Arterial elastic modulus reconstruction from in-vivo strain image using arterial pressure equalization

A non-invasive free-hand ultrasound scanning procedure was performed to apply external force, comparable to the force generated in measuring a subject´s blood pressure, to achieve higher strains by equalizing the internal arterial baseline pressure. An elastic modulus reconstruction procedure was developed to estimate the nonlinear elastic properties of the vascular wall from intramural strain measurements. The undistended elastic modulus of the diseased group is about an order of magnitude larger than that of the normal group. In-vivo measurements demonstrate the feasibility of the clinical application of this technique.