Intra-arterial catheter for simultaneous microstructural and molecular imaging in vivo

Abstract

The future of imaging is the integration of function and anatomy. Hongki Yoo et al. have successfully done just that by combining two existing intravascular imaging techniques into a single catheter-based system. Their dual-modality intra-arterial catheter uses a combination of optical frequency domain imaging and near-infrared fluorescence imaging to simultaneously provide molecular information in the context of the surrounding three-dimensional microanatomy of the artery wall. Advancing understanding of human coronary artery disease requires new methods that can be used in patients for studying atherosclerotic plaque microstructure in relation to the molecular mechanisms that underlie its initiation, progression and clinical complications, including myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Here we report a dual-modality intra-arterial catheter for simultaneous microstructural and molecular imaging in vivo using a combination of optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging. By providing simultaneous molecular information in the context of the surrounding tissue microstructure, this new catheter could provide new opportunities for investigating coronary atherosclerosis and stent healing and for identifying high-risk biological and structural coronary arterial plaques in vivo.