To improve the definition of the geometrical and mechanical properties of the porcine pulmonary arteries, we utilized an in vivo imaging-based approach to quantify the influence of static extravascular pressure change on pulmonary arterial geometry. The cross-sectional area and distance from the inlet of pulmonary arteries of two animals were measured over a range of static airway inflation pressure (7 cmH₂O - 25 cmH₂O, i.e. 0.69 kPa – 2.45 kPa). Vessels with diameter range of approximately 2.0 mm to 5.5 mm at airway inflation pressure of 25 cmH₂O (2.45kPa) were considered. The results suggest that lung inflation stretches the vessels laterally, but has no statistically significant effect on diameter.

Date Published: 29 March 2013
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 8672, Medical Imaging 2013: Biomedical Applications in Molecular, Structural, and Functional Imaging, 867208 (29 March 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2006695

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8672:
Medical Imaging 2013: Biomedical Applications in Molecular, Structural, and Functional Imaging
John B. Weaver; Robert C. Molthen, Editor(s)