THREE-DIMENSIONAL INTRAVASCULAR IMAGING WITH ULTRASOUND

THE GOAL OF THIS WORK IS TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF PERFORMING THREE-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONIC IMAGING FROM WITHIN THE VASCULAR SYSTEM. THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO PROVIDE A MENAS FOR GUIDING INTRAVASCULAR THERAPIES, SPECIFICALLY, ANGIOPLASTY USING EXCIMER LASERS AND A FIBEROPTIC DELIVERY SYSTEM. THIS PROJECT WILL FOCUS UPON DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMAGING METHOD THAT CAN PROVIDE MULTIPLANAR IMAGES OF THE VOLUME DIRECTLY AHEAD OF THE LASER CATHETER. IMAGES OF THIS TYPE, OBTAINED AND DISPLAYED IN REAL TIME, WILL PROVIDE THE SURGEON WITH VALUABLE GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE DURING THE COURSE OF LASER ANGIOPLASTY. THE ULTRASONIC IMAGING TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR AN INSTRUMENT DEDICATED TO GUIDANCE OF LASER ANGIOPLASTY PROCEDURES.