3D cellular-resolution imaging in arteries using few-mode interferometry
3D cellular-resolution imaging in arteries using few-mode interferometry
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DOI：
10.1038/s41377-019-0211-5
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发表时间：
2019-11-21
影响因子：
19.4
通讯作者：
Tearney, Guillermo J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Yin, Biwei;Piao, Zhonglie;Tearney, Guillermo J.
在活体内对人类动脉粥样硬化的细胞和亚细胞结构的横断面可视化是重要的，因为这种疾病从根本上是由以深度相关的方式在这种规模发生的异常过程引起的。然而，由于传统聚焦光学固有的分辨率与焦深的权衡，目前最高分辨率的血管内成像技术，即光学相干断层成像(OCT)，无法通过冠状动脉导管提供这种分辨率的横断面图像。在这里，我们介绍了一种基于少模干涉测量的血管内成像系统和导管，它克服了传统大数值孔径物镜的焦深限制，能够通过直径亚毫米的灵活导管在体内进行三维细胞分辨率的血管内成像。利用该设备获得了病变的人冠状动脉和活体兔动脉的图像，显示了动脉壁内清晰可分辨的细胞和亚细胞结构，如单个晶体、平滑肌细胞和炎症细胞。这项技术能够实现细胞分辨率、横断面血管内成像，这将使未来以更高的精度研究和诊断人类冠心病成为可能。
Cross-sectional visualisation of the cellular and subcellular structures of human atherosclerosis in vivo is significant, as this disease is fundamentally caused by abnormal processes that occur at this scale in a depth-dependent manner. However, due to the inherent resolution-depth of focus tradeoff of conventional focusing optics, today's highest-resolution intravascular imaging technique, namely, optical coherence tomography (OCT), is unable to provide cross-sectional images at this resolution through a coronary catheter. Here, we introduce an intravascular imaging system and catheter based on few-mode interferometry, which overcomes the depth of focus limitation of conventional high-numerical-aperture objectives and enables three-dimensional cellular-resolution intravascular imaging in vivo by a submillimetre diameter, flexible catheter. Images of diseased cadaver human coronary arteries and living rabbit arteries were acquired with this device, showing clearly resolved cellular and subcellular structures within the artery wall, such as individual crystals, smooth muscle cells, and inflammatory cells. The capability of this technology to enable cellular-resolution, cross-sectional intravascular imaging will make it possible to study and diagnose human coronary disease with much greater precision in the future.