ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE DETECTION

• US 20150080686A1
• Filed: 04/12/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Heart And Diabetes Institute
• Original Assignee: Baker Idi Heart And Diabetes Institute Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Karlheinz, Peter, Htun, Nay Min
• Granted Patent: US 10,835,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/317
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/02 specially adapted for a particular organ or body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0086 using infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02007 Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus detects atherosclerotic plaques. The apparatus includes an electronic processing device that determines a level of fluorescence sensed by a sensor at a second infrared wavelength in response to exposure of at least part of an artery to radiation at a first infrared wavelength and determines a fluorescence indicator using the level of fluorescence. The fluorescence indicator is indicative of the presence, absence or degree of an atherosclerotic plaque.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in detecting atherosclerotic plaques, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a radiation source configured to generate radiation at a first infrared wavelength and expose at least part of an artery to the radiation;

(b) a sensor configured to sense radiation emitted from the at least part of the artery at a second infrared wavelength

(c) an electronic processor configured to;

(i) determine a level of fluorescence sensed by the sensor at the second infrared wavelength in response to exposure of the at least part of the artery to the radiation at the first infrared wavelength; and

,

(ii) determine a fluorescence indicator using the level of fluorescence, the fluorescence indicator being indicative of the presence, absence or degree of an atherosclerotic plaque.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiation source includes a laser.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an infrared photodetector.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes optics for focusing radiation.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a catheter including one or more optical fibers extending between proximal and distal ends, the distal end being for insertion into an artery, and the radiation source and sensing device being coupled to the proximal end.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a bandpass filter.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is at least one of:

a) 650 nm±

50 nm;

b) 700 nm±

50 nm;

c) 750 nm±

50 nm;

d) 800 nm±

50 nm; and

,

e) 850 nm±

50 nm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first wavelength is at least one of:

a) between 650 nm and 900 nm;

b) 685 nm; and

c) 785 nm.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wavelength is different to the first wavelength.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wavelength is at least one of:

a) 700 nm±

50 nm;

b) 750 nm±

50 nm;

c) 800 nm±

50 nm;

d) 850 nm±

50 nm;

e) 900 nm±

50 nm;

f) 950 nm±

50 nm;

g) 1000 nm±

50 nm;

h) 1050 nm±

50 nm; and

,

i) 1100 nm±

50 nm.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second wavelength is at least one of:

a) between 650 nm and 1144 nm;

b) between 800 nm and 820 nm;

c) 700 nm; and

d) 800 nm.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:

a) compare the level of fluorescence to a threshold; and

,

b) determine the fluorescence indicator using the results of the comparison.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:

a) determine a first level of fluorescence sensed by the sensor at the second infrared wavelength in response to exposure of a first part of the artery to radiation at the first infrared wavelength;

b) determine a second level of fluorescence sensed by the sensor at the second infrared wavelength in response to exposure of a second part of the artery to radiation at the first infrared wavelength; and

,

c) determine the fluorescence indicator using the first level and the second level.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:

a) compare the first level to the second level; and

,

b) determine the fluorescence indicator using the results of the comparison.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein:

a) the first part is an at risk part, the at risk part being an area at risk of having an unstable plaque; and

,

b) the second part is a healthy part.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the electronic processor is configured to determine the fluorescence indicator by a method that includes determining if the first level of radiation is greater than the second level of radiation by a threshold factor of at least 2.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the threshold factor is at least one of:

a) 3 or more;

b) 5 or more;

c) 10 or more; and

,

d) 15 or more.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the level of fluorescence is based on an intensity of radiation emitted by the at least one part.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is for detecting the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque, and wherein the fluorescence indicator is indicative of the vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque.

21. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide representation comprising at least one of:

a) a numerical value indicative of the fluorescence indicator;

b) a symbolic value indicative of the fluorescence indicator;

c) a graphical indicator indicative of the fluorescence indicator; and

,

d) an indicator of at least one threshold.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to:

a) determine a detected marker associated with a pathological condition by introducing an agent that detects the marker into the at least part of the artery; and

,

b) determine the fluorescence indicator at least partially using the at least one detected marker.

2. (canceled)

23. A method for detecting atherosclerotic plaques, the method comprising, in an electronic processor:

a) determining a level of fluorescence sensed by a sensor at a second infrared wavelength in response to exposure of at least part of an artery to radiation at a first infrared wavelength; and

,

b) determining a fluorescence indicator using the level of fluorescence, the fluorescence indicator being indicative of the presence, absence or degree of atherosclerotic plaques.

24. A method for use in detecting vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, the method comprising:

a) exposing at least part of an artery to radiation at a first infrared wavelength;

b) determining a level of fluorescence sensed by a sensor from the at least part of the artery at a second infrared wavelength; and

,

c) determining a fluorescence indicator using the level of fluorescence, the fluorescence indicator being indicative of the presence, absence, degree or vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques.

25. A method according to claim 24, the method comprising:

a) introducing an agent that detects a marker into the at least part of the artery, the detected marker being associated with a pathological condition;

b) determining the detected marker in the at least part of the artery; and

,

c) determining the fluorescence indicator at least partially using the detected marker.

26. (canceled)

27. (canceled)

28. A method for detecting the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaques, the method comprising:

a) exposing at least part of an artery to radiation at a first infrared wavelength;

b) sensing radiation emitted from the at least part of the artery at a second infrared wavelength;

c) determining a level of fluorescence emitted at the second infrared wavelength; and

,

determining a fluorescence indicator using the level of fluorescence, the fluorescence indicator being indicative of the vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque.

29. Method according to claim 28, wherein the method further comprises inserting a distal end of a catheter including one or more optical fibers extending between the distal end and a proximal end of the catheter, wherein the radiation at the first infrared wavelength is generated from a radiation source, and the radiation emitted at the second infrared wavelength is sensed by a sensor, and wherein the radiation source and the sensor are coupled to the proximal end.