Method for detecting early atherosclerosis and vascular damage using radioactive tracers and intravascular radiation detection devices
First Claim
1. A method for use in detecting focal accumulation of radiopharmaceutical agents within an arterial lumen of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating a bloodless field within the vessel of investigation by blocking off the affected vessel proximally and distally with respect to a site and flushing out a quantity of infiltrated blood;
injecting into the patient a solution containing a radioactive tracer which specifically accumulates in metabolically active plaque;
forming a miniaturized radiation detector and readout for local radioactivity imaging and detection;
inserting said radiation detector into a blood vessel of the patient;
interpreting information produced by said readout; and
treating said metabolically active plaque.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting and optionally treating metabolically unstable or active atherosclerotic plaque is provided. The patient is given an I.V. solution containing a radioactive tracer which specifically accumulates in these plaques. A miniaturized radiation detector for local radioactivity imaging and detection is applied directly within the arterial lumen. The radiation detector identifies and differentiates the active, unstable plaque from the inactive, stable plaque. Treatment may optionally be provided through any of three forms, including opening the vessel by mechanical expansion, removing the plaque by mechanical ablation, or delivering a metabolism-altering agent to the affected site.
61 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for use in detecting focal accumulation of radiopharmaceutical agents within an arterial lumen of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a bloodless field within the vessel of investigation by blocking off the affected vessel proximally and distally with respect to a site and flushing out a quantity of infiltrated blood;
injecting into the patient a solution containing a radioactive tracer which specifically accumulates in metabolically active plaque;
forming a miniaturized radiation detector and readout for local radioactivity imaging and detection;
inserting said radiation detector into a blood vessel of the patient;
interpreting information produced by said readout; and
treating said metabolically active plaque.
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2. A method for use in detecting focal accumulation of radiopharmaceutical agents within an arterial lumen of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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injecting into the patient a solution containing a radioactive tracer which specifically accumulates in metabolically active plaque;
forming a miniaturized radiation detector and readout for local radioactivity imaging and detection;
inserting said radiation detector into a blood vessel of the patient;
characterizing the radioactivity to ascertain whether the atherosclerotic plaques as active, unstable, or vulnerable;
quantifying a concentration of said atherosclerotic plaque by comparing a ratio of abnormal-to-normal metabolic activity; and
treating said metabolically active plaque according to its characterization. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for use in detecting focal accumulation of radiopharmaceutical agents within an arterial lumen of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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injecting into the patient a solution containing a radioactive tracer which specifically accumulates in metabolically active plaque;
forming a miniaturized radiation detector and readout for local radioactivity imaging and detection;
inserting said radiation detector into a blood vessel of the patient;
detecting nuclear particles within the pathological tissue;
differentiating the pathological tissue of interest from any background radiation;
isolating the volume of pathological tissue of interest from the larger pool of background radioactivity;
reading the level of radioactivity along a vessel wall;
quantifying a concentration of said atherosclerotic plaque;
characterizing the radioactivity to ascertain whether the atherosclerotic plaques as active, unstable, or vulnerable; and
treating said metabolically active plaque according to its characterization. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification