Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the propagation velocity of a pressure wave comprises a first sensor of cutaneous vibration to measure a vibration generated in a first application point, creating a corresponding first signal, and a second sensor of cutaneous vibrations to measure a local cutaneous vibration generated in second point of an arterial vessel, creating a corresponding second signal caused by the deformation of the vessel responsive to the progression of the pressure wave in the vessel. A control unit detects on the first and second signal respectively a first instant time T1 and a second instant time T2 corresponding to a same event of a cardiac cycle. On the basis of T1 and T2 a transit time PTT (Pulse Transit Time) is calculated of the pressure wave and then the propagation velocity is measured of the pressure wave as the ratio between the length of the path arterial.

Abstract: An apparatus for defining the lumen-intima interface and media-adventitia interface of a blood vessel, for example the carotid artery, comprises a means for acquisition of a two-dimensional representation, generated by an ultrasonographic machine, of a longitudinal or transverse cross section of the vessel. In the two-dimensional representation a region of interest (ROI) is defined comprising the interface lumen-intima and the interface media-adventitia of the vessel. In the ROI N search paths are then defined from the inside to the outside of the vessel. Along each search path i the values f(n, m) are taken of the two-dimensional representation, which are then subject to filtering obtaining filtered values. This allows retrieving discontinuity points of the two-dimensional representation and then localizing the lumen-intima and media-adventitia interfaces through further logical operations.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for defining the lumen-intima interface (11) and media-adventitia interface (12) of a blood vessel (1), for example the carotid artery, includes means (40) for acquisition of a two-dimensional representation (10), for example a B-mode representation generated by an ultrasonographic machine (50), of a cross section of the vessel (1). The cross section of the vessel (1) can be longitudinal, obtained through sonographic linear probe (40) by means of not invasive analysis, or alternatively, a cross sectional view obtained by means of a sonographic intravascular probe. The two-dimensional representation (10) is given by means of a analog or digital video output transmitted to a calculator (60) for being computed by a specific algorithm.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and tracking the contour of an image that uses a class of filters, obtained from the first order absolute central moment. The method provides the steps of filtering a starting image through the absolute central moment e(n,m) of the intensity of a pixel of the image, being n and m the coordinates of each pixel, where the absolute central moment is obtained with the following steps: determining for each n,m the local mean calculated in a neighborhood about a pixel of coordinates n,m of the starting image, thus obtaining a first filtered image; determining for each n,m the sum of the absolute differences between the intensity of a pixel of coordinates n,m of the first filtered image and the intensity of all the pixels contained in a neighborhood about a pixel of coordinates n,m of either the starting image or a second filtered image obtained from the starting image.

Abstract: A method for automatic examination of echographic images of the cardiovascular system, in particular, for computing functionality indexes of a segment of the cardiovascular system. Said method computes a succession of starting images (1), extracts a succession of images (4) synchronized with a cyclical movement (2) of the examined segment and measures cardiovascular functionality indexes (5) in the succession of synchronized images (4). The method, furthermore, describes the process for defining the edges of the examined structure starting from a starting ultrasonographic image in which the geometric features of the cardiovascular structure are known.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and tracking the contour of an image that uses a class of filters, obtained from the first order absolute central moment. The method provides the steps of filtering a starting image through the absolute central moment e(n,m) of the intensity of a pixel of said image, being n and m the coordinates of each pixel, where the absolute central moment is obtained with the following steps: determining for each n,m the local mean calculated in a neighborhood about a pixel of coordinates n,m of the starting image, thus obtaining a first filtered image; determining for each n,m the sum of the absolute differences between the intensity of a pixel of coordinates n,m of the first filtered image and the intensity of all the pixels contained in a neighborhood about a pixel of coordinates n,m of either said starting image or a second filtered image obtained from said starting image.