Application Of Infrared Fiber Optic Imaging In Atherosclerotic Plaques

Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques-the main cause of heart attack and strokes-is not predictable. Hence even treadmill stress tests fail to detect many persons at risk. Fatal plaques are found at autopsies to be associated with active inflammatory cells. Classically, inflammation is detected by its swelling red color, pain and heat We have found that heat accurately locates the dangerous plaques that are significantly warmer then atherosclerotic plaques without the same inflammation. Sn order to develop a non-surgical method of locating these plaques, an Infrared fiber optic imaging system has been developed in our laboratory to evaluate the causes and effect of heat in atherosclerotic plaques. The fiber optical imaging bundle consists of 900 (a 30x30 array) individual As2S3 chalcogenide glass fibers which transmit infrared radiation from 0.7 mu m to 7 mu m with little energy loss. By combining that with a highly sensitive Indium Antimonide (InSb) infrared focal plane array (FPA) detector, we are able to obtain thermal graphic images in situ. The temperature heterogeneity of atherosclerotic plaques developed in the arteral of the experimental animal models is under study with the new device. The preliminary experimental results from the animal model are encouraging. The potential of using this new technology in diagnostic evaluation of the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques is considerable.