Individual Research Project 13

Personalized Ultrasound-based mechanical characterization of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Marta Bracco – ESR 13

The objective of this project is to develop and validate an original methodology to characterize non-invasively the mechanical properties of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and intraluminal thrombus (ILT) tissues. The ultimate goal is to provide diagnostic information for clinical use on the risk of aneurysm rupture, based on clinically available imaging modalities, as an addition to the maximum aortic diameter which is currently used in clinical practice. Dynamic ultrasound imaging of deformations across the arterial walls, combined with 3D anatomical reconstructions will be acquired on patients with an AAA. Dedicated image processing will be developed in order to extract the 3D displacement fields. These 3D displacement fields will be used to calibrate a physics-based numerical model of the AAA wall subject to the pressure variations throughout the cardiac cycle. This numerical solver will permit the calibration of material properties which are intrinsic inputs of the methodology. Then, thanks to this approach, personalized tissue mechanical properties will be derived.

Expected Results

• Methodology for the non-invasively characterization of the mechanical properties of AAA and ILT tissues.

• Diagnostic information for clinical use on the risk of aneurysm rupture.

• Image processing techniques for the Digital Twin.

• A physics-based numerical model of the AAA.