(Left) Finite-element mesh used to solve forward elasticity problem. Shown are the normal vessel wall (A), the plaque (B), and inhomogeneities (C), (D) and (E). Only the inner 3mm diameter are shown; however, the diameter of the modeled vessel extends to 50 mm. (Right) shear modulus distrubution used in the simulated vessel phantom, showing the mechanical properties of vessel wall, plaque, and inhomogeneities. The dotted line represents the regions over which the moduli shown in Fig 10 were computed.