Three-dimensional forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound imaging of human arteries in vitro

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 27; no. 7; pp. 969 - 982
• Main Authors: Gatzoulis, Loukianos, Watson, Robin J, Jordan, Lee B, Pye, Stephen D, Anderson, Tom, Uren, Neal, Salter, Donald M, Fox, Keith A.A, McDicken, W.Norman
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arterial Occlusive Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical engineering; Blood vessels; Carotid Arteries - diagnostic imaging; Data acquisition; Femoral Artery - diagnostic imaging; Forward-viewing; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; In Vitro Techniques; Intravascular ultrasound; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Phantoms, Imaging; Scanning; Three-dimensional; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography, Interventional - instrumentation; Ultrasonography, Interventional - methods; Forward-viewing; Three-dimensional; Intravascular ultrasound; Sonography; Human; Visualization; Femoral artery; Postmortem; In vitro; Image quality; Carotid; Echography; Tridimensional image; Intraarterial administration; Technique; Cadaver
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-5629(01)00371-4

The aim of this work was to investigate the suitability of a novel forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) technique for three-dimensional imaging of severely stenosed or totally occluded vessels, where the conventional side-viewing IVUS systems are of limited use. A stiff 3.8 mm diameter forward-viewing catheter was manufactured to scan a 72° sector ahead of its tip. Conical volume data were acquired by rotating the catheter over 180° by means of a motorised mechanical system. Operating at 30 MHz, the catheter was integrated with an IVUS scanner and a radiofrequency data acquisition system. Postmortem carotid and femoral arteries were scanned in vitro. Correlation of the reconstructed images with histology demonstrated the ability of this forward-viewing IVUS system to visualise healthy lumens, bifurcations, thickened atherosclerotic walls and, most importantly, severe and complete vessel occlusions. A rotating-sector forward-viewing IVUS system is suitable for anatomical assessment of severely diseased vessels in three dimensions. (E-mail: N.McDicken@ed.ac.uk)