Real-Time Intravascular Ultrasound and Photoacoustic Imaging

Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 2006

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging has emerged as an imaging technique to evaluate coronary artery diseases including vulnerable plaques. However, in addition to the morphological characteristics provided by IVUS imaging, there is a need for functional imaging capability that could identify the composition of vulnerable plaques. Intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging, in conjunction with clinically available IVUS imaging, may be such a technique allowing vulnerable plaque characterization and differentiation. We have developed an integrated intravascular ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging system to visualize clinically relevant structural and functional properties of the coronary arteries. The performance of the combined IVUS and IVPA imaging system was evaluated through images of arterial phantoms. Experiments were performed using high frequency IVUS imaging catheters operating at 20 MHz, 30 MHz and 40 MHz. The IVPA imaging was successful in highlighting inclusions based on differential optical absorption while these lesions did not have sufficient contrast in the IVUS images. Finally, initial IVUS and IVPA imaging studies were performed on ex vivo samples of a rabbit artery using the 40 MHz IVUS imaging catheter. Results of the above studies demonstrate the feasibility of combining intravascular ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging and suggest clinical utility of the developed imaging system in interventional cardiology.

Proceedings of Spie the International Society For Optical Engineering, 2010

The vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques that are formed in the arterial walls due to atherosclerosis depends on both their distribution and composition. The distribution of the plaques can be imaged using an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging which is a clinically approved minimally-invasive method. The recently introduced intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging may be used to obtain the necessary information about the composition of the plaques. Previous studies using excised rabbit arteries have demonstrated that the combined IVUS/IVPA imaging may simultaneously provide the morphology and functional information of plaques. However, for in-vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging, an integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter capable both of delivering light into a vessel lumen with consequent detection of photoacoustic transients and of probing the arterial walls in pulse-echo mode is required. In the current study, an advanced prototype of the integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter based on a 40-MHz single-element ultrasound transducer and a 600-μm-core single optical fiber is introduced. Unlike previously reported prototypes, the current integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter is capable of cross-sectional imaging of vessel walls via mechanical rotation of the catheter. The performance of the integrated IVUS/IVPA catheter was evaluated in tissue-mimicking phantoms with and without the presence of blood in a lumen. The results of our study suggest that the approach used to develop integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter can be successfully translated to the clinical environment for in-vivo combined IVUS/IVPA imaging.

Proceedings of SPIE, 2009

Coronary atherosclerosis is a complex disease accompanied by the development of plaques in the arterial wall. Since the vulnerability of the plaques depends on their composition, the appropriate treatment of the arteriosclerosis requires a reliable characterization of the plaques' geometry and content. The intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging is capable of providing structural details of the plaques as well as some functional information. In turn, more functional information about the same plaques can be obtained from intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) images since the optical properties of the plaque's components differ from that of their environment. The combined IVUS/IVPA imaging is capable of simultaneously detecting and differentiating the plaques, thus determining their vulnerability. The potential of combined IVUS/IVPA imaging has already been demonstrated in phantoms and ex-vivo experiments. However, for in-vivo or clinical imaging, an integrated IVUS/IVPA catheter is required. In this paper, we introduce two prototypes of integrated IVUS/IVPA catheters for in-vivo imaging based on a commercially available single-element IVUS imaging catheter. The light delivery systems are developed using multimode optical fibers with custom-designed distal tips. Both prototypes were tested and compared using an arterial mimicking phantom. The advantages and limitations of both designs are discussed. Overall, the results of our studies suggest that both designs of integrated IVUS/IVPA catheter have a potential for in-vivo IVPA/IVUS imaging of atherosclerotic plaques.

Review of Scientific Instruments, 2010

Intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging aims to detect and differentiate atherosclerotic plaques based on the optical absorption of the plaque constituents. From the high resolution IVPA images and the corresponding co-registered intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images, functional and structural information about the atherosclerotic plaque can be acquired and, therefore, the vulnerability of the atherosclerotic plaque may be determined. Moreover, by using the plasmonic nanoparticles as contrast agents, IVPA images can capture the molecular and cellular signature of the atherosclerotic plaque. However, for in-vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging, an integrated catheter consisting of IVUS imaging transducer and an intravascular light delivery system is needed. In this paper, a prototype of the integrated catheter for IVUS/IVPA imaging was constructed based on a commercially available single element IVUS imaging catheter and an optical fiber. The integrated imaging catheter was tested using the tissue mimicking phantoms. The results of our study suggest that the integrated imaging catheter for in-vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging can be designed based on ultrasound probe combined with a fiber optical light delivery system.

Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2012

Pilot studies of in vivo combined intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging are reported. A recently introduced prototype of an integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter consisting of a single-element ultrasound transducer and a light delivery system based on a single optical fiber was adapted and used for in vivo imaging of a coronary stent deployed in a rabbit's thoracic aorta in the presence of luminal blood. The results suggest that in vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging is feasible using the integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter. The challenges of in vivo combined IVUS/IVPA imaging are discussed, and further improvements on the design of the catheter and the clinical imaging system are proposed.

Journal of Biomedical Optics, 2012

Pilot studies of in vivo combined intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging are reported. A recently introduced prototype of an integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter consisting of a single-element ultrasound transducer and a light delivery system based on a single optical fiber was adapted and used for in vivo imaging of a coronary stent deployed in a rabbit's thoracic aorta in the presence of luminal blood. The results suggest that in vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging is feasible using the integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter. The challenges of in vivo combined IVUS/IVPA imaging are discussed, and further improvements on the design of the catheter and the clinical imaging system are proposed.

PLoS ONE, 2014

Photoacoustic imaging is an emerging technology that can provide anatomic, functional, and molecular information about biological tissue. Intravascular spectroscopic and molecular photoacoustic imaging can potentially improve the identification of atherosclerotic plaque composition, the detection of inflammation, and ultimately the risk stratification of atherosclerosis. In this study, a first-of-its-kind intravascular optical-resolution photoacoustic tomography (OR-PAT) system with a 1.1 mm diameter catheter is developed, offering optical-diffraction limited transverse resolution as fine as 19.6 mm, ,10-fold finer than that of conventional intravascular photoacoustic and ultrasonic imaging. To offer complementary imaging information and depth, the system also acquires co-registered intravascular ultrasound images in parallel. Imaging of an iliac stent and a lipid phantom shows that the high resolution and contrast of OR-PAT can enable improved stent implantation guidance and lipid identification. In the future, these capabilities may ultimately improve the diagnosis and interventional treatment of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, which are prone to cause thrombotic complications such as myocardial infarction and stroke.

2008 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 2008

Intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging aims to detect and differentiate atherosclerotic plaques based on the optical absorption of the plaque constituents. From the high resolution IVPA images and the corresponding co-registered intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images, functional and structural information about the atherosclerotic plaque can be acquired and, therefore, the vulnerability of the atherosclerotic plaque may be determined. Moreover, by using the plasmonic nanoparticles as contrast agents, IVPA images can capture the molecular and cellular signature of the atherosclerotic plaque. However, for in-vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging, an integrated catheter consisting of IVUS imaging transducer and an intravascular light delivery system is needed. In this paper, a prototype of the integrated catheter for IVUS/IVPA imaging was constructed based on a commercially available single element IVUS imaging catheter and an optical fiber. The integrated imaging catheter was tested using the tissue mimicking phantoms. The results of our study suggest that the integrated imaging catheter for in-vivo IVUS/IVPA imaging can be designed based on ultrasound probe combined with a fiber optical light delivery system.

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 2009

There is a need for an imaging technique that can reliably identify and characterize the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques. Catheter-based intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is one of the imaging tools of the clinical evaluation of atherosclerosis. However, histopathological information obtained with IVUS imaging is limited. We present and discuss the applicability of a combined intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging approach to assess both vessel structure and tissue composition thus identifying rupture-prone atherosclerotic plaques. Photoacoustic (or optoacoustic and, generally, thermoacoustic) imaging relies on the absorption of electromagnetic energy, such as light, and the subsequent emission of an acoustic wave. Therefore, the amplitude and temporal characteristics of the photoacoustic signal is primarily determined by optical absorption properties of different types of tissues and can be used to differentiate the lipid, fibrous and fibro-cellular components of an inflammatory lesion. Simultaneous IVUS and IVPA imaging studies were conducted using 40 MHz clinical IVUS imaging catheter interfaced with a pulsed laser system. The performance of the IVPA/IVUS imaging was assessed using phantoms with point targets and vessel-mimicking phantoms. To detect the lipids in the plaque, ex-vivo IVPA imaging studies of a normal and an atherosclerotic rabbit aorta were performed at a 532 nm wavelength. To assess plaque composition, multi-wavelength (680-950 nm) spectroscopic IVPA imaging studies were carried out. Finally, molecular and cellular IVPA imaging was demonstrated using plasmonic nanoparticles. Overall, our studies suggest that plaque detection and characterization can be improved using the combined IVPA/IVUS imaging.