Vascular stents and grafts have many proven and promising clinical applications, but also a large number of complications. A focus of current research is the development of biocompatible implants. Evaluation of these devices generally requires a large number of animals due to the need for explanation and histological evaluation of the implant at several time intervals. It would be desirable to use instead a high resolution, in situ assessment method. An in vitro study was performed to determine if OCT could image cell proliferation and thrombus formation on vascular stents and grafts. First, images were taken of explanted stents. The implants were locate din peripheral vessels of a porcine model of atherosclerosis. The images clearly show the vessel response to initial damage, the materials of the implant, extent of intimal cell hyper proliferation, and small platelet aggregates. Next, a tissue engineered graft, which had been sodded with smooth muscle cells and incubated in a bioreactor, was evaluated. Cross-section images showed the pores of the polymer material and the layer of smooth muscle cells beginning to invade the graft material. For comparison, in vitro 20 MHz IVUS images of the same grafts were obtained. A catheter was designed for intravascular imaging. The 2.3 mm diameter catheter contains a fiber with GRIN lens and right angle prism, a monorail guidewire, and a novel positioning wire that can be protruded to push the catheter against the vessel wall, potentially eliminating the need for saline flush. Preliminary in vitro results with this catheter are encouraging.
Development of fluorescent probes which sense cellular constituents (metabolites, ions) has revolutionized studies of cell physiology. To take full advantage of these probes for physiological studies, techniques which simultaneously monitor signal from multiple probes with high temporal resolution are required. In addition,the response of unique cells within a population may be heterogeneous making spatial sampling important for specific applications.
We describe fluorescence spectral-imaging results with the computed-tomography imaging spectrometer (CTIS). This imaging spectrometer is capable of recording spatial and spectral data simultaneously. Consequently, the CTIS can be used to image dynamic phenomena involving multiple, spectrally overlapping fluorescence probes. This system is also optimal for simultaneously monitoring changes in spectral characteristics of multiple probes from different locations within the same sample. This advantage will provide additional information about the physiological changes in function form populations of cells which respond in a heterogeneous manner. The results presented in this paper consist of proof-of-concept imaging results from the CTIS in combination with two different systems of fore- optics. In the first configuration, raw image data were collected using the CTIS coupled to an inverted fluorescence microscope. The second configuration combined the CTIS with a confocal microscope equipped with a fiber-optic imaging bundle, previously for in vivo imaging. Image data were collected at frame rates of 15 frame per second and emission spectra were sample at 10-nm intervals with a minimum of 29 spectral bands. The smallest spatial sampling interval presented in this paper is 0.7 micrometers .
We describe fluorescence spectral-imaging results with the microscope computed-tomography imaging spectrometer ((mu) CTIS). This imaging spectrometer is capable of recording spatial and spectral data simultaneously. Consequently, the (mu) CTIS can be used to image dynamic phenomena involving multiple, spectrally overlapping fluorescence probes. The result presented in this paper consists of proof-of-concept imaging result using two static targets. The first is composed of 6-micrometers fluorescing microspheres and the second consists of rat sinusoid epithelial cells loaded with 0.5-micrometers fluorescing microspheres. Image data were collected in integration times of 16 msec, comparable to video frame rate integration times. The emission spectra were sampled at 10-nm intervals between 420 nm and 710 nm. The smallest spatial sampling interval presented in this paper is 1.7 micrometers .
We describe fluorescence spectral-imaging results with the microscope computed-tomography imaging spectrometer ((mu) CTIS). This imaging spectrometer is capable of recording spatial and spectral data simultaneously. Consequently, (mu) CTIS can be used to image dynamic phenomena. The results presented in this paper consist of imaging results using static targets consisting of 1 micrometers and 6 micrometers fluorescing microspheres. The emission spectra were sampled at a 10-nm interval between 430 nm and 710 nm. The smallest spatial sampling interval presented in this paper is 1.7 micrometers . Image data were collected in integration times of 16 msec.
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