ABSTRACT
IVUS elastography was validated in vivo using an atherosclerotic Yucatan minipig.36,37 External iliac and femoral arteries were made atherosclerotic by endothelial Fogarty denudation and subsequent atherosclerotic diet for the duration of 7 months. Balloon dilation was performed in the femoral arteries and the diet was discontinued. Before termination, 6 weeks after balloon dilation and discontinuation of the diet, data were acquired in the external iliac and femoral arteries in six Yucatan pigs. In total, 20 cross-sections were investigated with a 20 MHz Visions® catheter (JOMED, Rancho Cordova, CA). The tissue was strained by the pulsatile blood pressure.Two frames acquired at end-diastole with a pressure differential of ~4 mmHg were taken to determine the elastograms.
