Integrated IVUS-OCT catheter for in vivo intravascular imaging

For the diagnosis of atherosclerosis, biomedical imaging techniques such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) have been developed. The combined use of IVUS and OCT is hypothesized to remarkably increase diagnostic accuracy. We report our progress on the probe design and imaging system for achieving a miniature catheter that is capable for in vivo animal study. The integrated IVUS-OCT catheter is featured by a sequential arrangement of an ultrasound transducer and an OCT probe. The capability of the integrated IVUS-OCT imaging catheter and system is demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo imaging experiments of rabbit abdominal aorta.