Abstract

Real-time detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic lesions, characterized by a high content of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-laden macrophages or foam cells, remains an unmet clinical need. While fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided revascularization in angiographically intermediate stenoses is utilized to assess hemodynamic significance, in vivo detection of oxLDL-rich plaques may provide a new paradigm for treating metabolically unstable lesions. Herein, we have demonstrated endoluminal mapping of lipid-laden lesions using 3-D electrical impedance spectroscopy-derived impedance tomography (EIT) in a pre-clinical swine model. We performed surgical banding of the right carotid arteries of Yucatan mini-pigs, followed by 16 weeks of high-fat diet, to promote the development of lipid-rich lesions. We implemented an intravascular sensor combining an FFR pressure transducer with a 6-point micro-electrode array for electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. 3-D EIT mapping was achieved using an EIS-based reconstruction algorithm. We demonstrated that EIT mapping corresponds to endoluminal histology for oxLDL-laden lesions. We further used computational models to theoretically predict and validate EIS measurements. Thus, our 3-D EIS-derived EIT provides in vivo detection of metabolically active plaques with the goal of guiding optimal intravascular intervention. One Sentence SummaryThis work demonstrates in vivo mapping of oxidized LDL-laden endolumen by deploying an intravascular dual-sensor to a swine model of atherosclerosis.