium scores.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

An automated method for the determination of biogenic amines and their metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed that allows for the determination of a number of compounds related to catechol- and indoleamine metabolism. The compounds that can be measured include L-DOPA, dopamine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanillic acid, 3-methoxytyramine, norepinephrine, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, dihydroxyphenylglycol, vanilmandelic acid, epinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and 5-hydroxytryptophol. Dihydroxybenzylamine is used as an internal standard. Although dihydroxyphenylglycol and vanilmandelic acid could be detected and quantified, they could not be separated from each other. The method is completely automated and is sensitive enough to detect amounts as low as 500 fmol. Up to 200 samples a week can be analyzed in the automated mode. Using this method, analyses of brain tissue can be accomplished with no need for a cleanup procedure. The value of this procedure lies in its ability to simultaneously determine various amines and metabolites from small tissue samples in the same animals and with automation to analyze a relatively large number of samples a day with little attention by a technician.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

An automated alkaline elution system: DNA damage induced by 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane in vivo and in vitro.

An automated alkaline elution system for the detection of DNA damage has been developed. After manual application of samples, which is completed within 5 min, the subsequent supply of liquids, changes in flow rates, and temperature are controlled automatically. The system operates 16 filters and may easily be expanded. The sensitivity of the fluorometric DNA determinations with the Hoechst 33258 dye is increased by using an elution buffer (20 mM Na2EDTA, pH 12.50) with low background fluorescence. DNA is determined using an automated setup similar to the one recently presented by Sterzel et al. (1985, Anal. Biochem. 147, 462-467). The most significant modification is the use of a neutralization buffer which allows variations in the pH of eluted fractions. This change increases the sensitivity of the DNA measurements. The automated alkaline elution system was evaluated using the nematocide 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) in a study of its genotoxic effects in the testes and the kidneys. Significant DNA damage was induced in testicular cells by 2.5 microM DBCP (1 h) in vitro and 85 mumol/kg DBCP ip (3 h) in vivo. The damage appeared after short treatment times (10 min in vivo). Variations in the observed DBCP response in vivo were largely due to interanimal variations. The automated alkaline elution system proved to be a sensitive assay also for the detection of DNA damage in kidney nuclei prepared from rats exposed to DBCP. Provided that kidney nuclei from untreated rats, mice, or hamster were kept ice-cold until lysing, 85-100% of their DNA was retained after 16 h of elution, indicating highly intact DNA. Under the same conditions, guinea pig DNA was rapidly degraded unless the nuclei were prepared in a buffer with a higher concentration of Na2EDTA (20 mM).

Alkalies↗
PubMed1992

Automated analysis of the pyridinium crosslinks of collagen in tissue and urine using solid-phase extraction and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A fully automated method for assaying the collagen crosslinking amino acids, pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline, in human urine samples or tissue hydrolysates is described. Samples were processed using a Gilson ASPEC system with solid-phase extraction of the crosslinks on columns containing 100 mg of microgranular cellulose. Introduction of an additional solvent step during sample preparation allowed direct analysis by reversed-phase HPLC and elimination of the drying step used previously in a manual method. Use of a synthetic pyridinoline derivative as internal standard enabled accurate quantification of the crosslinks by correcting for recoveries through the whole assay. Samples were analyzed in sequential mode with a total assay time of 30 min. The automated assay showed close correlation with the manual method for both free and total crosslink determinations in human urine (r > 0.97). Reproducibility was improved, as seen from replicate analyses of human urine (CV < 3% for automated pyridinoline measurement compared with 8-12% previously observed for the manual method). Crosslink excretion is the most useful marker of collagen degradation in metabolic bone diseases and arthritic disorders. The automated assay which has been developed is rapid, convenient, and reliable and will greatly facilitate the monitoring of urinary collagen crosslinks and their tissue levels in clinical investigations.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1996

Response of kaolin ACT to heparin: evaluation with an automated assay and higher heparin doses.

