Gregoire Sibylle, Laloy-Borgna Gabrielle, Rouviere Olivier, Giammarinaro Bruno, Catheline Stefan
Laboratory of Therapeutic Applications of Ultrasound, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Université Lyon 1, Lyon 69003, France.
Department of Imaging Physics, Delft University of Technology, Delft 2628 CJ, The Netherlands.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 May 6;122(18):e2419060122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2419060122. Epub 2025 Apr 29.
Dynamic elastography uses an imaging system to visualize the propagation of elastic waves, the speed of which is directly related to the elasticity felt by palpation. Very few studies have focused on X-ray elastography because of the technical challenges it poses: a planar image of an integration volume at a very slow sampling rate. We demonstrate that tracking a slow elastic wave guided along a one-dimensional structure could provide a possible solution. The recently discovered flexural pulse wave, which is naturally generated by heartbeats and propagates along arteries, is the perfect candidate for X-ray elastography. As it reflects the cardiovascular health of patients, arterial elasticity is a biomarker of high clinical interest. We first validate the method by measuring the elasticity in artery phantoms using X-ray. We then move on to data obtained in vivo on coronary arteries during a routine angiography examination. During coronary angiography, a catheter is used to inject an X-ray contrast dye into the patient's aorta. X-rays are then taken as the dye spreads through the coronary arteries. It shows the movement of the coronary arteries for a few seconds and provides an opportunity to follow the natural flexural pulse waves. The obtained Young's moduli for two patients are = 38 ± 30 kPa and = 38 ± 28 kPa, respectively. These preliminary results are expected to pave the way for X-ray elastography.
动态弹性成像利用成像系统来可视化弹性波的传播，弹性波的速度与触诊所感知的弹性直接相关。由于X射线弹性成像带来的技术挑战，即非常低的采样率下积分体积的平面图像，很少有研究关注它。我们证明沿着一维结构追踪慢弹性波可能提供一种解决方案。最近发现的由心跳自然产生并沿动脉传播的弯曲脉搏波，是X射线弹性成像的理想候选对象。由于动脉弹性反映了患者的心血管健康状况，因此它是具有高度临床意义的生物标志物。我们首先通过使用X射线测量动脉模型中的弹性来验证该方法。然后我们转向在常规血管造影检查期间在体获得的冠状动脉数据。在冠状动脉造影期间，使用导管将X射线造影剂注入患者的主动脉。然后在造影剂在冠状动脉中扩散时拍摄X射线。它显示冠状动脉的运动几秒钟，并提供了追踪自然弯曲脉搏波的机会。两名患者获得的杨氏模量分别为 = 38 ± 30 kPa和 = 38 ± 28 kPa。这些初步结果有望为X射线弹性成像铺平道路。
