Image averaging for angiography by registration and combination of

Abstract

A method and apparatus for angiography in which information contained within multiple serial images of contrast medium flowing through a blood vessel is combined to form a single image having improved vessel edge delineation. More specifically, a method is disclosed whereby a contrast medium opaque to X-rays is injected into a blood vessel distant from an artery section of interest, preferably injected into a vein, whereby the contrast medium is mixed with blood prior to its passing through the artery section. Multiple X-ray images are obtained as the contrast medium and blood mixture flows through the artery section. These multiple images are registered with respect to each other according to a landmark contained within the patient, the landmark having a predetermined relationship to the vessel of interest. The landmark could be a bone, catheter or any other material opaque to X-rays. Density measurements are made with respect to each corresponding image segment or element of the multiple images and are combined to synthesize a composite image. The synthesized image has an edge uncertainty equal to that of one of the individual images divided by the square root of the total number of images utilized.