It is proposed to develop a system for non-invasive detection of early atherosclerosis. The system will involve measurement of transient arterial pressure and vessel wall motion in response to a sinusoidal pulse wave stimulus produced externally in a vessel.The transient pressures will be obtained with piezoelectric transducers applied to the artery; the wall motion by means of a Doppler probe. From these, the pulse wave velocity and the attenuation of the pressure wave will be calculated. The elastic and viscous properties of the arterial wall will then be determined.The grantee plans to: (1) develop an external pulse generator (EPG); (2) combine the EPG with existing transducers into a prototype instrument for the clinician; (3) develop an algorithm to analyze the data; (4) develop computer software to automate the testing and data reduction; (5) clinically evaluate this instrument; and (6) derive statistically significant indicies, based on the test data, to detect early arteriosclerosis.The instrument is targeted for the primary physician and for health screening. It is to be complementary to imaging tests.National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
