Computer reconstruction of the cardiac skeleton and its application in locating heart valve planes

Objective: To fully understand the original spatial position and three-dimensional (3D) anatomical morphology of cardiac skeleton (CS), and to quickly locate its position in patient-specific computed tomography angiography (CTA) images. Materials and Methods: First, we segmented and reconstructed 3D models of CS and its attached valves with Amira software, defined valve planes based on Chinese visible human 5 (CVH5), and then computed its geometric transformation matrix and applied them in locating the valve planes in patient-specific CTA images. Results: We reconstructed a 3D CS model based on CVH5 images which keep the original spatial position and its normal anatomical appearance. The 3D structures include aortic valve annulus (AVA), mitral valve annulus, tricuspid valve annulus, pulmonary valve annulus, and its attached valves. With the relative geometric transformation matrix, we quickly located the patient-specific valve planes that are vertical to each valve in CTA images. Conclusions: CVH5 dataset can be used in reconstructing the 3D model of CS, which is difficult for clinical images, such as CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and traditional anatomical method to achieve. Our method of 3D reconstruction presents more anatomical details than clinical images and keeps the original shape and position. We can define each valve plane on the CVH5 model and show its corresponding plane in patient-specific CTA images, which can be observed on each valve plane at the same time based on the consistent reference.