Quantitative Vascular Image Analysis system

描述(由申请人提供)： 动脉粥样硬化是大多数心脏病发作和中风的根本原因，使其成为美国死亡率和发病率的头号原因。需要评估体内动脉粥样硬化病变成分和形态的方法，从而使医学专业人员能够根据准确的风险评估做出治疗决定，并促进直接根据病变评估药物效果的药物试验。 这项应用的目标是通过建立用于体内动脉粥样硬化成像和分析的产品线来帮助满足这些需求。我们的战略是开发和销售评估目标船所需的全套产品。然后，只需一次购买捆绑包，医疗专业人员就可以将普通成像设备转换为高级动脉粥样硬化成像套件。其中一个这样的套件将包括，例如，用于颈动脉高分辨率磁共振成像(MRI)的特殊设计的相控阵线圈，一个磁头架，用于颈动脉的MRI技术指南，以及用于基于计算机评估成像结果的定量血管分析系统(QVAS TM)。该提案涉及该清单中的最后一个组件，即QVAS TM系统。 为了实现这一目标，我们与华盛顿大学的血管成像实验室(VIL)建立了战略合作关系。在VIL的帮助下，我们先前在第一阶段SBIR赠款R43-HL70576下开发了QVAS TM软件的原型版本。通过在这项提案中继续这一合作努力，我们计划将QVAS TM系统建立为颈动脉疾病的主要分析工具。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Atherosclerosis is the root cause behind most heart attacks and strokes, making it the number one cause of mortality and morbidity in the United States. Methods are needed that permit evaluation of atherosclerotic lesion composition and morphology in vivo, thereby enabling medical professionals to base treatment decisions on accurate risk assessments and facilitating pharmaceutical trials that evaluate drug effects directly on the lesions. The goal of this application is to help meet these needs by establishing product lines for imaging and analyzing atherosclerosis in vivo. Our strategy is to develop and market the complete set of products necessary to evaluate a target vessel. Then, with a single purchase of a bundled package, the medical professional can convert a generic imaging device into an advanced atherosclerosis-imaging suite. One such suite will include, for example, specially designed phased-array coils for high-resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of carotid arteries, a head holder, a guide to MRI techniques for the carotid arteries, and a Quantitative Vascular Analysis System (QVAS TM) for computer-based evaluation of the imaging results. This proposal addresses the last component in this list, the QVAS TM system. To enable us to meet this goal, we have established a strategic relationship with the Vascular Imaging Laboratory (VIL) at the University of Washington. With the assistance of the VIL, we have previously developed a prototype version of the QVAS TM software under Phase I SBIR grant R43-HL70576. By continuing this collaborative effort within this proposal, we plan to establish the QVAS TM system as the premier analysis tool for carotid artery disease.