[The technical principle and clinical application of intravascular ultrasound elastogram]

The development of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) techniques makes it possible to analyze the sectional information of the arteries and plaques. However, it can not precisely provide the biomechanical characterization of atheromas. The IVUS elastogram demonstrates tissue elasticity via estimating the axial stress-strain information of artery walls. With the help of such method, unstable lesions can be distinguished, the rupture inclination can be predicted, and the components of plaques are able to be classified. Compared with IVUS, elastogram is more objective. The constructing procedure and relative techniques as well as the preliminary clinical application, are reviewed in this article. The limitation at present and the probable future research direction are also mentioned.