Novel X-ray Imaging of Carotid Plaque Microstructure

颈动脉斑块微结构的新型 X 射线成像

• 批准号: 1135068
• 负责人: Mark Anastasio
• 金额: $ 17.24万
• 依托单位: Washington University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-01-01 至 2013-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1135068&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Novel; ray; Imaging; Carotid; Plaque

0854430AnastasioThere is an urgent need for the development of improved techniques for imaging carotid plaques in vivo. Plaque instability is a precursor of acute thromboembolic events that lead to strokes, and this instability is related to the microstructural characteristics of the plaque. However, none of the available noninvasive imaging techniques can provide comprehensive information regarding plaque microstructure in vivo. The broad research objective of this proposal is to develop and quantitatively evaluate a novel X-ray imaging method, called multiple-image radiography (MIR), for characterizing carotid plaque microstructure. Unlike conventional radiographic methods that simply measure X-ray absorption, MIR produces two additional images that measure the refractive and ultra-small-angle scattering (USAXS) properties of tissue. The effectiveness of the multiple contrast mechanisms employed by MIR for identifying vulnerable plaques will be rigorously established. This will be the first work to develop and systematically investigate a non-interferometric X-ray phase-contrast modality for imaging carotid plaque microstructure. This innovative imaging method could greatly facilitate identification of high-risk plaques, which is a timely problem with extremely high scientific and clinical significance. The intellectual merit of the proposed research arises from the development and refinement of image formation algorithms for a new X-ray imaging modality and their application to the important problem of plaque imaging. Additionally, novel X-ray contrast mechanisms that can effectively characterize plaque microstructure are systematically investigated. To accomplish this research, a combination of physics and fundamental principles of biomedical engineering and imaging science are employed by their interdisciplinary research team. There are several broad impacts of the project that will yield important benefits to both biomedical science and society. The development of a noninvasive imaging method that could reveal plaque microstructure, which is the broad scientific goal of this proposal, would have tremendous value for both clinical and basic science studies. Patients who are prone to plaque rupture could be identified prospectively. This would permit tailoring of treatments to avoid thromboembolic events. Additionally, the ability to characterize plaque microstructure would facilitate an understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie the progression of the disease, which would accelerate the development of various therapies for plaque stabilization. The integration of this research with the proposed educational activities will help attract students to the increasingly important fields of biomedical engineering and biomedical imaging and enhance greatly their educational opportunities.

0854430Anastasiothere迫切需要开发改进体内成像颈动脉斑块的技术。斑块不稳定性是导致中风的急性血栓栓塞事件的前体，这种不稳定性与斑块的微观结构特征有关。但是，任何可用的无创成像技术都无法提供有关体内斑块微结构的全面信息。该提案的广泛研究目标是开发和定量评估一种新型的X射线成像方法，称为多图像X射线照相（MIR），用于表征颈动脉斑块微观结构。与简单地测量X射线吸收的常规放射学方法不同，MIR产生了两个额外的图像，这些图像测量了组织的折射率和超小角度散射（USAXS）。 MIR用于识别脆弱斑块的多种对比机制的有效性将被严格确定。这将是第一项开发和系统地研究用于成像颈动脉斑块微结构的非接触X射线相对比模态的工作。这种创新的成像方法可以极大地促进高风险斑块的识别，这是一个及时的问题，具有极高的科学和临床意义。拟议研究的智力优点源于新的X射线成像方式的图像形成算法的发展和完善，及其在斑块成像的重要问题上的应用。此外，系统研究了可以有效地表征斑块微观结构的新型X射线对比机制。为了完成这项研究，其跨学科研究团队采用了生物医学工程和成像科学的物理学和基本原理的结合。 该项目有一些广泛的影响，将为生物医学科学和社会带来重要的好处。可以揭示斑块微观结构的无创成像方法的发展，这是该提案的广泛科学目标，对临床和基础科学研究都具有巨大的价值。可以预期识别容易出现斑块破裂的患者。这将允许对治疗的量身定制，以避免血栓栓塞事件。此外，表征斑块微观结构的能力将促进对疾病进展的病理生理机制的理解，这将加速斑块稳定的各种疗法的发展。这项研究与拟议的教育活动的整合将有助于吸引学生进入日益重要的生物医学工程和生物医学成像领域，并大大增强其教育机会。