Assessment of Plaque Vulnerability Using a Novel Technique: Multi-spectral PhotoAcoustic Imaging.

Identification of intraplaque haemorrhage using MRI is technically demanding and sometimes uncomfortable. Photoacoustic imaging is a new non-invasive technique combining multi-wavelength infrared laser light and ultrasound imaging, able to discriminate blood and other components in the tissues. The measurement by the multi-spectral photoacoustic imaging is likely to be more acceptable and therefore could replace MRI.