Method and apparatus for detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque
US7603166B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 12, 2003 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/6853
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods for the detection of inflammation associated with vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque to prevent heart attack and stroke are disclosed. The methods are also applicable to detection of infection, cancer, wounds or auto-immune disease in the body. Certain embodiments of the new methods provide a way of predicting the level of vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque to rupture or thrombus formation by assessing via fiber optic NIR spectrophotometry the status of two or more parameters associated with inflamed atherosclerotic plaque in a vessel of a living patient. From these measurements such conditions as low pH, hypoxia, low glucose, oxidative stress or compounds abundant in vulnerable plaque such as oxidized LDL cholesterol and oxidized metabolites of NO, significant active macrophage population, thin plaque cap, as well as senescence and/or apoptosis of smooth muscle or endothelial cells are determined with the assistance of a suitably programmed microprocessor. By considering together the status of some or all of these conditions with respect to successive sites along a vessel wall, particular plaques which are at significant risk of rupturing or thrombosing can be disti…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.