Special Issue on Vascular Imaging

Alejandro Frangi, Amir Amini, Elizabeth Bullitt
Guest Editors

Current advances in imaging technologies and contrast media are conveying increasingly richer information on functional and anatomical aspects of the vasculature both in healthy and diseased state. Computerized post-processing techniques to extract quantitative information from vascular images as well as to fuse multimodality information of the vessel anatomy and function are thus becoming very popular. Images, for example, can be processed directly to yield information on intravascular pressure and shear stress. There is also a trend to develop image-based modeling and simulation techniques that facilitate virtual exploration of biomechanical indices of function. Such methods can be useful not only to assess the extent of vascular disease but also to help in determining the suitability of a particular intervention or in optimization of the design of medical devices.

We invite submission of papers describing new techniques for vascular imaging as well as for any aspect related to multimodal fusion of vascular information, quantification of vascular morphology and function, image-based modeling and simulation of hemodynamics and vascular mechanics. The special issue will give particular attention to contributions describing methods with a thorough clinical evaluation. Suggested topics include but are not restricted to:

  • Novel vascular image acquisition techniques and contrast media
  • Coronary imaging and image analysis
  • 3-D vessel reconstruction from multiple projections
  • 3-D MRA/CTA/US image analysis and quantification tools
  • Registration of vascular images from different modalities (3-D/3-D, 2-D/3-D, X-ray/IVUS)
  • Tools for planning (endo)vascular interventions and aneurysm repair
  • Novel vessel visualization and display techniques, and navigation tools (e.g. vessel fly-through)
  • Image-based flow measurement techniques from MRI, X-ray, ultrasound, etc.
  • Atherosclerotic plaque imaging and characterization
  • Endothelial function characterization
  • Subject-specific modeling and simulation of hemodynamics, vascular remodeling, thrombo- and atherogenesis

T-MI seeks high quality research papers for this special issue. This special issue will welcome both full-paper and short-communication submissions. Authors should submit their manuscripts electronically through the IEEE Manuscript Central Office
(http://tmi-ieee.manuscriptcentral.com) following the T-MI Instructions and indicating in the Comments to the Editor-in-chief that the manuscript is submitted for the special issue on vascular imaging. Authors intending to submit articles are encouraged to discuss their submissions with the Guest Editors to determine suitability for this special issue.

Guest Editors:

Alejandro Frangi, PhD
Computer Vision Group
Aragon Institute of Engineering Research
Universidad de Zaragoza
Marķa de Luna, 1. D2.03
E-50018 Zaragoza
SPAIN
Phone: +34 976 762158
Fax: +34 976 762111
e-mail: afrangi@unizar.es

Amir Amini, PhD
Cardiovascular Image Analysis Lab
Washington University School of Medicine
Campus Box 8086
660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
USA
Phone: +1 314 454 7408
Fax: +1 314 454 5350
e-mail: amini@cauchy.wustl.edu

Elizabeth Bullitt, MD
148 Burnett-Womack, CB #7060
Division of Neurosurgery
University of North Carolina-CH
Chapel Hill, NC, 27599
USA
Phone: +1 919 966 1374
e-mail: bullitt@med.unc.edu

Schedule:

Submission of manuscripts: 1st May 2004
Acceptance/rejection notification: 1st August 2004
Revised manuscripts due: 1st October 2004
Publication: March 2005