Intravascular near-infrared fluorescence and ultrasound coronary imaging

NIRFUS will address the documented need of complementing morphology markers with patho-biological information during intravascular imaging. To enable molecular readings and achieve a breakthrough in interventional cardiology, NIRFUS will implement a new ability in medical micro-optics and address critical obstacles in catheter manufacturing and assembly precision. NIRFUS develops novel concepts and abilities in medical micro-optics by exploring advanced approaches for fabricating and aligning optical components, from basic principles to proof of concept and laboratory validation. These novel methods will enable for the first time the development of clinical-grade near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) readings added to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), based on hybrid NIRF-IVUS catheters of unprecedented performance and reliability suitable for human use. NIRFUS will further add complimentary sensing modalities to deliver the most quantitative intravascular NIRF performance ever achieved. The advances in precision engineering, and optical integration, NIRFUS will lead to a new standard of medical micro-optics.Likewise, the hybrid NIRF-IVUS catheter will lead to a new standard in interventional imaging and cardiology. NIRFUS may benefit 3 million people who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) annually by radically improving treatment and clinical outcomes, as well as the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the global interventional cardiology healthcare, with estimated cost savings of more than € 3.6 billion.