Multi-spectral intravascular photoacoustic/ultrasound/optical coherence tomography tri-modality system with a fully-integrated 0.9-mm full field-of-view catheter for plaque vulnerability imaging

Abstract

Myocardial infarctions are most often caused by the so-called vulnerable plaques, usually featured as non-obstructive lesions with a lipid-rich necrotic core, thin-cap fibroatheroma, and large plaque size. The identification and quantification of these characteristics are the keys to evaluate plaque vulnerability. However, single modality intravascular methods, such as intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography and photoacoustic, can hardly achieve all the comprehensive information to satisfy clinical needs. In this paper, for the first time, we developed a novel multi-spectral intravascular tri-modality (MS-IVTM) imaging system, which can perform 360° continuous rotation and pull-backing with a 0.9-mm miniature catheter and achieve simultaneous acquisition of both morphological characteristics and pathological compositions. Intravascular tri-modality imaging demonstrates the ability of our MS-IVTM system to provide macroscopic and microscopic structural information of the vessel wall, with identity and quantification of lipids with multi-wavelength excitation. This study offers clinicians and researchers a novel imaging tool to facilitate the accurate diagnosis of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. It also has the potential of clinical translations to help better identify and evaluate high-risk plaques during coronary interventions.

Advances in Endoscopic Photoacoustic Imaging

“…Integrating PA imaging with other contemporary imaging modalities would provide more comprehensive assessments; this benefit will speed up clinical translation. Dai et al [144] and Leng et al [145] reported a trimodality intravascular imaging system which combined PA, US, and OCT for the characterization of atherosclerosis. The addition of OCT contributes to the identification of thin fibrous caps.…”

Review on Laser Technology in Intravascular Imaging and Treatment

“…The in vivo imaging capability of the catheter was demonstrated in animal samples. Moreover, for a more comprehensive assessment of intravascular disease, the design of complementary catheters for multimodal imaging has great clinical potential [ 66 ].…”

“…In this catheter, the low-frequency transducer enhances photoacoustic sensitivity and the high frequency transducer maintains spatial resolution for ultrasound imaging [ 104 ]. In addition, Leng et al demonstrated a novel tri-modality imaging system that can achieve 3D intravascular imaging through a 0.9-mm miniature catheter [ 66 ].…”

Enhanced medical diagnosis for dOCTors: a perspective of optical coherence tomography

“…32,218 In the near future, multimodal endoscopic OCT will demonstrate significant potential to unleash the full capability of accessing complementary morpho-functional and/or morpho-molecular tissue information needed for improved clinical diagnosis and therapy monitoring. For example, reports on a probe combining OCT and fluorescence imaging 219 providing additional molecular contrast and on a probe combining OCT, PAI, and US 220 have been published. There are still challenges to be solved for a multimodal endoscopic OCT combination: the optic design needs to combine and find the best solution to fulfill the various optical requirements coming from the different image technologies in the scope of limited physical space within an endoscope.…”