Optimization of condition of ultrasonic beam for measurement of small change in thickness of arterial wall

We previously developed a method for measuring small changes in thickness of the arterial wall during one cardiac cycle. Knowledge of this change in thickness is useful for in vivo assessment of the regional elasticity of the arterial wall. In this study, from computer simulations, it is found that measurement error depends on the distance of the ultrasonic beam from the center of the artery and it can be reduced by optimally setting the focal position. In basic experiments using a silicone rubber tube and in vivo experiments with a human carotid artery, it is found that by optimizing the focal position, measurement of the change in thickness becomes more robust against mispositioning of the ultrasonic beam. From these results, it is demonstrated that optimum focal positioning provides more robustness in measurement, even if there is arterial wall motion causing the position of the ultrasonic beam to deviate from the center of the artery.