title: Intravascular probe for detection of vulnerable plaque.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronary angiography defines geometry of lumen of artery. However, perhaps 70% of heart attacks occur when minimally obstructive thin capped fibroatheroma rupture, causing thrombus and arterial occlusion. We have developed an intravascular imaging detector to identify vulnerable coronary artery plaque.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detector measures beta or conversion electron emissions from plaque-binding radiotracers. Detector assembly fits into a 2-mm diameter catheter and overcomes technical constraints of size, sensitivity, and conformance to intravascular environment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Device was tested by stepping test point sources past detector to verify function. System resolution is 6.7 mm and sensitivity is 400 cps/microCi one mm from detector.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This prototype is a first step in imaging of labeled vulnerable plaque in coronary arteries. This type of system may assist in development of targeted and cost effective therapies to lower incidence of acute coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. janecekm@mir.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janecek
authors.forename: Bradley E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Patt
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Iwanczyk
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacDonald
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: William Strauss
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsugita
authors.forename: Vartan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghazarossian
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
mesh_terms: D001610:Beta Particles; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D011849:Radioactive Tracers