Integrated IVUS-OCT Imaging for Atherosclerotic Plaque Characterization

Abstract

For the diagnosis of atherosclerosis, biomedical imaging techniques such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been developed. The combined use of IVUS and OCT is hypothesized to remarkably increase diagnostic accuracy of vulnerable plaques. We have developed an integrated IVUS-OCT imaging apparatus, which includes the integrated catheter, motor drive unit, and imaging system. The dual-function imaging catheter has the same diameter of current clinical standard. The imaging system is capable for simultaneous IVUS and OCT imaging in real time. Ex vivo and in vivo experiments on rabbits with atherosclerosis were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility and superiority of the integrated intravascular imaging modality.

Diagnosis of Thin-Capped Fibroatheromas in Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography Images

“…why some rupture and others thicken, and how pharmaceutical agents interact with TCFAs) an in vivo imaging system is needed that can improve the limited PPV identified in the current study. One possibility is to couple a second imaging modality with IVOCT—for instance: intravascular ultrasound 10, 27 , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy 28 , near infrared fluorescence 29 , spectral OCT 30 or two-photon luminescence (TPL) 31, 32 . TPL is an interesting candidate having the ability to image the actual molecular composition of plaque without the use of exogenous contrast agents.…”

High speed intravascular photoacoustic imaging with fast optical parametric oscillator laser at 1.7 μm

“…2 electrical signal coupling was applied for motion control and optical/electrical coupling between the stationary components and the rotational IVPA/IVUS catheter. 26,29 The laser was coupled into the rotary joint through a 200-lm core multimode fiber. The rotation was generated by a rotational motor and transmitted to the distal end of the catheter by a torque coil (OD/ID: 0.8 mm/0.4 mm).…”

“…The rotation was generated by a rotational motor and transmitted to the distal end of the catheter by a torque coil (OD/ID: 0.8 mm/0.4 mm). 29 The master trigger (t 0 ) from the laser was delayed (t 0 þ 14 ls) by a delay generator to activate the US pulser/receiver. The IVPA and IVUS signals were amplified by the receiver (þ39 dB) and filtered (10 MHz high-pass filter, 60 MHz low-pass filter).…”

New Potassium Sodium Niobate Single Crystal with Thickness-independent High-performance for Photoacoustic Angiography of Atherosclerotic Lesion

“…The free space laser output was coupled by a 4× objective lens into an optical fiber, which was then delivered to the catheter. The rotation of the distal end of the catheter was generated by a rotational motor28. A 5900 pulser/receiver (Olympus NDT, Inc., Kennewick, WA) was used to produce ultrasound pulses, and to receive ultrasound and photoacoustic waves.…”