[Three-dimensional radiologic device as a new diagnostic aid in angiocardiography]

Angiography with 180 degrees arc was performed using a rapidly rotating stereoradiographic device and a single injection of contrast medium. Duration of rotation of the X-ray tube through 180 degrees was 2.25 sec. The angiograms displayed in a rotating manner were three-dimensional with depth information. Every adjacent angiograms were obtained by the rapidly rotating X-ray tube at slightly different angles and positions, resulting in paired stereo images. The angiograms can be displayed on side-by-side monitors and viewed stereoscopically with a stereoviewer. Rotating images were displayed at 30 frames/sec (60 fields/sec) and were viewed in a fluorographic manner. To apply the data to angiocardiography the following procedures were required: 1) the start of rotation of the X-ray tube was synchronized with the R wave of the EKG, 2) suspension of respiration, and 3) the subject's upper extremities were immobilized at his head. To obtain left atrial angiograms the following steps were taken: 1) the circulation time from the pulmonary artery to the left atrium was estimated by injecting 15 ml contrast medium into the pulmonary artery under the fixed X-ray tube, then, 2) X-ray exposures of 20 fields/sec were obtained during 15 sec, and 3) left atrial arteriograms were taken by using the rotating X-ray tube referring to the circulation time. With this method, stenotic lesions of the coronary arteries and collateral pathways were easily observed simultaneously with morphological changes in a 180 degrees arc.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)