Multimodal intravascular photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging

The rupture of atherosclerotic plaques is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Early identification of vulnerable plaque is the essential step in preventing acute coronary events. Intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) technology is able to visualize chemical composition of atherosclerotic plaque with high specificity and sensitivity. Integrated with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging, this multimodal intravascular IVPA/IVUS imaging technology is able to provide both structural and chemical compositions of arterial walls for detecting and characterizing atherosclerotic plaques. In this paper, we present representative multimodal IVPA/IVUS imaging systems and discuss current scientific innovations, potential limitations, and prospective improvements for characterization of coronary atherosclerosis.