Estimation of Myocardial Torsion Angle by Tracking Sequential Images of Echocardiography

Heart torsion is one of the biomechanical parameters that are sensitive to changes in both regional and global left ventricular (LV) function. In this study, angle of myocardium’s trajectory in three dimensions (Ф) was estimated by simultaneous use of two dimensional long apical and short axis views of LV septum sequential images. Then correlation of 3D angle and 2D rotation angle from long (χ) and short (θ) axis views respectively was estimated and compared at three levels of base, mid and apex of interventricular septum wall. Sequential two dimensional echocardiography images of long and short axis views with minimum temporal resolution 14 ms of 19 healthy men was recorded and analyzed. Interventricular septum wall motion at three levels of base, mid and apex were estimated using sequential images processing of echocardiography in long and short axis views with block matching algorithm throughout three cardiac cycles. Then correlation of 2D angle of rotation from long (χ) and short (θ) axis views was analyzed with three dimentional angular of myocardium’s trajectory (Ф) at three levels of base, mid and apex of interventricular septum wall. Ф, θ and χ angles at base level 16.33±3.01, 10.61±3.38 and 15.11±3.30 degrees, mid level 22.77±4.95, 7.78±2.96 and 16.72±2.66 degrees and apex level of interventricular septum wall 14.60±5.81, 10.37±5.48 and 8.79±3.32 degrees were extracted respectively. Regard to sensitivity of 3D angle to variation of motion in each of three dimensions, it is suggested for examination of biomechanical behavior myocardium in different pathologic conditions.