Real-time detection of pre-atherosclerotic lesions in New Zealand White rabbits

Real-time detection of pre-atherosclerotic lesions remains an unmet clinical challenge. We demonstrated the application of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors in an eccentric stenotic model in which convective heat transfer peaked in the throat of the stenosis, and decreased downstream in the zone of flow reversal. We hereby provided new insights into changes in convective heat transfer in the regions of non-obstructive, albeit inflammatory, atherosclerotic lesions in the New Zealand White rabbits fed on hypercholesterolemic diet (HD, n=3). The instantaneous temperature fluctuations altered the resistance of the MEMS sensing elements from which convective heat transfer was sensed as changes in voltages. The presence of pre-atherosclerotic lesions in the distal aortic arch significantly increased the changes in output voltage (V
_ave
= 0.24 V) compared to that of lesion free rabbit aorta fed on normal standard diet (V
_ave
= 0.0058V) (ND, n=3). The sensors further detected differential V
_ave
in the thoracic aorta (HD: V
_ave
=0.723V versus ND: V
_ave
=:0.131 V), but similar V
_ave
values in the abdominal aortas in the absence of atheromas (HD: V
_ave
=0.144V versus ND: V
_ave
=:0.143V). V
_ave
values were also similar in distal aortic arch, thoracic and abdominal aortas in the rabbits fed on ND. Thus, MEMS thermal sensors provided a new strategy to detect pre-atherosclerotic lesions.