Abstract
A study of the potential of laser-induced fluorescence for the characterization of human atherosclerotic plaque is reported. Pathologically-characterized specimens from autopsies were investigated using a pulsed nitrogen laser (λ=337 nm) as the excitation source and an optical multichannel analyser for the analysis of the fluorescence. Characteristic spectral features at 395, 420, 450 and 480 nm were utilized in forming different dimensionless contrast functions which were tested for discrimination properties. Plaque from aorta and coronary arteries was examined and could clearly be differentiated from the surrounding, histologically normal vessel wall. Imaging fluorescence measurements, processed for contrast enhancement, are also reported. Implications for spectroscopically guided laser angioplasty are discussed.
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Andersson, P.S., Gustafson, A., Stenram, U. et al. Diagnosis of arterial atherosclerosis using laser-induced fluorescence. Laser Med Sci 2, 261–266 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02594170
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02594170