New Imaging Technology Identifies Lipid Core Plaque

New technology has been devised to detect lipid core plaque (LCP) and utilizes catheter-based near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to identify and evaluate the chemical composition of intracoronary plaques within artery walls that cannot be detected by typically used diagnostic tests such as treadmill exams and coronary angiograms.

InfraReDx, Inc. (Burlington, MA, USA), a medical device company that develops diagnostic imaging technologies to identify and characterize diseased tissues, reported that its LipiScan coronary imaging system was featured at the 13th annual live Symposium of Complex Coronary & Vascular Cases (the CCC Symposium), held at The Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York, NY, USA) June 16-19, 2010. The CCC Symposium is a medical course focused on the latest techniques and technologies pertinent to the field of interventional cardiovascular medicine.

Annapoorna S. Kini, M.D., MRCP, associate professor of medicine, associate director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory & Intervention, and director, Interventional Fellowship Program at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, conducted two live case demonstrations of the LipiScan coronary imaging system during the CCC Symposium.

"As one of the more exciting new devices to be introduced to the catheterization lab, it is a pleasure for me to be speaking about my experience with the LipiScan near infrared coronary imaging system," stated Dr. Kini. "At Mount Sinai, we find the LipiScan system extremely useful in revealing the health of the vessel wall during stenting procedures and identifying the coronary plaques of greatest concern. Armed with a clear view of lipid core plaque burden, we are better prepared to prevent distal embolization and reduce peristenting complications."

Moreover, Pedro Moreno, M.D., associate professor of medicine and director, Interventional Research Cardiac Catheterization Lab at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, discussed findings from the PROSPECT (Predictors of Response to CRT [cardiac resynchronization therapy] trial, sponsored by Abbott Laboratories [Abbott Park, IL, USA]), one of the most comprehensive studies to date to assess the role of vulnerable plaque in unexpected heart attacks and the natural progression of coronary artery disease. The outcomes of this trial point to the importance of new technologies such as the LipiScan coronary imaging system.

InfraReDx's currently marketed LipiScan system is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared product to detect LCP. The company is also developing a version of the LipiScan system that incorporates intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) technology. The LipiScan IVUS system, combining both NIR spectroscopy and IVUS, is uniquely designed to be able to identify both the chemical composition and structure of vulnerable plaques in a single catheter, single pull back procedure. It is expected to become commercially available during 2010.

Lipid-core containing plaque is suspected to be "vulnerable plaque" that can rupture and form dangerous blood clots, leading to coronary thrombosis. LCP is widely considered to be responsible for a significant number of stenting procedure complications, and is suspected to be the primary cause of acute coronary events, the leading cause of death in the developed world.

InfraReDx is a medical device company focused on intravascular characterization of disease in the coronary arteries.

The Live Symposium of Complex Coronary & Vascular Cases presented important information that updated attendees on the latest techniques and technologies, and helped to clarify areas of diagnostic and therapeutic controversy.

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