Speaker:  Carson A. Wick

Title:
Detection and Prediction of Cardiac Quiescence for Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography

Abstract:
Computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) is a promising technique for observing the health of the coronary vessels. CTCA has the potential to replace the more invasive and expensive catheterized coronary angiogram for many patients. CTCA relies on triggering CT scanner data acquisition during periods of relative cardiac quiescence, currently predicted using the electrocardiogram (ECG). As a representation of the electrical activity of the heart, the ECG is a suboptimal indicator of the mechanical state of the heart. Therefore, gating techniques based on modalities that directly reflect cardiac motion may more accurately trigger CT data acquisition during periods of cardiac quiescence. The first part of the talk will focus on new methods for detecting cardiac quiescent periods from echocardiography, CT, and seismocardiography (SCG). The second part of the talk will cover how these detection methods are used to develop new techniques to predict cardiac quiescence for CTCA.

Speaker Bio:
Carson A. Wick received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, in 2006 and 2007, respectively, where he is currently a Ph.D. candidate under the guidance of Drs. James H. McClellan and Srini Tridandapani. His current research is focused on digital signal processing of cardiac signals, with applications for motion analysis. He currently balances his research efforts between the Center for Signal and Information Processing at Georgia Tech and the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine.