High Resolution IntraArterial Imaging with Optical Coherence Tomography

Current cardiovascular imaging technologies lack the resolution to accurately identify patients at high risk for acute myocardial infarction and sudden death. This study assesses the feasibility of a recently developed imaging technology, optical coherence tomography(OCT), to provide high resolution imaging of coronary microstructure. Imaging of in vitro human tissue was performed, demonstrating its ability to identify high risk coronary plaques. Its performance was also directly compared with high frequency ultrasound (IVUS), the current clinical technology with the highest resolution. The 16 micron axial resolution of OCT allowed a far superior analysis of plaque microstructure compared with the 110 micron resolution of IVUS. OCT represents an attractive technology for high resolution intravascular imaging due to its high resolution, high contrast, and ability to be integrated with intravascular catheters.