Abstract
We introduce a method for photoacoustic imaging of the carotid artery, tailored toward detection of lipid-rich atherosclerotic lesions. A common human carotid artery was obtained at autopsy, embedded in a neck mimicking phantom and imaged with a multimodality imaging system using interstitial illumination. Light was delivered through a 1.25-mm-diameter optical probe that can be placed in the pharynx, allowing the carotid artery to be illuminated from within the body. Ultrasound imaging and photoacoustic signal detection is achieved by an external 8-MHz linear array coupled to an ultrasound imaging system. Spectroscopic analysis of photoacoustic images obtained in the wavelength range from 1130 to 1250 nm revealed plaque-specific lipid accumulation in the collagen structure of the artery wall. These spectroscopic findings were confirmed by histology.
Highlights
We introduce a method for photoacoustic imaging of the carotid artery, tailored toward detection of lipidrich atherosclerotic lesions
A carotid artery (CA) affected by atherosclerosis shows degradation of the collagen structure, thickening of the intima, and formation of complex plaques that contain regions with a lipid-rich necrotic core, calcifications, and often intraplaque hemorrhage
Distinct spectral features in the nearinfrared absorption spectrum as sampled by intravascular PA (IVPA) can be exploited to identify lipids[5,6] and to discriminate between fatty acids in normal tissue and cholesterol species found in plaques.[7,8]
Summary
W. van der Steen Nico de Jong Geert Springeling Jan Lukas Robertus Aad van der Lugt Gijs van Soest. Downloaded From: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/Journal-of-Biomedical-Optics on 05 Oct 2020 Terms of Use: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/terms-of-use
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