title: Three-dimensional forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound imaging of human arteries in vitro.
abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the suitability of a novel forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) technique for three-dimensional imaging of severely stenosed or totally occluded vessels, where the conventional side-viewing IVUS systems are of limited use. A stiff 3.8 mm diameter forward-viewing catheter was manufactured to scan a 72 degrees sector ahead of its tip. Conical volume data were acquired by rotating the catheter over 180 degrees by means of a motorised mechanical system. Operating at 30 MHz, the catheter was integrated with an IVUS scanner and a radiofrequency data acquisition system. Postmortem carotid and femoral arteries were scanned in vitro. Correlation of the reconstructed images with histology demonstrated the ability of this forward-viewing IVUS system to visualise healthy lumens, bifurcations, thickened atherosclerotic walls and, most importantly, severe and complete vessel occlusions. A rotating-sector forward-viewing IVUS system is suitable for anatomical assessment of severely diseased vessels in three dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Medical Engineering, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gatzoulis
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pye
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uren
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Salter
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: McDicken
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*