Comparison between 1D transient elastography and Supersonic Shear Imaging technique: Application to the arterial wall elasticity assessment

Early detection of biomechanical modifications in the arterial wall could be used as a predictor factor for various diseases, for example hypertension or atherosclerosis. In this work ID transient elastography (TE) technique and Supersonic Shear Imaging (SSI) technique are used for the evaluation of the shear wave speed on a phantom consisting in 2.5 mm thickness viscoelastic layer and an arterial phantom embedded in gel. In the TE technique the polarization of the shear wave is parallel to its propagation and the true shear wave speed is retrieved. In that case the dispersion is mainly due to viscosity (Voigt's model). Regarding the SSI technique, the dispersion is due to the layer thickness being of the order of the shear wavelength: thus the shear wave is guided as a Lamb wave. In that case a model is needed in order to retrieve the shear wave speed from the dispersion curve. Finally through both techniques similar shear wave speed estimations are obtained.