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Enhancing flow-mediated dilation analysis by optimizing an open-source software with automated edge detection
Kseniya S Masterova1,2, Jiefei Wang3, Courtney Mack2
1Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States.
Summary
This study enhanced open-source software for flow-mediated dilation (FMD) analysis, improving its accuracy and reliability for assessing endothelial function. The modified software offers a more precise and comprehensive tool for vascular health research.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Imaging Analysis
Background:
- Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is a key indicator of endothelial function and vascular health.
- Automated software enhances the speed and accuracy of FMD analysis.
- Open-source software provides a cost-effective and customizable alternative to commercial options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the repeatability and reliability of modified open-source software (FloWave.us) against its original version and manual measurements for FMD analysis.
- To evaluate the software's performance using duplex ultrasound imaging data from the popliteal artery in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Modifications were introduced to the open-source FloWave.us software to improve FMD analysis capabilities, including enhanced edge detection and noise reduction.
- Duplex ultrasound imaging data from the popliteal artery were analyzed using the original software, modified software, and manual measurements.
- Repeatability and reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intraobserver and interobserver variability.
Main Results:
- The modified FloWave.us software demonstrated improved reliability, with higher intraobserver ICCs for baseline diameter, peak diameter, and percent FMD compared to the original software.
- Interobserver ICC for percent FMD was higher for the modified software (0.723) than for manual measurements (0.593).
- The modified method analyzed significantly more video frames (97.7%) compared to the original software (17.9%), indicating more comprehensive analysis.
Conclusions:
- The modified open-source FloWave.us software is a robust and reliable tool for FMD analysis, offering improved precision over the original version.
- Open-source software, particularly when enhanced, presents a viable and effective option for FMD analysis in research settings.
- These improvements enhance the utility of open-source tools for objective vascular health assessments.
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