Novel X-ray Imaging of Carotid Plaque Microstructure

分析迫切需要开发改进的技术来在活体内对颈动脉斑块进行成像。斑块不稳定性是导致中风的急性血栓栓塞性事件的前兆，这种不稳定性与斑块的微结构特征有关。然而，现有的非侵入性成像技术都不能提供关于活体斑块微观结构的全面信息。这项建议的主要研究目标是开发和定量评估一种新的X射线成像方法，称为多图像放射成像(MIR)，用于表征颈动脉斑块的微结构。与简单测量X射线吸收的传统射线照相方法不同，MIR产生两个额外的图像来测量组织的折射和超小角散射(USAXS)属性。将严格确定MIR用于识别易损斑块的多种对比机制的有效性。这将是开发和系统研究用于颈动脉斑块微结构成像的非干涉X射线相衬成像设备的第一项工作。这种创新的成像方法可以极大地方便高危斑块的识别，这是一个具有极高科学和临床意义的及时问题。这项研究的智力价值来自于一种新的X射线成像方式的成像算法的发展和改进，以及它们在斑块成像这一重要问题上的应用。此外，还系统地研究了能够有效表征斑块微观结构的新型X射线造影剂机理。为了完成这项研究，他们的跨学科研究团队结合了物理学、生物医学工程和成像科学的基本原理。该项目有几个广泛的影响，将为生物医学科学和社会带来重要好处。开发一种能够揭示斑块微观结构的非侵入性成像方法，这是该提案的广泛科学目标，将对临床和基础科学研究具有巨大价值。有斑块破裂倾向的患者可以被前瞻性地识别。这将允许量身定做治疗方法，以避免血栓栓塞事件。此外，表征斑块微观结构的能力将有助于理解疾病进展背后的病理生理机制，这将加速各种斑块稳定疗法的发展。将这项研究与拟议的教育活动相结合，将有助于吸引学生进入日益重要的生物医学工程和生物医学成像领域，并极大地增加他们的教育机会。

0854430AnastasioThere is an urgent need for the development of improved techniques for imaging carotid plaques in vivo. Plaque instability is a precursor of acute thromboembolic events that lead to strokes, and this instability is related to the microstructural characteristics of the plaque. However, none of the available noninvasive imaging techniques can provide comprehensive information regarding plaque microstructure in vivo. The broad research objective of this proposal is to develop and quantitatively evaluate a novel X-ray imaging method, called multiple-image radiography (MIR), for characterizing carotid plaque microstructure. Unlike conventional radiographic methods that simply measure X-ray absorption, MIR produces two additional images that measure the refractive and ultra-small-angle scattering (USAXS) properties of tissue. The effectiveness of the multiple contrast mechanisms employed by MIR for identifying vulnerable plaques will be rigorously established. This will be the first work to develop and systematically investigate a non-interferometric X-ray phase-contrast modality for imaging carotid plaque microstructure. This innovative imaging method could greatly facilitate identification of high-risk plaques, which is a timely problem with extremely high scientific and clinical significance. The intellectual merit of the proposed research arises from the development and refinement of image formation algorithms for a new X-ray imaging modality and their application to the important problem of plaque imaging. Additionally, novel X-ray contrast mechanisms that can effectively characterize plaque microstructure are systematically investigated. To accomplish this research, a combination of physics and fundamental principles of biomedical engineering and imaging science are employed by their interdisciplinary research team. There are several broad impacts of the project that will yield important benefits to both biomedical science and society. The development of a noninvasive imaging method that could reveal plaque microstructure, which is the broad scientific goal of this proposal, would have tremendous value for both clinical and basic science studies. Patients who are prone to plaque rupture could be identified prospectively. This would permit tailoring of treatments to avoid thromboembolic events. Additionally, the ability to characterize plaque microstructure would facilitate an understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the progression of the disease, which would accelerate the development of various therapies for plaque stabilization. The integration of this research with the proposed educational activities will help attract students to the increasingly important fields of biomedical engineering and biomedical imaging and enhance greatly their educational opportunities.