Unique to the N-VivoTM Calcium Scoring Application are patented techniques used to automatically score calcium in the heart without operator identification of plaques. From within the automatically placed volumetric Search ROI, the software automatically identifies and quantifies calcified plaques rapidly and displays them in a plaque map. Simultaneously, the plaques are highlighted in the axial images and on the sagittal and coronal reformatted images. The operator can identify and locate to any plaque for review or erase instantaneously. The operator identifies the Left Main and bifurcation and the software identifies the plaques to each of the 4 coronary arteries.
Plaque definitions are stored in look-up tables for each calcium score. For example, separate tables are available for the standard Agatston score and our new Mass Score. The software executes the algorithm by automatically identifying plaques that satisfy the specific plaque definition criteria. The scores for each plaque are stored in files identified to the specific coronary artery including each plaque 3-D location. The results provide a Plaque Map with each plaque referenced to a 3-D coordinate system and identified on each of the 4 screen windows. A mouse click quickly locates a plaque to its 3-D location in the volumetric image set. The operator is given the opportunity to modify and position the Search ROI and to erase plaques.
The Agatston score in score units, volume score in mm3 and Mass Score in mg of calcium hydroxyapatite equivalence are calculated and reported.
The operator need not view each image or make subjective judgments on what is a plaque. The precision of the technique is therefore improved as reader variability is largely eliminated. The scoring process is much faster, allowing automated scoring of small voxel images. A 160 slice scan can be scored in just seconds!
THE LEADER IN CALCIUM SCORING AND BMD
IMAGE ANALYSIS, INC.
1380 Burkesville Street
Columbia, Kentucky 42728
(270) 384 - 6400
