High-resolution inside-artery ultrasound to see tiny vessel networks and thin caps in heart artery plaques
Dual frequency intravascular ultrasound for super-resolution imaging of vasa vasorum and thin fibrous cap of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques
This project is building a new catheter ultrasound tool to help doctors see tiny blood vessels and thin outer caps in coronary plaques for people with atherosclerosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11323954 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team is developing a super-resolution intravascular ultrasound catheter that aims to image the tiny vasa vasorum and the thin fibrous cap of artery plaques in 3D. They are designing a novel 1.75D ultrasound array operating around 20 MHz to increase spatial detail while keeping good penetration into the artery wall. The device will be tested in the lab and in preclinical models as the researchers work toward safe use inside arteries. If you have coronary artery disease, this work aims to create a way to find rupture-prone plaques before they cause heart attacks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with known or suspected coronary artery disease who are undergoing invasive coronary imaging or procedures and could be evaluated with a catheter-based imaging device.
Not a fit: People without coronary atherosclerosis or those who cannot undergo invasive catheter procedures are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technology could allow earlier and more accurate detection of rupture-prone coronary plaques and help prevent heart attacks.
How similar studies have performed: Existing tools like intravascular OCT and conventional IVUS have helped image plaques but are limited by depth or resolution, and this specific super-resolution intravascular ultrasound approach is new and not yet proven in patients.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Kang — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Kim, Kang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.