Atherosclerotic plaque detection

1. A method for detecting autofluorescence from biological tissue for diagnosing the presence, absence or degree of vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque, the method comprising:

a) measuring an at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence, the measuring of the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence, comprising:

1) exposing an at risk part of an artery to radiation at a first infrared wavelength using a radiation source, the at risk part being an area at risk of having a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque;

2) emitting a second infrared wavelength by autofluorescence from the exposed at risk part of the artery; and

3) sensing the intensity of fluorescence emitted at the second wavelength by a sensor;

b) measuring a healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence, the measuring of the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence, comprising:

1) exposing a healthy part of an artery to radiation at the first infrared wavelength using the radiation source;

2) emitting the second infrared wavelength by autofluorescence from the exposed healthy part of the artery; and

3) sensing the intensity of fluorescence emitted at the second wavelength by the sensor; and,

c) calculating a fluorescence indicator based on the first level of intensity of fluorescence and the second level of intensity of fluorescence by:

1) comparing the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence to the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence to determine if the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence is more than twice the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence; and,

2) determining the fluorescence indicator based on the results of the comparison,

wherein:

the first wavelength is in the range 650 nm to 800 nm;

the second wavelength is in the range 700 nm to 850 nm; and

the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength, and

diagnosing the presence, absence or degree of vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque using the fluorescence indicator.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the radiation source includes a laser.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an infrared photodetector.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an apparatus for performing the method comprises optics for focusing radiation.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an apparatus for performing the method comprises a catheter including one or more optical fibers extending between proximal and distal ends, the distal end being for insertion into an artery, and the radiation source and sensing device being coupled to the proximal end.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein an apparatus for performing the method comprises a bandpass filter.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first wavelength is at least one of:

a) 685 nm; and

b) 785 nm.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second wavelength is at least one of:

a) 700 nm; and

b) 800 nm.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to provide representation comprising at least one of:

a) a numerical value indicative of the fluorescence indicator;

b) a symbolic value indicative of the fluorescence indicator;

c) a graphical indicator indicative of the fluorescence indicator; and,

d) an indicator of at least one threshold.

10. A method for detecting autofluorescence from biological tissue for diagnosing the presence, absence or degree of vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque, the method being performed using an apparatus comprising a catheter having one or more optical fibers extending between proximal and distal ends, the distal end being for insertion into an artery, and a laser and infrared photodetector being coupled to the proximal end, the method comprising:

a) positioning the catheter in an artery;

b) measuring an at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence, the measuring of the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence, comprising:

1) exposing an at risk part of the artery to radiation at a first infrared wavelength using a radiation source, the at risk part being an area at risk of having a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque;

2) emitting a second infrared wavelength by autofluorescence from the exposed at risk part of the artery; and

3) sensing the intensity of fluorescence emitted at the second wavelength by a sensor;

c) measuring a healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence, the measuring of the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence, comprising:

1) exposing a healthy part of an artery to radiation at the first infrared wavelength using the radiation source;

2) emitting the second infrared wavelength by autofluorescence from the exposed healthy part of the artery; and

3) sensing the intensity of fluorescence emitted at the second wavelength by the sensor; and,

d) calculating a fluorescence indicator based on the first level of intensity of fluorescence and the second level of intensity of fluorescence by:

1) comparing the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence to the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence to determine if the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence is more than twice the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence; and,

2) determining the fluorescence indicator based on the results of the comparison,

wherein:

the first wavelength is in the range 650 nm to 800 nm;

the second wavelength is in the range 700 nm to 850 nm; and

the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength, and

diagnosing the presence, absence or degree of vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque using the fluorescence indicator.

11. A method for detecting autofluorescence from biological tissue for diagnosing the presence, absence or degree of vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque, the method comprising:

a) measuring an at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence, the measuring of the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence, comprising:

1) exposing an at risk part of the artery to radiation at a first infrared wavelength using a radiation source, the at risk part being an area at risk of having a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque;

2) emitting a second infrared wavelength by autofluorescence from the exposed at risk part of the artery; and

3) sensing the intensity of fluorescence emitted at the second wavelength by a sensor;

b) measuring by the sensor a healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence, the measuring of the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence, comprising:

1) exposing a healthy part of an artery to radiation from the radiation source at the first infrared wavelength using the radiation source;

2) emitting the second infrared wavelength by autofluorescence from the exposed healthy part of the artery; and

3) sensing the intensity of fluorescence emitted at the second wavelength by the sensor;

c) calculating a fluorescence indicator based on the first level of intensity of fluorescence and the second level of intensity of fluorescence by:

1) comparing the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence to the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence to determine if the at risk level of intensity of autofluorescence is more than twice the healthy level of intensity of autofluorescence; and,

2) determining the fluorescence indicator based on the results of the comparison,

wherein:

the first wavelength is in the range 650 nm to 800 nm;

the second wavelength is in the range 700 nm to 850 nm; and

the second wavelength is longer than the first wavelength; and,

d) displaying a representation comprising at least one of:

a) a numerical value indicative of the fluorescence indicator;

b) a symbolic value indicative of the fluorescence indicator; and,

c) a graphical indicator indicative of the fluorescence indicator, and

diagnosing the presence, absence or degree of vulnerability of an atherosclerotic plaque using the fluorescence indicator.