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Updated: Nov 24, 2025
Intravascular Ultrasound Image-Based Finite Element Modeling Approach for Quantifying In Vivo Mechanical Properties of Human Coronary Artery
Published on: December 6, 2024
[Experimental measurement and modeling analysis of active and passive mechanical properties of arterial vessel wall]
Yundi Feng1, Hao Wu1, Yunlong Huo2
1PKU-HKUST Shenzhen-HongKong Institution, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518057, P.R.China.
Insights
Understanding blood vessel wall mechanics is crucial for diagnosing coronary artery diseases (CAD) and designing medical devices. This review explores mechanical properties, aiding in better treatments for CAD.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Research
- Materials Science
Background:
- Coronary artery diseases (CAD) pose significant health risks.
- Mechanical properties of blood vessel walls are vital for diagnosing CAD, designing stents, and artificial arteries.
- Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) influence active mechanical properties, while elastic and collagen fibers determine passive properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent investigations into the mechanical properties of blood vessel walls.
- To discuss challenges and opportunities in understanding arterial wall mechanics for CAD treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on blood vessel wall mechanics.
- Analysis of constitutive modeling, measurement, and strain/stress analysis in arterial walls.
- Focus on two-layer models of the vessel wall.
Main Results:
- The two-layer model effectively represents vessel wall mechanical properties.
- Circumferential, axial, and radial strain and stress are critical parameters in arterial mechanics.
- Recent studies highlight the importance of both active and passive mechanical properties.
Conclusions:
- Further research into blood vessel wall mechanics offers opportunities for improved CAD diagnosis and treatment.
- Understanding mechanical properties is key for advancements in stent implantation and artificial artery design.
- Addressing current challenges can lead to better clinical interventions for coronary artery diseases.
Abstract:
Coronary artery diseases (CAD) have always been serious threats to human health. The measurement, constitutive modeling, and analysis of mechanical properties of the blood vessel wall can provide a tool for disease diagnosis, stent implantation, and artificial artery design. The vessel wall has both active and passive mechanical properties. The passive mechanical properties are mainly determined by elastic and collagen fibers, and the active mechanical properties are determined by the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Substantial studies have shown that, the two-layer model of the vessel wall can feature the mechanical properties well, and the circumferential, axial and radial strain and stress are of great significance in arterial wall mechanics. This study reviewed recent investigations of mechanical properties of the vessel wall. Challenges and opportunities in this area are discussed relevant to the clinical treatment of coronary artery diseases.
