Motion compensation for intravascular ultrasound palpography for in vivo vulnerable plaque detection

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) palpography assesses the mechanical properties of coronary arteries in vivo by radial strain measurements. This is accomplished by cross- correlating RF signals acquired at different systemic pressures. However, catheter motion due to cardiac activity causes misalignment of these signals, so that less strain estimates are obtained. Four motion compensation methods have been studied for correcting in-plane catheter rotation and translation. The best method, local block matching, achieved an increase of 15% in the number of strain estimates. Application of motion compensation methods improves IVUS palpography, resulting in better vulnerable plaque detection.