Abstract
Previous research has shown that multispectral imaging is successful in obtaining intrinsic fluorescence data in biological tissue and subsequently a possible method in early detection and quantitative evaluation of atherosclerotic lesions. Using a fluorescence multispectral imaging system composed of a highly sensitive CCD camera and a fast multi-channel spectrometer produces intrinsic fluorescence spectra at lesions sites - allowing for an objective evaluation of the disease. A preliminary study using aortas from rabbit atherosclerotic models (developed via high fat diet administration) indicated that atherosclerotic and normal sites could be clearly discriminated based on differences in fluorescence data. In the current study, samples were taken from coronary arteries of human cadavers and subsequent results from multispectral imaging were correlated to the corresponding pathological findings at atherosclerotic sites in order to distinguish the relationship between the severity of the disease and resulting fluorescence spectra and intensity. As a result, the composition of the arterial wall was successfully analyzed and a new method of diagnosing atherosclerosis was established.
