Vascular elasticity from regional displacement estimates

A recently developed ultrasonic technique for measuring elastic properties of vascular tissue is evaluated using computer simulations, phantom data and in vivo human measurements. Computer simulations and in vitro measurements are used to define signal processing approach. A time sequence of displacement images over the cardiac cycle is used to describe the spatial and temporal patterns of deformation surrounding arteries. This information is combined with a mathematical model to estimate an elastic modulus. Finally, preliminary results for the stiffness index (β) in study group of healthy volunteers are presented.