Fluorescence multispectral imaging-based diagnostic system for atherosclerosis

Area of Science:

• Biomedical imaging
• Cardiovascular diagnostics
• Optical spectroscopy

Background:

• Atherosclerotic arterial walls accumulate lipids, notably cholesterol, distinguishing them from healthy vessels.
• This lipid-rich composition presents a potential target for diagnostic imaging techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the utility of multispectral fluorescence imaging for atherosclerosis diagnosis.
• To leverage differences in arterial wall composition for disease identification.

Main Methods:

• Illumination of extracted arteries (rabbit aorta, human coronary artery) with 405 nm excitation light.
• Acquisition of multispectral fluorescence images to capture spectral data.
• Pathological examination and measurement of intima-media thickness in human coronary arteries.

Main Results:

• Distinct fluorescence spectra were observed between atherosclerotic and normal arterial sites.
• A ratio of fluorescence intensity differences at specific wavelengths enabled discrimination of atherosclerotic regions.
• Significant correlation found between fluorescence intensity and arterial wall thickness.

Conclusions:

• Multispectral fluorescence imaging provides both qualitative and quantitative assessment of atherosclerosis.
• The technique demonstrates viability as a diagnostic tool for atherosclerosis.