ABSTRACT
We have demonstrated that the MGH OCT system is capable of identifying all architectural features of vulnerable coronary plaques. First, the capability of the MGH OCT system to identify the different components of atherosclerotic plaque was tested in vitro study using arterial specimens.The feasibility and evaluation of the intravascular catheter system were performed in the porcine experiments. Finally, this novel imaging modality was applied for the first time in humans undergoing cardiac catheterization by our group. All of this work provided the basic work for the next step to identify vulnerable coronary plaque.
