ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a prototype of an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)/IV photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging system, tests the performance of the system, and evaluates the ability of the imaging system to detect and differentiate atherosclerotic plaques. A combined IVUS and IVPA imaging was demonstrated using an IVUS imaging catheter. The combined imaging system was evaluated by imaging a vessel-mimicking phantom. The clinical utility of IVPA imaging is expected to further improve through a multiwavelength or spectroscopic photoacoustic imaging approach. The spectroscopic IVPA images of the diseased and normal aorta highlighted the capability of photoacoustic imaging to simultaneously image and differentiate atherosclerotic plaques. The chapter demonstrates that IVPA imaging performed in combination with IVUS imaging has tremendous potential in interventional cardiology. The coregistered combined IVPA and IVUS images may better portray inclusion with higher optical absorption in the context of the structure of the vessel phantom.
