A rat microangiography system using a synchrotron radiation source was developed at SPring-8 to enable in vivo visualization of coronary arteries for vascular-based functional imaging. Angiographic images of beating hearts were obtained with spatial resolution in the micrometer range and temporal resolution in the millisecond range using a new rotating-disk X-ray shutter and an X-ray direct-conversion type detector. Quantitative evaluations of the imaging system were extracted from measurements of the smallest-detectable vessel size and detection of the vessel function. Small blood vessels of around 50 μm diameter were visualized clearly at heart rates of 350–400 per minute. Apparent vasodilation compared to baseline vessel diameters was observed by infusion of vasoactive agents. The microangiography system enables direct investigation of the mechanisms of vascular dysfunction.

Date Published: 19 March 2013
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8668, Medical Imaging 2013: Physics of Medical Imaging, 866864 (19 March 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2006570

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8668:
Medical Imaging 2013: Physics of Medical Imaging
Robert M. Nishikawa; Bruce R. Whiting; Christoph Hoeschen, Editor(s)