| abstract |
An infrared, heat-sensitive catheter (10) is detailed, particularly useful for identifying potentially fatal artery plaques in patients with coronary artery disease or other arteries and their use. In one embodiment, an infrared fiber optic system (70) is employed at the end of a catheter (10) to locate an inflamed, heat producing, arteriosclerotic plaque that is at high risk for rupture, fissure, or ulceration and consequent thrombosis and occlusion of the artery. In another embodiment, a catheter (10) with an infrared detector used at its end will also locate inflamed heat-producing arteriosclerotic plaque. The invention can be used to detect access, infection, and heat cancerous regions such regions appear different with respect to the ambient temperature of the immediately adjacent tissues. The invention can also be used to detect regions of tissue that are colder than the surrounding tissues in a vessel or organ indicating dead cells, thrombosis, hemorrhage, accumulation of calcium or cholesterol, or foreign materials. |