A Pilot Experiment Study on Flow Mediated Dilation Based on a New Mechanotransduction Theory

The endothelium, a vascular layer in direct contact with the blood stream, plays a leading role in inflammation which underlies cardiovascular disease (CVD). The brachial artery Flow-Mediated Dilation (FMD) testing is the most popular noninvasive clinical method for vascular endothelial function assessment, where the diameter of a briefly blocked brachial artery is monitored after blood flow resurgence. However, current clinical FMD methods only use direct rudimentary image information, such as peak and baseline diameters, to describe said function. This paper reports an improved pilot experiment, coupled with the novel FMD biophysical theory that revolves around mechanotransduction, which drives the process. Participants with different CVD risks were recruited after the Institutional Review Boards' (IRB) approval. The test was performed where arterial diameter is continuously measured. The images were analyzed and compared with the novel mechanotransduction model to obtain the structural integrity information of the blood vessel which include sensitivity, mechanotransduction strength, and stiffness. Through this study, a more robust understanding of the blood vessel walls' biophysical behavior in different subjects, and consequently, their endothelial function, can be achieved.