Coronary artery disease investigation 'set to improve' with microOCT
Monday 11th July 2011
Doctors in cardiac jobs have gained new insight into the subcellular features of coronary artery disease, by developing a new optical coherence tomography technique (OCT).
The new intravascular imaging technology was developed by researchers at the Wellman Center for photomedicine in Massachusetts and provides ten-times greater resolution than traditional OCT.
This new microOCT approach is capable of showing image structures as small as one micrometre, while traditional OCT could only show clear images of structures larger than ten micrometres.
Commenting on the findings, which appear in the journal Nature Medicine, Harvard Medical School professor of pathology Gary Tearney explained: "Improved definitions of high-risk plaques will lead to greater accuracy."
He added that being able to monitor healing around implanted devices "could reduce the number of patients who must be on anticlotting medications".
Recent research published by the American Heart Association suggested that millions of people with peripheral artery disease may not be receiving the necessary medications, putting them at increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
Written by Martin Lambert
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