The method, tested so far only in animals and cadavers, could be ready for evaluation in living human patients within two years, UK officials say. UK's laser method, initially reported last month in the journal Circulation, was among several new pieces of technology unveiled yesterday at the American Heart Association's national meeting in Dallas. Most Americans today have some plaques in their blood vessels.
Large plaques impede blood flow to the heart and cause coronary pain called angina.
But some smaller plaques, which are almost impossible to spot with traditional techniques, are even more dangerous. They are vulnerable to rupturing, which can trigger heart attacks or strokes. When the contents of the lesion comes in contact with the blood, a blood clot forms and the heart attack comes. Doctors for years have been trying to find safe ways to identify these vulnerable plaques. Various methods are under development, including new magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound techniques.