Current and future developments in QCA and image fusion with IVUS

Although quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) has been around now for quite some time, research and development continue to take place along several directions. First of all, the imaging medium has changed from the traditional 35 mm analog cinefilm to the digital world with the CD-R as the preferred carrier. This required adaptations of the basic contour detection algorithms. Stimulated by these same changes, digital review stations or DICOM-Viewers have been developed. In addition, third-generation QCA algorithms have been designed and implemented, and applied to quantitate complex morphology and radiopaque stents.