Stress distribution analysis in healthy and stenosed carotid artery models reconstructed from in vivo ultrasonography.

Purpose: This study investigated the accuracy of models reconstructed from ultrasound image processing by comparing the radial displacement waveforms of a subject-specific artery model and evaluated stress changes in the proximal shoulder, throat, and distal shoulder of the plaques depending on the degree of carotid artery stenosis.

Methods: Three groups of subjects (healthy and with less than 50% or more carotid stenosis) were evaluated with ultrasonography. Two-dimensional transverse imaging of the common carotid artery was performed to reconstruct the geometry.

Estimation of Biomechanical Properties of Normal and Atherosclerotic Common Carotid Arteries.

Purpose: We developed a modified Kelvin model so that the periodic changes of the arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) over the cardiac cycle were involved. Modified model was implemented for carotid artery, solved via a parameter optimization technique and biomechanical parameters of the model.

Methods: Consecutive ultrasonic images of the common carotid artery of 30 male patients including 10 healthy subjects, 10 subjects with mild and 10 subjects with sever stenosis were recorded and processed offline.