Infraredx Video

The Potential Technical Solution

The chemical content of substances can be identified by shining Near Infrared (NIR) light at a target and measuring the amount of light reflected at different wavelengths - a technique called "spectroscopy". InfraReDx has developed a NIR spectroscopy system to identify plaque composition. During coronary angiography, the system measures light delivered through the blood and reflected from the artery wall. The rapid acquisition speed for the image freezes the motion of the heart, and permits scanning of the artery in less than two minutes. The system produces a map of the artery’s chemical composition that provides additional information to assist the physician in the care of the patient.

The Unmet Medical Need

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in developed nations. Each year over one million Americans suffer a heart attack; for many individuals this is the first sign of heart disease and is fatal. The cause of most heart attacks is rupture of a plaque in the coronary arteries followed by formation of a clot that blocks the flow of blood to heart muscle. Unfortunately current diagnostic methods, including cardiac catheterization, are not able to prospectively identify the plaques that are vulnerable to rupture. Although prospective evidence is not currently available, these "vulnerable" plaques are suspected to be lipid rich, subsequently leading to thrombosis and a heart attack.