Integrated Multimodality Intravascular Imaging System that Combines Optical Coherence Tomography, Ultrasound Imaging, and Acoustic Radiation Force Optical Coherence Elastography

摘要

A method of using an integrated intraluminal imaging system includes an optical coherence tomography interferometer (OCT), an ultrasound subsystem (US) and a phase resolved acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography subsystem (PR-RAF-OCE). The steps include performing OCT to generate a returned optical signal, performing US imaging to generate a returned ultrasound signal, performing PR-ARF-OCE to generate a returned PR-ARF-OCE signal by generating a amplitude modulated ultrasound beam or chirped amplitude modulated ultrasound beam to frequency sweep the acoustic radiation force, measuring the ARF induced tissue displacement using phase resolved OCT method, and the frequency dependence of the PR-ARF-OCE signal, processing the returned optical signal, the returned ultrasound signal and the measured frequency dependence of the returned PR-ARF-OCE optical coherence elastographic signal to quantitatively measure the mechanical properties of the identified tissues with both spectral and spatial resolution using enhanced materials response at mechanically resonant frequencies to distinguish tissues with varying stiffness, to identify tissues with different biomechanical properties and to measure structural and mechanical properties simultaneously.

主权项

1. An integrated intraluminal imaging system for diagnosis and management of a disease exhibiting changes in biomechanical properties of tissues comprising:
an intraluminal probe; an optical coherence tomography interferometer including an optical fiber disposed in the intraluminal probe, the optical fiber for delivering an optical beam and receiving a returned optical signal through the intraluminal probe from the tissues; an ultrasound subsystem having an ultrasound transducer disposed in the intraluminal probe, the transducer for delivering an ultrasound beam and receiving a returned ultrasound signal through the intraluminal probe from the tissues; an acoustic generator coupled to the ultrasound transducer for delivering an acoustic radiation force (ARF) to the tissues, the optical coherence tomography interferometer receiving a returned ARF optical signal due to displacement of the tissues in response to the acoustic radiation force from which returned ARF optical signal a phase resolved acoustic radiation force optical coherence elastography image can be formed; and a computer coupled to optical coherence tomography interferometer, to the ultrasound transducer, and to the acoustic generator for controlling the same and for processing the returned optical signal, the returned ultrasound signal and the returned ARF optical signal to form an image to identify tissues with different biomechanical properties and to measure structural and mechanical properties of the identified tissues simultaneously.