Abstract
A realistic phantom model of the abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is required for experimental studies of the behaviour and nature of AAA and to validate computational models of wall stress and rupture. This study was part of an MSc project which aimed to develop a suitable elastic AAA phantom. A latex AAA phantom was constructed and used in an in vitro flow model to study whether ultrasound measurements of the maximum diameter, distension and distensibility are predictors of AAA rupture. A multigate Doppler system was found to be capable of providing suitable distension measurements, but measurement of the maximum diameter was more reliable using B-mode imaging. Further work is required to help overcome the limitations of the phantom in accounting for a range of mechanical and geometrical properties, and the pathophysiological remodelling process of real AAAs.
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