Volcano公司推出评估冠状动脉粥样斑块的血管内超声波

一种新型血管内超声波（IVUS）系统能够实时分析评估冠状动脉内的粥样斑块。

VH IVUS技术是由Volcano集团研制开发的，在Volcano系统中使用，或者作为全球范围内医疗中心安装的Volcano IVUS系统的升级。

这种新工艺使用了复杂的光谱分析技术，能够把超声波影像的解释分析变得十分简单，同时还能够提供每位患者动脉粥样硬化斑块的详细的组成信息。彩色影像显示4种斑块组成类型：纤维脂肪、纤维性的、钙质沉积、以及坏死核心。使用Volcano影像控制台和鹰眼黄金IVUS影像导管产生影像。影像能够在导管实验室实时展现，当患者仍然在检查台上的时候，介入心血管医生和工作人员就能够方便地进行读片。使用该系统无需对传统地临床实践进行改动。这套工艺提供自动测量工具，简化了影像解释工作；在动脉特定位点或者感兴趣地区域，可以使用规定色彩键来展示它们地组成。

荷兰Erasmus医学中心胸科中心的Patrick W. Serruys教授评论说：“如今使用IVUS通常侧重于提供血管和血管腔的几何测量数据。由于IVUS只能显示斑块灰度，介入治疗医生对个体患者所见到的斑块类型很难得出结论。使用VH IVUS所得到的斑块影像将能够提供重要信息，将改变我们诊断和治疗心血管疾病患者的临床规范。”

Ultrasound Assesses Plaque in Arteries
 
A new intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) system enables real-time compositional evaluation of atherosclerotic plaque in coronary arteries.

The VH IVUS technology, developed by Volcano Corp. (Rancho Cordova, CA, USA), is available on new Volcano systems or as an upgrade to Volcano’s installed base on IVUS systems in medical centers worldwide.

This new technology utilizes sophisticated spectral analysis techniques to allow simplified interpretation of ultrasound images and provide detailed information on the composition of each patient’s atherosclerotic plaque. The colorized images show four plaque component types: fibro-fatty, fibrous, dense calcium, and necrotic core. The images are created using Volcano’s imaging console along with the Eagle Eye Gold IVUS imaging catheter. Images are displayed live, in the cath lab, for easy review by the interventional cardiologist and staff while the patient remains on the table. No changes to conventional clinical practice are needed to use the system. The technology provides automated measurement tools to simplify image interpretation and employs a predetermined color key to display plaque composition on a specific point in the artery or across a region of interest.

“The use of IVUS today is generally focused on providing geometric measurements of the vessel and lumen. Due to IVUS’ inability to display plaques other than as grayscale renderings, interventionalists have had difficulty drawing conclusions about the plaque type seen in individual patients. Plaque imaging using VH IVUS will provide key information and may shift the paradigm of how we diagnose and manage patients with cardiovascular disease,” commented Prof. Patrick W. Serruys, from the Thoraxcentre, Erasmus Medical Center (Rotterdam, The Netherlands).