BACKGROUND: Because previous reports suggest that the linear relationship between celite activated clotting time (ACT) values and heparin sodium is disrupted if values exceed 500 to 600 seconds, this study was designed to evaluate the relationship of kaolin activated clotting time (ACT) values to high in vitro heparin concentrations. In addition, the relationship of kaolin ACT to heparin concentration as determined manually was compared with that obtained with an automated heparin dose response assay. METHODS: Blood specimens were obtained prior to and after heparin administration from 41 cardiac surgical patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass in this institutional human studies committee-approved study. Five ACT instruments were used to evaluate the response of kaolin ACT to manually added heparin at two anticoagulation levels: low range (ACT values of less than 500 seconds) and high range (ACT values of 500 seconds or greater). Specimens were also used to measure kaolin ACT values at three heparin concentrations with an automated heparin dose response assay (HDR) using a Hepcon instrument. RESULTS: A greater response of kaolin ACT to heparin was seen with high-range ACT values than low-range ACT values as illustrated by greater (p = 0.002) mean slope values (low range, 99 +/- 30 s/U/ mL; high range, 128 +/- 50 s/U/ml). Good correlations were obtained between heparin concentration and either low- or high-range ACT values as demonstrated by mean correlation coefficients (low range, 0.992; high range 0.982). The response of low-range kaolin ACT values to heparin was greater than that obtained with the automated heparin dose response assay as illustrated by greater (p = 0.005) mean slope values (low range, 99 +/- 30 s/U/mL; HDR, 82 +/- 21 s/U/mL). Good correlations were observed for the relationship between heparin and ACT values obtained with the HDR assay (r = 0.998). CONCLUSIONS: A variable response of kaolin ACT to heparin among patients was demonstrated in our study, especially when ACT values exceeded 500 seconds. We found that the response of kaolin ACT to higher heparin concentrations was acceptable for clinical monitoring based on good correlations obtained in individual patients. The HDR assay generally overestimates a patient's heparin requirements; most likely, this is due to a lower response of kaolin ACT to heparin concentration that is reflected in this assay. Because and exceptional correlation can be obtained between kaolin ACT values and heparin concentration using the assay, this automated assay can identify heparin-resistant patients who may need further treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Automated image analysis for counting unstained cultured neurones.

A fully automated image analysis technique was developed for counting the number of live or fixed, unstained neurones present in a representative region of a cell culture dish. A dish containing cultured mouse hippocampal neurones was placed on the motorized stage of an inverted microscope, and the neurones were visualized using Hoffman modulation contrast optics. The resulting image was digitized, and processed by subtracting the background illumination, low pass filtering, thresholding, then deleting objects whose areas fell outside a specified range. Two threshold levels were used, each with its own area range, and the two resulting binary images were combined. The number of objects in the combined image was counted. The number of cells in each field was also counted manually, and the processing was repeated on a series of 100 fields covering a representative region of the dish. The automated counts were highly correlated with the manual counts for each of the 12 culture dishes examined in this study. The correlation coefficient was calculated for the manual and automated counts from each dish, and the values ranged from 0.91 to 0.97. Six of the dishes were treated with the envelope protein of the human immunodeficiency virus (gp120), which reduces survival of neurons in this system. The six treated dishes were found to have significantly fewer neurones than the six control dishes, using either manual or automated counting techniques.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of automated information systems in health care: an approach to classifying evaluative studies.

In this paper we discuss an approach to classifying evaluative studies of automated information systems in health care. Selected literature (76 studies) is classified according to the type of automated information system (based on relationship to the care process), the study design used, the data collection methods used, the effect(s) measured and the type of evaluation (e.g. cost-benefit analysis). First results show that certain types of automated information systems have not been evaluated much, going by the number of studies selected. Furthermore, it is observed that certain study designs (time-series design), data collection methods (modelling and simulation) and effect measures (job satisfaction) are hardly to be found in the literature. Only 10 of 76 selected studies used a type of evaluation for which both consequences and costs are considered. Detailed investigation of the literature may provide information for the development of a general framework for the evaluation of different types of automated information systems.

Classification↗
PubMed1989

Comparison of automated and manual shielding block fabrication.

