Three-Dimensional Coronary Artery Microscopy by Intracoronary Optical Frequency Domain Imaging

Three-Dimensional Coronary Artery Microscopy by Intracoronary Optical Frequency Domain Imaging Guillermo J. Tearney, Sergio Waxman, Milen Shishkov, Benjamin J. Vakoc, Melissa J. Suter, Mark I. Freilich, Adrien E. Desjardins, Wang-Yul Oh, Lisa A. Bartlett, Mireille Rosenberg, Brett E. Bouma Optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) is a second-generation form of optical coherence tomography that is capable of providing microscopic (∼7-μm axial and ∼30-μm transverse) resolution, cross-sectional images of the coronary wall at high frame rates. OFDI enables 3-dimensional imaging of long coronary segments up to 7 cm after a 3- to 4-s brief, nonocclusive saline purge. In this article, we present our first clinical experience with OFDI. Volumetric OFDI images demonstrated thin-capped fibroatheromas, calcium, macrophages, cholesterol crystals, bare stent struts, and stents with neointimal hyperplasia in 2 and 3 dimensions. This second-generation form of optical coherence tomography imaging provides exquisite characterization of coronary pathology in vivo.