Time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy for enhanced demarcation of human atherosclerotic plaques

We report on the enhanced demarcation between human atherosclerotic plaques and normal vessel wall obtained using time-resolved detection of laser-induced fluorescence rather than the customary time-integrated monitoring technique. A frequency-doubled mode-locked and cavity- dumped continuous wave dye laser was used for picosecond pulse generation at 320 nm, and photon-counting techniques were employed for the time- resolved signal monitoring from human aorta samples in vitro. Implications for imaging fluorescence angioscopy and spectroscopic guidance in laser ablation of plaque are indicated.