Micro motor OCT enables catheter based assessment of vascular elasticity(Conference Presentation)

Here, we present the first catheter-based optical coherence elasticity measurement using a newly developed super fast intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The system is based on a 1.5 MHz Fourier Domain Mode Locked laser and a 1.2 mm outer diameter motorized catheter. To detect the local elastic properties, the micro-motor is programmed to actuate the laser beam in a “step-by-step” mode at 1 revolution per second; which can potentially be increased to > 10 revolutions/s. The beam is scanned in a limited number (up to 50) of angular steps, at each of which the beam position is held stable. When the laser beam is stable, the phase difference across a variable number of A-lines can be computed to assess the elastic displacement. Choosing a proper window delay, local elastic tissue displacement and strain can be quantified based on the phase shift. We conducted ex-vivo experiments with a cylindrical phantom where the elastic property changes at different angular positions. A syringe pump was used to generate variable pressure loading, which is synchronized to the motor driving signal. The experimental results show that the elastic displacements are detected to be different at different angular positions. The results of elastic properties detection in human artery will also be demonstrated.