Development of computer-aided motion analyzing (CAMA) system for radiopaque implanted tilting disk heart valves

The newly developed semiautomatic data acquisition and processing system allows progress in quantitative evaluation of functions of implanted tilting disk valves. In the new system, data acquisition could be carried out semiautomatically by utilizing image processing methods, and the data analysis time was shortened. The system consists of a computer-controlled cinefilm loading device, a CCD camera, a frame memory, a superimposer, and CRT displays. Since series of the open- and shut-mode frames are commonly observed by turns in normal subjects, data acquisition was carried out manually at the first frame of each mode and semiautomatically from the second frame to the last. By processing the image data with the binarization method, the valve contours were detected, and an open angle and other motion properties can be obtained. Analyzing 90 frames of the cinefilm, this system analyzes data in a time period 20 min shorter than the manual procedure. With the implanted Medtronic Hall valve, a 60 to 65 degrees open angle was calculated.