Simultaneous measurements of arterial diameter and blood pressure to determine the arterial compliance, wall mechanics and stresses in vivo.
BACKGROUND
to develop a periarterial dimensional clip-probe which, associated with endovascular pressure measurement, real-time digital signal processing/data treatment systems, enables characterisation of the basic wall mechanics in given arterial sites.


METHODS
experimental study.


METHODS
a facing pair of ultrasonic crystals was incorporated in periarterial highlight probes, made of sterilisable silicone and manufactured from computer-designed stainless steel casts. The A/D converted diameter and pressure (from an endovascular micro-tip probe) signals, triggered by the ECG, were on-line processed to provide their respective profiles during an averaged cardiac cycle, and subsequently the arterial wall physics. The technique was tested in the iliac and renal arteries in eight pigs.


RESULTS
the technique was found to indicate adequately that arterial responses to distending blood pressure, as given by Petersons modulus and relative pulsatility, were identical in renals and iliacs. In contrast, the compliance, circumferential incremental elastic modulus and midwall circumferential stress were higher in iliacs than in renals, whereas arterial stiffness of the renals surpassed that of the iliacs.


CONCLUSIONS
the technique with sterilisable probes produces in vivo pressure-diameter relationships, arterial compliance, and wall mechanics and stresses, whatever the arterial size. The porcine iliacs and renals are elastic and viscorigid arteries, respectively.
Mekkaoui
C
C
Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Mechanics Laboratory, School of Medicine, 27 Bd. Jean-Moulin, 13385 Marseilles Cedex 5, France.
Friggi
A
A
Rolland
P H
PH
Bodard
H
H
Piquet
P
P
Bartoli
J M
JM
Mesana
T
T
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004548:Elasticity; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012828:Silicones; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013552:Swine; D014159:Transducers; D014465:Ultrasonics
D012828:Silicones; D013193:Stainless Steel