Measurement of the strain field in heterogeneous, diseased human aorta

Atherosclerosis continues to be a leading cause of death and disability in this and other western industrialized nations. Although little is known regarding the relationships between stresses and strains in the arterial wall and disease etiology, one of the most clinically relevant issues is the stability of the established plaque. In this research, an experimental technique was developed to determine the strain field in heterogeneous, diseased arterial cross-sections in vitro. The nonuniform strain field in atherosclerotic aorta correlates with histologic attributes such as the plaque fibrous cap, lipid accumulations, and regions of calcification. By coupling experimental and histologic data into a finite element model, plaque mechanical properties, stresses, and strain energies can be determined using inverse solution techniques. Such results form a basis for establishing links between the composition of diseased vessels and plaque failure.