Investigation of plaque biomechanics from intravascular ultrasound images using finite element modeling

Biomechanical properties of atherosclerotic plaque are not well known due to the difficulties involved in experimental testing. In this study an iterative finite element program was developed that estimates the elastic material properties of diseased arteries and plaque based on deformations from intravascular ultrasound images. The program successfully determined the elastic modulus of latex tubes with artificial plaque and of the ex vivo human coronary arteries. The authors conclude that this finite element method provides a way to estimate the material properties of the plaque an wall in stenosed arteries from clinically available data, i.e., ultrasound images and blood pressure measurements.