Physics of Within-Tissue Wave Propagation Generated by Pulse Propagation in the Carotid Artery

(1) Background: We aimed to assess the validity of laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) as an emerging method to measure the local pulse wave velocity (PWV) from skin displacement generated by the pressure pulse inside an underlying artery. (2) Methods: A finite element model representing a simplified common carotid artery embedded within a soft tissue mimicking material was used to reproduce how tissue motions due to a wave propagation along the artery radiates to the skin surface. A parametric study was set up, varying: (i) the pressure conditions inside the artery (shock and traveling pressure impulse), (ii) the arterial depth and (iii) the geometry in a patient-specific artery model. (3) Results: under all conditions, the arterial pulse induced primary and secondary waves at the skin surface; of which the propagation speed deviated from the imposed PWV (deviations between −5.0% to 47.0% for the primary wave front). (4) Conclusions: the propagation of a short pressure impulse induced complex skin displacement patterns revealing a complicated link between PWV and measured propagation speeds at the skin surface. Wave propagation at the skin level may convey information about arterial PWV, however, advanced signal analysis techniques will be necessary to extract local PWV values.