High Resolution Intra-arterial Tomography Using Spectroscopic Intravascular Photoacoustic Imaging

Introduction

Diagnosis and early detection is key not only to decreasing the number of deaths associated with cardiovascular disease, but also to saving our nation billions of healthcare dollars spent each year treating this disease, which produces lasting damage to the heart muscle and other parts of the vascular system. Imaging of vessels is critical to determining the status of arterial health and the timing for intervention to achieve effective therapy. Standard catheter-based imaging systems use ultrasound to visualize occlusions in the arterial lumen and measure plaque volume. However, the present apparatus suffers from significant limitations in image resolution and an inability to analyze the composition of visualized plaques.

Invention Description

University of Texas at Austin researchers have achieved dramatic improvements in visual resolution through the integration of photoacoustic techniques into standard ultrasound catheter devices. Using a single, integrated catheter, improved image contrast is achieved, while acoustic techniques gather compositional information empowering physicians to determine the nature and status of plaque vulnerability. Further, this approach offers the option to perform arterial visualization in the presence of intraluminal blood, greatly facilitating its operational potential

This device offers advantages to allow a range of imaging to be executed by a single device, ranging from low-resolution survey of all potential affected vessels to high-resolution imaging and compositional analysis of particular, high-risk plaques.

IP Status

One U.S. Patent Application Filed

UT Researcher

• Stanislav Emelianov, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
  
• Shiram Sethuraman, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
  
• Richard W. Smalling, M.D., UT Health Science Center at Houston
  
• Salavat R. Aglyamov, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin

For further information please contact:

University of Texas,
Austin, USA
Website : www.otc.utexas.edu