Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of Unstable Arterial Plaques

描述（来自申请人摘要的逐字描述）： 应用是开发一种新的光学光谱技术，用于检测 研究和临床关注的动脉粥样硬化斑块的特征， 尤其是不稳定的斑块。总体目标是确定光谱 动脉粥样硬化斑块的特征可能与 不稳定斑块的病理特征。虽然动脉粥样硬化是一种终身疾病， 进行性疾病、临床并发症和死亡主要是 斑块突然破裂不稳定斑块的早期诊断是 提高心血管病患者的治疗和生存率。的原因和 斑块破裂的确切机制还不清楚。 组织学证据表明，斑块本身的组成是一个 重要的预测因素。我们提出了时间分辨的激光诱导 荧光光谱（TR-LIFS）技术作为表征 动脉壁的组成和区分不稳定斑块。 在进展过程中， 动脉粥样硬化斑块的变化导致光学特性的改变 组织。建议的TR-LIFS系统将获得光谱和 时间分辨荧光信息和联合收割机结合了光谱分析的丰富性， 用于增强组织表征的参数。三个具体目标将是 解决：1）建立现有的TR-LIFS技术，并确定 利用该技术表征牙菌斑的最佳方法 体内。这将通过开发便携式TR-LIFS系统进行评估， 在动物身上测试这个新系统 动脉粥样硬化模型2)表征体内和体外颈动脉 斑块，并确定那些光谱特征，可以区分 不稳定斑块这将通过TR-LIFS测量颈动脉 颈动脉内膜剥脱术患者的斑块， 结果与斑块的组织病理学检查结果一致。3)到积层 时间分辨光谱数据分析的现有算法/方法 并改进病变分类和不稳定特征的方法 识别.这将通过调查数据分析进行评估， 统计和分类方法，可以最佳地利用丰富的 光谱参数由TR-LIFS数据提供。这项研究将提供一个 能够检测和监测 可预测斑块破裂的动脉粥样硬化病变。本研究将 促进将颈动脉病变的研究结果转化为临床 识别和治疗那些更有可能 有不稳定的斑块

DESCRIPTION (Verbatim from the Applicant's Abstract): The purpose of this application is to develop a novel optical spectroscopy technique for detecting characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques of research and clinical interest, particularly unstable plaques. The overall goal is to determine spectroscopic characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques that can be correlated with pathological features of unstable plaques. While atherosclerosis is a lifelong progressive disease, clinical complications and death are primarily the result of sudden plaque rupture. Early diagnostic of unstable plaques is the key to improved treatment and survival rates of cardiovascular patients. The cause and the exact mechanism of plaque rupture are not well understood. Histopathological evidence suggests that composition of the plaque itself is an important predictor factor. We propose the Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TR-LIFS) technique as a tool for characterizing the composition of the arterial wall and for distinguishing unstable plaques. During progression, the biochemical composition and morphology of the atherosclerotic plaque changes leading to altered optical characteristics of the tissue. The proposed TR-LIFS system will obtain both spectral and time-resolved fluorescence information and combine the wealth of spectroscopic parameters for enhancing tissue characterization. Three specific aims will be addressed: 1) to build-up on the existing TR-LIFS technique and to determine the best methodology for utilizing this technique to characterize plaque in-vivo. This will be assessed by developing a portable TR-LIFS system capable of operating in in-vivo conditions and testing this new system in an animal atherosclerotic model. 2) To characterize in in-vivo and ex-vivo carotid artery plaque and to identify those spectroscopic features that may distinguish the unstable plaque. This will be accomplished by TR-LIFS measurements of carotid plaques in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and comparison of those findings to that of histopathological examination of the plaque. 3) To build-up on the existing algorithms/methods for time-resolved spectroscopy data analysis and to advance methods for lesions classification and features of instability identification. This will be assessed by investigating data analysis, statistical, and classification methods that can optimally use the wealth of spectroscopic parameters provided by TR-LIFS data. This research will provide a technique capable of detecting and monitoring compositional features of atherosclerotic lesion predictable of plaque rupture. This study will facilitate translation of research findings on carotid lesions into clinical practice for identifying and treating those patients who are more likely to have an unstable plaque.