Biomechanical characterization of blood vessel and plaque from intravascular ultrasound images

摘要

Abstract: The elastic properties of arteries and plaque are difficult to assess due to the technical problems associated with obtaining the required dimensional and stress parameters in vivo. This paper describes a method to determine the biomechanical properties of blood vessels and plaque based on dimensional information obtained from the analysis of intravascular ultrasound images. As a pilot study, two models of a stenotic artery were made that included an eccentric, flexible plaque of known size. These models were submerged in water and imaged at up to 15 axial locations over a static pressure range from 0 to 200 mmHg. Plaque and wall borders were automatically detected using a heuristic graph searching technique. Cross-sectional area changes, dimensional parameters and elastic properties were determined for each location and intraluminal pressure. The incremental elastic modulus of the tube wall was within 8% of the value determined from micrometer measurements. Plaque stiffness was close to that of a fibrous arterial plaque. Cross-sectional changes indicated a radial expansion of the compliant plaque with pressure. !16