WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., June 9 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say a new type of imaging technology can diagnose cardiovascular disease by sensing ultrasound signals from molecules exposed to pulsing lasers.
Researchers at Purdue University say the method could be used to take precise three-dimensional images of plaques lining arteries, where other imaging methods are unable to penetrate tissue deep enough to reveal such structure.
Being able to do so would make better diagnoses possible, Ji-Xin Cheng, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and chemistry, said.
"You would have to cut a cross section of an artery to really see the three-dimensional structure of the plaque," Cheng said. "Obviously, that can't be used for living patients."
The new imaging technique reveals the presence of carbon-hydrogen bonds making up lipid molecules in arterial plaques that cause heart disease.
"Being able to key on specific chemical bonds is expected to open a completely new direction for the field," Cheng said.
The new technique uses nanosecond laser pulses in the near-infrared range of the spectrum to cause tissue to heat and expand locally, generating ultrasound signals that can be picked up with a device called a transducer.
The near-infrared laser causes enough heating to generate ultrasound signals but not enough to damage tissue, the researchers said.
The technique "enables you to image layers of the tissues for three-dimensional pictures," Cheng said. "You do one scan and get all the cross sections. Our initial target is cardiovascular disease, but there are other potential applications, including diabetes and neurological conditions."
