Using 3D Thin-Layer Model with in Vivo Patient-Specific Vessel Material Properties to Assesse Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability

Image-based computational models have been introduced to calculate plaque stress/strain conditions and investigate their association with plaque progression and rupture [Tang, Yang, Zheng, et al. (2004)]. However, the accuracy of the computational results is heavily dependent on the data and assumptions used by those models. Patient-specific vessel material properties are in general lacking in image-based computational models, limiting the accuracy of their stress/strain calculations. A noninvasive approach of combining in vivo 3D multi-contrast and Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computational modeling was used to quantify patient-specific carotid plaque material properties for potential plaque model improvements [Wang, Canton, Guo, et al. (2017)]. The stress-based plaque vulnerability index (SPVI) was proposed to combine mechanical analysis, plaque morphology and composition for more complete carotid plaque vulnerability assessment.