Plaque Characterization with Vascular MR Micro-Coils

描述（由申请人提供）：介入成像公司（I3）正在开发临床级血管内磁共振微油导管，可以在临床场强下提供高分辨率，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纤维帽）并确定易损病灶。I3和凯斯西储大学（Case Western Reserve University）的研究人员将开发实验和计算机方法，利用人类尸体血管片段的MR图像来验证这一假设。一种特殊的冷冻切片机/成像设备将用于获得可以准确注册到MR图像的“真实”病理图。计算机分类技术将应用于具有不同对比度的多个MR图像，结果将与病理图进行统计比较。据信，彻底的评估需要大量具有一系列病理的容器样本，并且将研究提高实验吞吐量的技术。如果第一阶段的目标得到满足，我们将继续进行大样本、精心设计的实验，利用微线圈成像测试人类和计算机组织对血管疾病的分类。如果使用微线圈图像可以可靠地对斑块组织类型进行分类，这将在市场上引起极大的兴奋，因为市场上迫切需要诊断易损斑块的方法。与公共卫生相关，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用于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，以确定病变斑块的类型（例如，纤维脂肪斑块、晚期坏死核心或不稳定的纤维帽），并确定其破裂的易损性，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.