APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EARLY DETECTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE USING VASCULAR IMAGING

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus (10) and method (24) for determining vascular characteristics for early detection of cardiovascular disease comprising: an ultrasonic signal source (32) directing ultrasound signals (30) at an artery (27); an ultrasonic signal receiver (34) receiving ultrasound signals (36) reflected from or transmitted through the artery (27); means for analysing signals (40) received by ultrasonic signal receiver (34) to extract arterial displacement data (42); means for acquiring blood pressure data (48); signal processing means (44) for adjusting said arterial displacement data (46) using the blood pressure data (48); and means for analysing the adjusted arterial displacement data (51) to characterise vascular function (28).