摘要 |
A method for detecting vulnerable plaque lesions in a blood vessel includes subjecting a localized area of the blood vessel to pressure pulses, while emitting electromagnetic radiation at the same localized area of the blood vessel. The pressure pulses cause vibrations of the vascular tissue and the vulnerable plaque lesions that are characteristic for each, which results in differing amounts of deflection of the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the vascular surface. The presence or absence of vulnerable plaque is determined from the extent of the deflection of the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the vascular surface. In another embodiment according to the invention, the presence or absence of vulnerable plaque lesions is determined from the intensity of vibrations of the vascular tissue in response to a pressure pulse. |