We observed atherosclerotic plaque phantoms using a novel near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technique. Data were obtained through saline or blood layers to simulate an angioscopic environment for the phantom. For the study, we developed a NIR-HSI system with an NIR supercontinuum light source and mercury-cadmium-telluride camera. Apparent spectral absorbance was obtained at wavelengths of 1150 -2400 nm. Hyperspectral images of lipid were constructed using a spectral angle mapper algorithm. Bovine fat covered with saline or blood was observed using hyperspectral images at a wavelength around 1200 nm. Our results show that NIR-HSI is a promising angioscopic technique with the potential to identify lipid-rich plaques without clamping and saline injection.
Near-infrared multispectral imaging (NIR-MSI) is a potentially effective technique for evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque. In the present study, the optimal wavelength combinations in the NIR wavelength range for detecting plaque were investigated. Atherosclerotic phantoms were observed using a NIR camera at different wavelengths in the range 1150-1790 nm. It was found that the plaque phantom could be detected using just three suitably chosen wavelengths in the neighborhood of absorption peaks due to the lipid at 1210 and 1730 nm. Although higher quality images could be obtained using the peak at 1730 nm due to the stronger absorption at this wavelength, the peak at 1210 nm offered the advantage of a larger optical penetration depth.
Atherosclerosis is a primary cause of critical ischemic disease and disease attributed atherosclerosis is major mortality in the world today. The risk of critical event is involved the content of lipid in plaque. Near-infrared multispectral imaging (MSI) is suitable for the evaluation of plaque because it can provide spectroscopic information and spatial image quickly with simple measurement system. In this paper, the optimal wavelengths to detect plaque were investigated in the nearinfrared wavelength range with atherosclerotic phantom. Supercontinuum light was illuminated on a grating spectrometer for the selection of a specific wavelength, and the wavelength-limited light was irradiated to the phantom. Two phantoms were observed by near-infrared camera in the wavelength range from 1150 to 1790 nm. Plaque phantom can be detected with three wavelengths containing an absorption peak of lipid at 1210 nm or 1730 nm. Especially, the absorption peak at 1730 nm had advantage over 1210 nm even considering the difference of penetration depth. The multispectral images were blurred with decreasing the number of wavelengths. These result showed the possibility of MSI using three wavelengths including 1210 nm and 1730 nm for enhancing diagnosis of atherosclerotic plaque.
Near-infrared multispectral imaging (NIR-MSI) is a potentially effective technique for quantitative evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque. NIR light shows high penetration for biological tissues and the NIR region includes the characteristic absorptions of lipid-rich vulnerable plaques, especially at wavelengths near 1200 nm. In this study, a quantitative method for assessing lipid volume fraction in plaques one of the factors of plaque vulnerability was developed using NIR-MSI at three wavelengths around 1200 nm. Atherosclerotic phantoms with lipid volume fractions of 100, 80, 60, 40, and 20 vol% were prepared and measured by NIR-MSI at three wavelengths: 1150, 1200, and 1300 nm. The acquired datasets were processed by the spectral angle mapper method. Consequently, lipid-enhanced multispectral images of the phantoms were created. In addition, the differences in lipid volume fraction were evaluated and the fractions were classi ed into six grades quantitatively. These results show the potential of NIR-MSI for the quantitative evaluation of vulnerable plaques.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.