Plaque Characterization with Vascular MR Micro-Coils

描述(由申请人提供)：Interventative Image Inc.(I3)正在开发使用血管内MR微油的临床级导管，可以在临床现场强度下提供高分辨率、高信噪比的血管壁图像。我们认为，这样的图像应该能够表征斑块组织类型(例如，纤维脂肪斑块、晚期坏死核心或不稳定的纤维帽)，并确定易受损害的病变。I3和凯斯西储大学的研究人员将开发实验和计算机方法，使用人类身体血管节段的磁共振图像来验证这一假设。一种特殊的冷冻切割机/成像设备将被用来获得可以准确配准到磁共振图像的“地面真实”病理图。计算机分类技术将被应用于具有不同对比度的多个磁共振图像，结果将被统计地与病理图进行比较。据信，彻底的评估需要大量具有各种病理特征的血管样本，并将研究提高实验吞吐量的技术。如果达到了第一阶段的目标，我们将继续进行大样本、设计良好的实验，以测试使用微线圈成像的血管疾病的人体和计算机组织分类。如果可以使用微线圈图像可靠地对斑块组织类型进行分类，这应该会在一个叫嚣着要诊断脆弱斑块的方法的市场上引起极大的兴奋。与公共健康相关，介入成像公司(I3)和凯斯西储大学的研究人员将开发改进血管疾病检测和分期的方法。血管内磁共振微线圈将被用来获得非常高分辨率的血管壁显微磁共振图像。计算机辅助诊断技术将被开发并应用于图像数据，以确定病变中的斑块类型(例如，纤维脂肪斑块、晚期坏死核心或不稳定的纤维帽)，并确定其破裂的脆弱性，这可能是危及生命的事件。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Interventional Imaging Incorporated (I3) is developing clinical-grade catheters with intravascular MR micro- oils that can provide high resolution, high SNR images of the blood vessel wall at clinical field strengths. We believe that such images should enable one to characterize plaque tissue types (e.g., fibro-fatty plaque, advanced necrotic core, or unstable fibrous cap) and determine vulnerable lesions. I3 and researchers at Case Western Reserve University will develop experimental and computer methods to test this hypothesis using MR images of vessel segments from human cadavers. A special cryo-microtome/imaging device will be used to obtain "ground truth" pathology maps that can be accurately registered to the MR images. Computer classification techniques will be applied to multiple MR images having different contrasts and results will be statistically compared to pathology maps. It is believed that thorough evaluation requires a large number of vessel samples with a range of pathologies, and techniques for improved experimental throughput will be investigated. If Phase I goals are met, we will continue with large sample, well designed experiments to test both human and computer tissue classification of blood vessel disease using micro-coil imaging. If plaque tissue types can be reliably classified using micro-coil images, this should create extraordinary excitement in a marketplace clamoring for methods to diagnose vulnerable plaque. Relevance to Public Health, Interventional Imaging Incorporated (I3) and researchers at Case Western Reserve University will develop methods for improved detection and staging of blood vessel disease. Intravascular MR micro-coils will be used to obtain very high resolution, microscopic MR images of the vessel wall. Computer aided diagnosis techniques will be developed and applied to the image data that will determine the type of plaque in the lesion (e.g., fibro-fatty plaque, advanced necrotic core, or unstable fibrous cap) and determine its vulnerability for rupture, which can be a life threatening event.