Plaque View: Plaque Characterization Analysis
MRI Plaque Imaging and Characterization Analysis
MRI-PlaqueViewTM is a plaque characterization analysis software that allows users to efficiently interpret magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of atherosclerosis. This software has been FDA cleared for clinical management of carotid atherosclerosis, while it has also been used in research of atherosclerosis in aorta or peripheral arteries. The software uses patented algorithms to characterize and measure plaque morphology, plaque burden, plaque composition and components.
MRI-PlaqueView guides the user through a sequence of intuitive and optimized characterization steps. Within minutes, all vessel walls (the lumen and the out wall) are identified, multiple contrast weightings are aligned, internal plaque composition / components, such as soft or calcified plaques, are characterized, and measurements of plaque morphology, including thickness, area, distance, and stenosis are recorded.
3D visualization of Carotid Plaque morphology and composition
3D visualizations portray the plaque morphology and composition not seen with MRI angiography, and the plaque visualizations are displayed in context with traditional MIP views of MRA data.
A report captures the key findings of atherosclerotic plaque characterization analysis in a concise format to be readily used by vascular surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, interventionalists, or cardiologists for vascular disease management and research.
Reporting measurements of plaque burden, plaque composition and components
Order Information: MRI-PlaqueViewTM is available with three packages, ranging from Plaque Burden Analysis, Plaque Analysis, to Auto Plaque Analysis, tailored to meet various customers’ needs. It can be purchased on a per-use basis which requires less up-front payments, or with a product license without usage restrictions. For further information, please download MRI Plaque View brochure and Contact Us to arrange free consultation, demo and evaluation.
Atherosclerosis imaging and characterization using MRI-Plaque View can be readily conducted on the following vendors’ MRI scanners:
VPDiagnostics’ MRI-PlaqueView has been reviewed (on page 60) in Technical Brief: Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque issued in August 2010 by The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
VPDiagnostics is also leading an NIH-sponsored multi-center carotid atherosclerosis prospective trial to evaluate MRI-PlaqueView in assessing the future risk of stroke, TIA (mini stroke), and related neurological diseases based on carotid plaque characterization. This trial has been reviewed in Arteriosclerosis Global Clinical Trials Review, Q4, 2010 by MarketResearch.com.
History and Validations
MRI-PlaqueViewTM is the commercial outgrowth of CASCADE (including MEPPS/QVAS), the atherosclerotic plaque characterization analysis package developed at the University of Washington Vascular Imaging Lab. These patented plaque characterization analysis algorithms have been featured in around 50 journal publications, providing extensive validation of the accuracy, reproducibility and sensitivity of the core algorithms related to MRI plaque characterization. Selected publications are listed below:
1. Studies Supported by VPDiagnostics:
Automated in vivo segmentation of carotid plaque MRI with Morphology-Enhanced probability maps. (Liu, Magn Reson Med. 2006)
Automated measurement of mean wall thickness in the common carotid artery by MRI: a comparison to intima-media thickness by B-mode ultrasound. (Underhill, J Magn Reson Imaging. 2006)
Magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atherosclerosis: plaque analysis. (Kerwin, Top Magn Reson Imaging. 2007)
Signal features of the atherosclerotic plaque at 3.0 Tesla versus 1.5 Tesla: impact on automatic classification. (Kerwin,J Magn Reson Imaging. 2008) PDF
2. Studies Involving Technology Contained in MRI-PlaqueViewTM
Scan-rescan reproducibility of carotid atherosclerotic plaque morphology and tissue composition measurements using multicontrast MRI at 3T. (Li, J Magn Reson Imaging. 2010)
Carotid intraplaque hemorrhage imaging at 3.0-T MR imaging: comparison of the diagnostic performance of three T1-weighted sequences. (Ota, Radiology. 2010)
Carotid plaque morphology and composition: initial comparison between 1.5- and 3.0-T magnetic field strengths. (Underhill, Radiology. 2008) PDF
Reader and platform reproducibility for quantitative assessment of carotid atherosclerotic plaque using 1.5T Siemens, Philips, and General Electric scanners. (Saam, JMRI 2007)
Intra- and interreader reproducibility of magnetic resonance imaging for quantifying the lipid-rich necrotic core is improved with gadolinium contrast enhancement. (Takaya, JMRI 2007)
Quantitative evaluation of carotid plaque composition by in vivo MRI. (Saam, ATVB 2005) PDF
In vivo quantitative measurement of intact fibrous cap and lipid-rich necrotic core size in atherosclerotic carotid plaque: comparison of high-resolution, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and histology. (Cai, Circulation 2005) PDF