Robust estimation of arterial strain from non-invasive carotid ultrasound images

We have developed a novel estimator of arterial wall strain from non-invasive ultrasound images of the pulsating carotid artery. This strain estimator exhibits improved robustness to noise when compared with conventional methods and addresses the need for non-invasive monitoring of regional arterial wall stiffness and composition remodeling caused by vascular disease. We demonstrate its effectiveness in simulated ultrasound sequences and provide an example of strain estimation from carotid ultrasound imaging of a normal volunteer.