title: A device for a noninvasive evaluation of coronary bypass grafts.
abstract: A new device is presented for evaluating the patency of coronary bypass grafts. Bypass grafts are located within the chest cavity using a Compton backscatter imaging (CBI) technique that creates frontal plane tomographic images. The tomographic image pixels are mapped into computer memory and displayed. A display pointer is used to mark the position of the bypass graft. The computer uses that information to subsequently position a radiation detector, such that it "looks" at the location of the bypass graft within the closed chest. The patency of the graft is then evaluated by monitoring an X-ray induced iodine fluorescence transient in the graft, subsequent to a peripheral intravenous contrast injection. This imaging and graft evaluation device is relatively inexpensive and its application does not require cutdowns or catheterization. The associated radiation dose is 1/10 to 1/50 of that associated with alternative X-ray graft patency evaluation techniques. Preliminary testing has been performed on mechanical and animal models.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Bioeng., Pennsylvania State Univ., Hershey, PA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McInerney
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lamser
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Herr