Intravascular Ultrasound with Virtual Histology

IVUS with VH is an intravascular ultrasound derived from color coded plaque characterization technique. Compared with standard IVUS, this imaging modality has the potential for more detailed assessment of different plaque components. In preliminary in vitro studies, four plaque types are assigned to color codes: fibrous tissue, fibro-fatty, necrotic core and dense calcium regions are labeled. This technique, given its ability to identify lipid-rich plaques, can be of great value in identifying potentially vulnerable plaque.

IVUS VH derives data from the radiofrequency output of a conventional IVUS console. The signal acquisition is ECG-gated for accurate data analysis and collected with a dedicated RF data recorder.