Automated septum thickness measurement—A Kalman filter approach

Interventricular septum thickness in end-diastole (IVSd) is one of the key parameters in cardiology. This paper presents a fast algorithm, suitable for pocket-sized ultrasound devices, for measurement of IVSd using 2D B-mode parasternal long axis images.The algorithm is based on a deformable model of the septum and the mitral valve. The model shape is estimated using an extended Kalman filter.A feasibility study using 32 unselected recordings is presented. The recordings originate from a database consisting of subjects from a normal healthy population. Five patients with suspected hypertrophy were included in the study. Reference B-mode measurements were made by two cardiologists.A paired t-test revealed a non-significant mean difference, compared to the B-mode reference, of (mean ± SD) 0.14 ± 1.36 mm (p = 0.532). Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.79 (p < 0.001). The results are comparable to the variability between the two cardiologists, which was found to be 1.29 ± 1.23 mm (p < 0.001). The results indicate that the method has potential as a tool for rapid assessment of IVSd.