4D Pulse Wave Imaging with sub aperture compounding in the carotid artery in simulations, phantoms and human subjects

Pulse Wave Imaging (PWI) can non-invasively and regionally map and quantify local pulse wave velocities (PWV). Assumptions regarding axis symmetry are intrinsic to 2D imaging. 3D imaging can provide an added advantage especially in pathological arteries where radial symmetry does not hold. Previously a 3D feasibility was presented for pulse wave imaging with a narrow field of view in vivo using plane wave imaging. In this study, we expanded the field of view compared to the previous method by using diverging waves and improve the imaging quality by using coherent compounding. We demonstrated agreement in simulations and PVA phantoms. Initial
_in
vivo
results in a human patient with stenotic carotid arteries are also presented. 3D PWI can thus be used in conjunction with diverging wave imaging to provide sufficient fields of view for clinical PWI.