Stroke is a major cause of death and disability. A significant proportion is caused by rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery. This process is linked to changes in blood flow, making its measurement valuable for treatment. This research focused on improving an ultrasound technique to accurately measure blood flow. First, the reliability of an existing method was assessed by comparing it with MRI scans. Next, it study explored how the technique could be made more robust under reduced image quality by using so-called ‘cascaded waves,’ an advanced way of acquiring ultrasound images. Experiments and patient measurements showed that this approach is promising. The method improves the image quality and makes measurements more robust, especially in deeper located carotid arteries. Further technical refinements and large-scale clinical studies are needed to better understand how blood flow contributes to plaque formation, growth, and rupture.
Joosje de Bakker (1994) obtained her Master’s degree in Technical Medicine, cum laude, at the University of Twente in 2020. She then began her PhD research at the Medical Ultrasound Imaging Centre (MUSIC), part of the Department of Medical Imaging of Radboudumc.