Two-dimensional multi-layer of arterial elasticity measurement considering geometric transformations

Abstract

Knowledge of the arterial elasticity can provide an important reference for understanding arterial wall changes that may occur before and during the early stages of atherosclerosis. In practice, the movements of arterial wall during the cardiac cycle are complex, which undergo not only translation but also rotation and deformation subjected to pulse pressure, transmural pressure and shear force. Conventional correlation based methods for arterial wall movement evaluation consider only the translational component and limit their accuracy. This study proposes a texture matching method based on ultrasonic B-mode image for accurately measurement the movement of the arterial wall with geometric transformations, improving the accuracy of elasticity measurement. Feasibility of the method was studied in an in vitro silicone tube phantom and in vivo carotid arteries of mice. The calculated elastic modulus for the in vitro silicone tube agrees well with the results obtained from mechanical testing, deviating only 6...