INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND (IVUS)

Intravascular ultrasound is a technique that provides highly detailed images of the interior structure of arteries. In the case of intracoronary ultrasound, a miniature ultrasound transducer is deployed on the tip of a catheter during a cardiac catheterization. The rotating transducer emits pulses of ultrasound and receives time-delayed echoes to produce detailed image cross-sections that reveal the interior structure of the vessel. 

These images are sent to CIRCL for analysis.  Our trained technicians can accurately measure vessel, lumen and plaque diameters, areas, and volumes of the target arterial segment. Stent diameters and appositions are also assessed and measured.

An example of an interior portion of a coronary artery that is plaque free: 

An example of an interior portion of a coronary artery that is surrounded by  plaque:

 

Click here for IVUS studies that CIRCL has been involved with.