Automated detection of local artery wall thickness based on M-line signal processing

The Young's modulus of an arterial segment, a measure of the elastic properties of the arterial wall, requires the simultaneous and local assessment of pulse pressure, wall thickness, diameter, and distensibility (relative increase in cross-sectional area per change in blood pressure), The diameter and relative increase in cross-sectional area can be obtained with a wall track system, processing the radiofrequency (r,f,) ultrasound signals received along a single line of observation (M-line processing), It will be demonstrated that it is feasible to combine, in a single measurement, the assessment of wall thickness and the (relative change in) diameter involving a minimum of user interaction, Phantom tests show a standard error of the estimate for intima-media thickness measurements of less than 20 mu m; irt vivo registrations exhibit a variation on the order of 45 mu m. It is concluded that processing of the radiofrequency ultrasound signal, acquired along an M-line, provides an accurate and time-efficient alternative for videoprocessing of 2-dimensional B-mode ultrasound images to estimate artery wall thickness, (C) 1997 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.