Mechanical characterization of vascular tissue using ultrasound

Rupture of carotid plaques accounts for 15 to 20% of ischemic strokes. To prevent a stroke patients undergo surgery (carotid endarterectomy). However, only one out of six patients benefits from this intervention, so there is a significant overtreatment of patients. To develop better treatment criteria, and to improve patient diagnosis and clinical decision making, patient specific information of the plaque's composition and mechanical properties is needed. In this study, a method was developed to estimate global material properties of the vascular wall using ultrasound imaging. Here, a finite element model (FEM) is matched with the displacement field measured by US, by updating the material properties of the FEM. As a result, a measure for arterial wall stiffness is obtained non-invasively.