Data Processing Steps

Processing a gated study consists of the following steps:

1. Loading of the gated image series. If data at rest and stress are available, they can be loaded in a single operation.
2. Generation of an average myocardium image by averaging a range of gate images as described in Generating Myocardium Image by Averaging section.
3. Transforming the data sets into standard short axis orientation, as described in Standard Reorientation of the Heart. An automatic procedure is available. If it fails, the orientation must be manually adjusted by the user.
4. Definition of the endo- and epicardial outlines in the different gate images. There is an automatic procedure which starts from the average, propagates the outlining result to the individual gates, and the adjusts it individually. If automatic procedure fails, the outlines have to be adjusted manually by the user.
5. Based on the contours, calculation of various parameters of left ventricle function: end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), peak filling rate (PFR), time to peak filling rate (TPFR), filling rate during the first third of the filling time (1/3 filling time) and first third filling fraction (1/3 filling fraction).
6. The results of the gated analysis are summarized by tables and plots, and can be documented in reports.