Ultrasound angioscopy: Real-time, two-dimensional, intraluminal ultrasound imaging of blood vessels

The assessment of the presence and severity of disease in the peripheral and coronary arteries currently requires contrast angiography. Although computed tomography, noninvasive ultrasound imaging and fiberoptic angioscopy may allow visualization of certain portions of the arteries, these techniques have limitations. 1–3 Contrast angiography, which yields only long-axis images of the blood vessel lumen, continues to be the major diagnostic modality for assessing vascular anatomy. In this report we describe the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of ultrasound angioscopy, a new technique capable of providing dynamic, circumferential images of blood vessels.