Patent ID: 7603166
Filing Date: 2009-10-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of simultaneously measuring in a living vessel at least two chemical parameters associated with inflamed vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, the method comprising: providing a fiber optic catheter having an illumination fiber bundle and a detection fiber bundle capable of, respectively, directing radiation onto or receiving radiation from a site on a vessel wall, said catheter having means for reducing optical interference by blood or other fluid within a vessel when undergoing examination; providing a source of 400-2500 nm wavelength radiation operatively linked to said illumination fiber bundle; providing a spectrometer operatively linked to the detection fiber bundle; providing a processor operatively linked to said spectrometer containing algorithms and reference measurements for at least two chemical parameters associated with inflamed vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, said spectrometer and processor together being capable of receiving and analyzing spectral data collected by said detection fiber bundle and reporting corresponding parameter measurements; providing a display system capable of receiving and displaying a report from said processor; measuring a first parameter at a multiplicity of sites on the vessel wall; measuring at least one other parameter at said multiplicity of sites on a vessel wall; analyzing a multiplicity of parameter measurements corresponding to said multiplicity of sites so that a qualitative or quantitative value for each said parameter is obtained; and performing a determination regarding inflamed vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque at said multiplicity of sites based on the qualitative or quantitative value for each said parameter, wherein the results of said determination are reported on said display system, and wherein said first parameter is chosen from the group consisting of pH, oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, cytochrome oxidase aa