This work reports the results of a study comparing computer controlled and manual shielding block cutting. The general problems inherent in automated block cutting have been identified and minimized. A system whose accuracy is sufficient for clinical applications has been developed. The relative accuracy of our automated system versus experienced technician controlled cutting was investigated. In general, it is found that automated cutting is somewhat faster and more accurate than manual cutting for very large fields, but that the reverse is true for most smaller fields. The relative cost effectiveness of automated cutting is dependent on the percentage of computer designed blocks which are generated in the clinical setting. At the present time, the traditional manual method is still favored.

Humans↗
PubMed1995

Chromatography in DNA radiolabeling: hands-off automation using a robotic workstation.

The experiments described in the present paper were performed in order to determine whether the Biomek-1000 (Beckman Instruments, Fullerton, CA, USA) automated laboratory workstation can be used in a fully automated DNA labeling method followed by automated gravity-driven size exclusion purification of molecular probes. To this aim, we performed random oligodeoxyribonucleotide priming of a HIV-1 LTR probe that was used for molecular hybridization to Southern blotted polymerase chain reaction products. The results obtained demonstrate that the automatically labeled probe can be efficiently purified by automated and gravity-driven Sephadex G-50 chromatography, without any major changes in hybridization property. This robotic methodology can be used in several procedures employing radioisotope labeling.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Blood parasites: problems in diagnosis using automated differential instrumentation.

To examine potential problems inherent in using automated differential instruments, we have reviewed herein two cases where blood parasites, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum, were completely missed by use of this method. Diagnosis of these infections was made when blood was sent to the parasitology laboratory after having been missed prior to that time. The first problem involved the laboratory request slip; no indication was made concerning possible suspect organisms. Therefore, peripheral blood examinations were performed using automated equipment. The number of fields scanned by a technologist on these smears is quite low; thus failure to pick up a light parasitemia is almost guaranteed. In both cases, after diagnosis had been made on smears submitted to the parasitology division, all previous smears examined by the automated system were reviewed and found to be positive for parasites. Failure to make the diagnosis resulted in delayed therapy. Although these instruments are not designed to detect intracellular blood parasites, the inability of the automated systems to discriminate between uninfected red blood cells and those infected with parasites may pose serious diagnostic problems.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Automated flow rate calculations based on digital analysis of flow convergence proximal to regurgitant orifices.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to develop and validate an automated method for calculating regurgitant flow rate using color Doppler echocardiography. BACKGROUND: The proximal flow convergence method is a promising approach to quantitate valvular regurgitation noninvasively because it allows one to calculate regurgitant flow rate and regurgitant orifice area; however, defining the location of the regurgitant orifice is often difficult and can lead to significant error in the calculated flow rates. To overcome this problem we developed an automated algorithm to locate the orifice and calculate flow rate based on the digital Doppler velocity map. METHODS: This algorithm compares the observed velocities with the anticipated relative velocities, cos psi/2 pi r2. The orifice is localized as the point with maximal correlation between predicted and observed velocity, whereas flow rate is specified as the slope of the regression line. We validated this algorithm in an in vitro model for flow through circular orifices with planar surroundings and a porcine bioprosthesis. RESULTS: For flow through circular orifices, flow rates calculated on individual Doppler maps and on an average of eight velocity maps showed excellent agreement with true flow, with r = 0.977 and delta Q = -3.7 +/- 15.8 cm3/s and r = 0.991 and delta Q = -4.3 +/- 8.5 cm3/s, respectively. Calculated flow rates through the bioprosthesis correlated well but underestimated true flow, with r = 0.97, delta Q = -10.9 +/- 12.5 cm3/s, suggesting flow convergence over an angle > 2 pi. This systematic underestimation was corrected by assuming an effective convergence angle of 212 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: This algorithm accurately locates the regurgitant orifice and calculates regurgitant flow rate for circular orifices with planar surroundings. Automated analysis of the proximal flow field is also applicable to more physiologic surfaces surrounding the regurgitant orifice; however, the convergence angle should be adjusted. This automated algorithm should make quantification of regurgitant flow rate and regurgitant orifice area more reproducible and readily available in clinical cardiology practice.

