Detection and characterization of early atherosclerosis

• Published in: The seventh Annual Symposium on Computer Applications in Medical Care, 1983 : proceedings : 23-26 October 1983 pp. 797 - 803
• Main Authors: Barnes, R.W., Bond, M.G., Riley, W.A., Czapla, L., Mazzola, C.J., Birdwell, J.O.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1983
• Subjects: Arteries; Atherosclerosis; Blood pressure; Bonding; Educational institutions; Humans; IEL; Pulse generation; Testing; Thickness measurement
• ISBN: 9780818605031; 0818605030
• DOI: 10.1109/SCAMC.1983.764772

Early stages of atherosclerosis in human subjects can be detected by lumen diameter and the pressure-strain elastic modulus. Results from non-human primate studies show that the intima thickens increasing the area enclosed by the elastic lamina. During this time the artery dilates so that the lumen area remains essentially constant. Only after the artery reaches its elastic limit does the lumen area decrease. Accurate measurements of arterial wall thickness and lumen diameter at diastole are important to the early detection of atherosclerosis. Axial resolutions of less than 0.1mm are required to detect tissue layers within the arterial wall itself. Two approaches and results of high axial resolution, deconvolution and high axial pulse generation, meeting range resolution requirements are presented.