Three-dimensional annulus segmentation and hybrid visualisation in echocardiography

Changes in mitral annular shape and dynamics are associated with mitral regurgitation without valvular disease. Therefore, it is interesting to visualise the annulus together with the regurgitant flow patterns. A prerequisite for a clear visualisation is the segmentation of the annulus. We present a specialised method for annular segmentation in rotationally-acquired 3D transesophageal echocardiographic data. For visualisation, a surface model of the annulus is constructed, while we use a volume rendering method for flow patterns, which allows the display in the original colour coding from 2D echocardiography. A hybrid visualisation technique enables a simultaneous display of the surface-rendered annulus together with volume-rendered flow patterns and/or morphology.