Algorithms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Are automated anesthesia records better?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether data recorded by an information management system is significantly different from that recorded manually. DESIGN: A comparison was made between 13 handwritten and 13 computer-generated anesthesia records by calculating the frequency with which recorded variables were outside predetermined acceptable ranges. Five physiologic variables [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO2), and oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO2)] were compared during the initial 1 1/2 hours of operation. SETTING: Surgical suite at a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Thirteen adult patients scheduled for operations that required general anesthesia for longer than 1 1/2 hours. INTERVENTION: In addition to the traditional handwritten anesthesia records, an information management system (ARKIVE Patient Management System, DIATEK, San Diego, CA) was used to collect data from each case. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the methods in the frequency of elevated SBP, elevated DBP, and tachycardia. However, the manual records showed low SBP, DBP, and HR with a significantly lower frequency (2%, 11%, 1%, respectively) than the automated records (6%, 26%, 5%, respectively; p < 0.01). The automated PETCO2 readings were higher than the upper limit (40 mmHg) with a higher frequency (18%) than the manual records (3%; p < 0.01). On the automated records, SpO2 was noted to be 90% or less on two occasions, but significant desaturation was noted only once on the manual charts. CONCLUSIONS: Observer bias, missed readings, and errors of memory, which affect manual anesthetic records, may cause significant inaccuracy and may be avoided by using automated records generated by information management systems.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1995

Eradication of contaminating Mycobacterium chelonae from bronchofibrescopes and an automated bronchoscope disinfection machine.

The results of a follow-up study concerning the decontamination of Mycobacterium chelonae subspecies abscessus from the bronchofibrescopes and the automated bronchoscope disinfection machine are described in this paper. After modification of the methods for disinfecting the bronchofibrescopes (adding a disinfection procedure with 70% alcohol before using the automated bronchoscope disinfection machine, increasing glutaraldehyde concentration to 3%, and changing the glutaraldehyde solution once a week), and the automated bronchoscope disinfection machine (recirculating used disinfectant), M. chelonae has not been detected from either the bronchofibrescopes or the automated bronchoscope disinfection machine (examined every 6 months for 4 yr by microscopy and cultures). Moreover, no M. chelonae has been clinically detected from bronchial washings for 4 yr.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid↗
PubMed1994

Automated measurement of the cyclic activity of respiratory muscles.

A microcomputer-based system developed for the automated analysis of the electromyogram (EMG) recorded from respiratory muscles in a variety of situations is described. In addition, an assessment of the performance of the system is presented, along with data relating intercostal EMG activity to ribcage movement in seated subjects. Studies were performed on sixteen normal subjects--non smokers, mean (+/- SD) age 31 (+/- 6) years, mean (+/- SD) mass 78 (+/- 8) kg--of which fifteen studies proved suitable for analysis. Each study lasted for a period of five minutes, during which time recordings of intercostal EMG, ribcage postero-anterior displacement (RCPA) and airflow were made. For every breath taken by each of the subjects, the peak integrated EMG activity (iEMGpeak) was measured both by hand and by the automated system. The automated and manual measurements of iEMGpeak, which ranged from 0.0 to 91.3 microV, differed by only -0.82 +/- 3.34 microV (mean +/- SD). The index iEMGpeak and two additional indices of iEMG activity (iEMGmean, iEMGarea) were evaluated with respect to RCPA, a measure of overall respiratory activity. The indices of iEMG were observed to show an exponential dependence on RCPAamp, the amplitude of ribcage motion. Following a log transformation to linearise the relationship, the correlation of each index with RCPAamp was evaluated; iEMGpeak and iEMGarea correlated similarly with RCPAamp (no significant difference at 5% level), but iEMGmean was found to be a significantly different (p < 0.001) and poorer correlate. We conclude that the automated analysis of respiratory iEMG as described in this paper can provide results showing consistency with manual measurement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of automated lung nodule detection on low-dose computed tomography scans from a lung cancer screening program(1).

