Detection and therapy of vulnerable plaque with photodynamic compounds

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for selectively targeting Photodynamic Therapy ("PDT") to inflammatory components of vulnerable plaques. As such, the present invention provides methods for the identification of vulnerable plaques, as well as methods to treat vulnerable plaques by selectively targeting and/or eliminating the inflammatory components of vulnerable plaques. The invention further relates to a specially designed intravascular device that delivers excitation light to the plaque surface inside the artery and receives emitted fluorescence light when a fluorescent signal is detected.