Intravascular ultrasound studies of arterial elastic mechanics

A number of new methods are available for the measurement of large artery e lastic properties in human subjects in vivo. One powerful tool which has re cently been applied to the study of large artery mechanics is intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). IVUS studies are performed using a high frequency ultra sound transducer mounted on the tip of a catheter. This catheter is inserte d into a blood vessel and detailed cross-sectional images of the vessel, ar e obtained from within the lumen. IVUS techniques have been used to study w all mechanics of the human aorta, as well as peripheral and coronary arteri es in normal human subjects and in patients with vascular disease. This pap er reviews IVUS studies of human arterial elasticity and discusses the stre ngths and weaknesses of this emerging technique as it is applied to the und erstanding of arterial mechanical properties.