High-Resolution Iodine-Enhanced Micro-Computed Tomography of Intact Human Hearts for Detailed Coronary...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Medical Physics
• Anatomical Science

Background:

• Detailed imaging of coronary microvasculature is crucial for computational modeling.
• Current Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) methods for vasa vasorum analysis require organ dissection and non-clearable contrast agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a non-destructive, economical, high-resolution 3D imaging method for human coronary microvasculature.
• To enable imaging without organ dissection for improved computational modeling.

Main Methods:

• Formalin-fixed human hearts were cannulated and stabilized.
• Iodine potassium iodide (IKI) was injected for vasculature staining.
• Micro-CT scanning was performed with optimized low and high-radiation settings.

Main Results:

• Successfully imaged four intact human hearts with coronary occlusions.
• Enabled detailed analysis of vasa vasorum surrounding stenosed and occluded segments.
• The method is non-destructive, allowing hearts to be stored post-imaging.

Conclusions:

• The described methodology allows for non-destructive, high-resolution micro-CT imaging of coronary microvasculature in intact human hearts.
• This facilitates detailed 3D microvascular reconstructions within a macrovascular context.
• Paves the way for advanced computational modeling of coronary artery disease.