IVUS-Palpography (Elastography)

What is Elastography?

• Intravascular ultrasound elastography is a technique that assesses the local strain in the artery wall and plaque.
• Physiological pressure strains the vascular wall during every heartbeat.
• The underlying principle is that the strain of the tissue is a function of its mechanical properties.
• Based on (quasi) static deformation of a linear isotropic elastic material.
• The tissue under inspection is deformed and the strain (direct or indirect using displacement) between pairs of ultrasound signals with and without deformation is determined.
• As an add-on to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), intravascular elastography is able to measure strain using cross-correlation analysis of radiofrequency ultrasound signals recorded at different intravascular pressures. 
• This allows the construction of a strain image, in which harder (low strain) and softer (high strain) regions of the coronary arteries can be identified, with radial strain values ranging between 0% and 1-2%
• The local strain of the tissue is displayed as an additional image (elastogram) to the IVUS Echogram.

Limitation:

• Rupture of plaques may occur in regions with increased mechanical stress.

System components:

• IVUS Integrated System
• IVUS Cart System (Console)
• Transducer (IVUS catheter)
• Pullback device