The objective of this project is to combine anisotropic computational modeling with in vivo intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), angiography, ex vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), mechanical testing, and pathohistological analysis to analyze vulnerable atherosclerotic coronary plaques and identify critical blood flow and plaque stress/strain indicators for quantitative coronary plaque vulnerability assessment. The long term goals are: a) develop computational mechanical image analysis tools for more accurate plaque assessment and possible quantitative improvement to the current American Heart Association (AHA) plaque classification scheme;b) identify critical flow and stress/strain plaque vulnerability risk indicators which could be monitored for early prediction, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of related cardiovascular diseases. The hypotheses are: (1) Critical plaque stress/strain conditions correlate closely with plaque vulnerability and may be used as indicators to further differentiate plaques within AHA advanced plaque classifications (types V- VIII) and provide more quantitative methods to assess plaque rupture risk;(2) Combination of in vivo IVUS imaging, pressure and flow measurements and 3D anisotropic multi-component models with fluid-structure interactions (FSI) and cyclic bending will improve the accuracy of mechanical analysis for coronary plaques and lead to more accurate in vivo plaque vulnerability assessment. This project has four specific aims.
Aim 1 : Develop and integrate in vivo IVUS imaging, flow and pressure measurements techniques, angiography, multi-contrast ex vivo MRI, histological analysis, and biaxial mechanical testing techniques to quantify plaque morphology, tissue components, curvature, intra-coronary flow and pressure conditions at the lesion site, and anisotropic vessel material properties.
Aim 2 : Develop 3D anisotropic multi-component FSI models for 100 human coronary plaques (50 in vivo IVUS, 50 ex vivo MRI) with cyclic bending and intra-coronary flow and pressure conditions (IVUS only) to obtain 3D flow shear stress and plaque stress/strain data;
Aim 3 : perform 3D mechanical image analysis for coronary plaques and identify correlations between critical stress/strain conditions (potential risk indicators) and plaque morphology and composition, vessel mechanical properties and blood flow pressure conditions (patient data). Computational models will be validated by both in vivo IVUS and in vitro experimental data.
Aim 4 : Introduce quantitative in vivo/ex vivo/histological plaque vulnerability assessment schemes and compare with AHA histology-based plaque classifications for possible quantitative improvements on AHA scheme and potential screening practice. Success of this project will lead to more accurate plaque vulnerability assessment and predictions for possible plaque rupture risk so that better decisions for treatment can be made leading to better public health and reduced costs of Medicare. Mechanical image analysis and software additions to enhance MRI/IVUS imaging technology for clinical applications are possible with future large-scale patient study validations.

Public Health Relevance

Many cardiovascular events (such as heart attack and stroke) are caused by atherosclerotic plaque rupture which may happen without any warning signals. Success of this project will lead to more accurate in vivo coronary plaque vulnerability assessment and predictions for possible plaque rupture risk so that better and timely decisions for treatment can be made leading to better public health and reduced costs of Medicare. Commercialization of the research results is possible with the automation of model construction and data analysis procedures.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EB004759-07
Application #
8197633
Study Section
Biomedical Imaging Technology Study Section (BMIT)
Program Officer
Peng, Grace
Project Start
2004-09-01
Project End
2013-11-30
Budget Start
2011-12-01
Budget End
2012-11-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$335,971
Indirect Cost
$67,969
Name
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Department
Biostatistics & Other Math Sci
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
041508581
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01609
Wang, Liang; Tang, Dalin; Maehara, Akiko et al. (2018) Fluid-structure interaction models based on patient-specific IVUS at baseline and follow-up for prediction of coronary plaque progression by morphological and biomechanical factors: A preliminary study. J Biomech 68:43-50
Wang, Liang; Zhu, Jian; Samady, Habib et al. (2017) Effects of Residual Stress, Axial Stretch, and Circumferential Shrinkage on Coronary Plaque Stress and Strain Calculations: A Modeling Study Using IVUS-Based Near-Idealized Geometries. J Biomech Eng 139:
Guo, Xiaoya; Zhu, Jian; Maehara, Akiko et al. (2017) Quantify patient-specific coronary material property and its impact on stress/strain calculations using in vivo IVUS data and 3D FSI models: a pilot study. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 16:333-344
Tang, Dalin; Yang, Chun; Huang, Sarayu et al. (2017) Cap inflammation leads to higher plaque cap strain and lower cap stress: An MRI-PET/CT-based FSI modeling approach. J Biomech 50:121-129
Huang, Xueying; Yang, Chun; Zheng, Jie et al. (2016) 3D MRI-based multicomponent thin layer structure only plaque models for atherosclerotic plaques. J Biomech 49:2726-2733
Wang, Liang; Wu, Zheyang; Yang, Chun et al. (2015) IVUS-based FSI models for human coronary plaque progression study: components, correlation and predictive analysis. Ann Biomed Eng 43:107-21
Liu, Biyue; Zheng, Jie; Bach, Richard et al. (2015) Influence of model boundary conditions on blood flow patterns in a patient specific stenotic right coronary artery. Biomed Eng Online 14 Suppl 1:S6
Huang, Xueying; Yang, Chun; Zheng, Jie et al. (2014) Higher critical plaque wall stress in patients who died of coronary artery disease compared with those who died of other causes: a 3D FSI study based on ex vivo MRI of coronary plaques. J Biomech 47:432-7
Tang, Dalin; Kamm, Roger D; Yang, Chun et al. (2014) Image-based modeling for better understanding and assessment of atherosclerotic plaque progression and vulnerability: data, modeling, validation, uncertainty and predictions. J Biomech 47:834-46
Fan, Rui; Tang, Dalin; Yang, Chun et al. (2014) Human coronary plaque wall thickness correlated positively with flow shear stress and negatively with plaque wall stress: an IVUS-based fluid-structure interaction multi-patient study. Biomed Eng Online 13:32

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