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a fully automated lung nodule detection method in a large database of low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans from a lung cancer screening program. Because nodules demonstrate a spectrum of radiologic appearances, the performance of the automated method was evaluated on the basis of nodule malignancy status, size, subtlety, and radiographic opacity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database of 393 thick-section (10 mm) low-dose CT scans was collected. Automated lung nodule detection proceeds in two phases: gray-level thresholding for the initial identification of nodule candidates, followed by the application of a rule-based classifier and linear discriminant analysis to distinguish between candidates that correspond to actual lung nodules and candidates that correspond to non-nodules. Free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the performance of the method based on a jackknife training/testing approach. RESULTS: An overall nodule detection sensitivity of 70% (330 of 470) was attained with an average of 1.6 false-positive detections per section. At the same false-positive rate, 83% (57 of 69) of the malignant lung nodules in the database were detected. When the method was trained specifically for malignant nodules, a sensitivity of 80% (55 of 69) was attained with 0.85 false-positives per section. CONCLUSION: We have evaluated an automated lung nodule detection method with a large number of low-dose CT scans from a lung cancer screening program. An overall sensitivity of 80% for malignant nodules was achieved with 0.85 false-positive detections per section. Such a computerized lung nodule detection method is expected to become an important part of CT-based lung cancer screening programs.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Computer-aided diagnosis via model-based shape analysis: automated classification of wall motion abnormalities in echocardiograms.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVE: Shape analysis of endocardial contour sequences from echocardiograms can provide classification of wall motion abnormalities (WMA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We previously reported on active appearance motion models (AAMM) for automated detection of endocardial contours in sequences of echocardiograms. The shape analysis of AAMM renders eigenvariations of shape/motion, including typical normal and pathologic endocardial contraction patterns. A set of stress echocardiograms (single-beat four-chamber and two-chamber sequences with expert-verified endocardial contours) of 129 infarct patients was split randomly into training (n = 65) and testing (n = 64) sets. AAMMs were generated from the training set and AAMM shape coefficients (ASCs) were extracted for all sequences and statistically related to regional/global visual wall motion scoring (VWMS) and volumetric parameters. RESULTS: Linear regression showed clear correlations between ASCs and VWMS. Discriminant analysis showed good prediction by ASCs of both segmental (74% correctness) and global WMA (90% correctness). Volumetric parameters correlated poorly to regional VWMS. CONCLUSION: 1) ASCs show promising accuracy for automated WMA classification. 2) VWMS and endocardial border motion are closely related; with accurate automated border detection, automated WMA classification should be feasible. 3) ASC shape analysis allows contour set evaluation by direct comparison to clinical parameters.

Cardiac Volume↗
PubMed2006

Automated technique for angiographic determination of coronary blood flow and lumen volume.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Visual interpretation of angiographic images has been shown to be inadequate for assessing the severity of intermediate coronary stenoses. An approach for evaluating both the anatomic and functional impact of a stenosis is needed. An automated technique for determining both coronary blood flow and lumen volume based on a first-pass analysis (FPA) of coronary angiograms and a template matching algorithm was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Coronary angiograms of a swine animal model were obtained during power injections of contrast material into the left coronary ostium. Background anatomy was subtracted with an automated phase matching program. A template matching algorithm and first-pass analysis were then used to quantify coronary blood flow and lumen volume. Coronary blood flow and lumen volume measurements were validated with a transit-time ultrasound flow probe and a polymer cast of the coronary arteries, respectively. RESULTS: In 14 independent comparisons, the mean coronary blood flow measured with FPA showed strong correlation with the mean flow measured with the ultrasound flow probe (Q(FPA) = 0.88Q(probe) - 1.99; r = 0.977; standard error of estimate = 3.23 mL/minute). The lumen volumes determined with FPA and cast measurements demonstrated excellent correlation and can be related to each other by V(FPA) = 0.95V(C) - 0.01 (r = 0.997; standard error of estimate = 0.01 mL). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed automated method for accurate determination of coronary blood flow and lumen volume can supplement visual evaluation of coronary anatomy with quantitative physiologic data. This automated technique potentially offers a clinically feasible method of quantifying coronary blood flow and lumen volume in conjunction with routine cardiac catheterization.

Algorithms↗