DETECTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR CALCIFIED DEPOSITS VIA TETRACARBOXYLATE ION DYE (BTC) PROBING AND LASER-INDUCED FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

In order to develop a reliable, laser-induced, fluorescence-guided, an gioplasty system, fluorescence spectra were recorded during exposure o f normal and atherosclerotic cadaveric aortic tissue to argon ion lase r irradiation. A characteristic increase in the fluorescence signal in the 520-560 nm spectral region for atheromatous tissue was observed a fter treatment of the samples with a tetracarboxylate ion dye (BTC). T his allowed the development of a simple algorithm (based on the intens ity difference) and a subsequent index of discrimination between norma l and atheromatous tissue. Our results suggest that monitoring of this index through the catheter could enhance selective ablation.