Detection of lipid core coronary plaques in autopsy specimens with a novel catheter-based near-infrared spectroscopy system.

Objectives: This study sought to assess agreement between an intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system and histology in coronary autopsy specimens.

Background: Lipid core plaques cannot be detected by conventional tests, yet are suspected to be the cause of most acute coronary syndromes. Near-infrared spectroscopy is widely used to determine the chemical content of substances.

Novel optical detection system for in vivo identification and localization of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

A noncontact optical detection system is developed for the in vivo identification and localization of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2,3). Diagnostic scans of the entire human cervix are performed following acetic acid application employing three integrated optical measurements: laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, white light diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and video imaging. Full cervical scans comprising 499 interrogation locations at 1-mm spatial resolution are completed in 12 s.

Surface studies of coated polymer microspheres and protein release from tissue-engineered scaffolds.

The controlled release of growth factors from porous, polymer scaffolds is being studied for potential use as tissue-engineered scaffolds. Biodegradable polymer microspheres were coated with a biocompatible polymer membrane to permit the incorporation of the microspheres into tissue-engineered scaffolds. Surface studies with poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) [PLGA], and poly(vinyl alcohol) [PVA] were conducted.