Patient-Specific Modeling of Stented Coronary Arteries Reconstructed from Optical Coherence Tomography: Towards a Widespread Clinical Use of Fluid Dynamics Analyses

J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2018 Apr;11(2):156-172. doi: 10.1007/s12265-017-9777-6. Epub 2017 Dec 27.

Abstract

The recent widespread application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in interventional cardiology has improved patient-specific modeling of stented coronary arteries for the investigation of local hemodynamics. In this review, the workflow for the creation of fluid dynamics models of stented coronary arteries from OCT images is presented. The algorithms for lumen contours and stent strut detection from OCT as well as the reconstruction methods of stented geometries are discussed. Furthermore, the state of the art of studies that investigate the hemodynamics of OCT-based stented coronary artery geometries is reported. Although those studies analyzed few patient-specific cases, the application of the current reconstruction methods of stented geometries to large populations is possible. However, the improvement of these methods and the reduction of the time needed for the entire modeling process are crucial for a widespread clinical use of the OCT-based models and future in silico clinical trials.

Keywords: Computational fluid dynamics; Computer simulations; Coronary artery; Image processing; Image segmentation; In silico clinical trial; Optical coherence tomography; Stent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Artery Disease / physiopathology
  • Coronary Artery Disease / surgery*
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Vessels / physiopathology
  • Coronary Vessels / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
  • Models, Cardiovascular*
  • Patient-Specific Modeling*
  • Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / instrumentation*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Stents*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence*