Carotid artery pulse wave measured by a laser vibrometer

Early diagnosis of occlusive arterial diseases demands a device which sensitivity is able to resolve small differences between normal and abnormal pressure and flow pulse patterns. The present paper reports the use of a laser doppler vibrometer (LDV) in preliminary test for registration the pressure pulse. The measurements were performed in the right carotid artery of four volunteers to observe presumed typical pressure pulse patterns. LDV was used in single point mode to obtain the pressure waves in two distinct physiological situations: breathing and in apnea.