Infraredx Launches Advanced TVC Imaging System and TVC Muller Extended Bandwidth NIRS-IVUS Catheter

March 12, 2015—Infraredx announced that it will introduce the Advanced TVC imaging system and the Muller NIRS-IVUS Catheter featuring Extended Bandwidth IVUS technology at ACC.15, the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific session on March 14–16 in San Diego, California. 

The Advanced TVC imaging system is an intravascular imaging system designed to improve the management of coronary artery disease by providing information critical to the evaluation of vessel structure and plaque composition, also known as true vessel characterization. The system helps interventional cardiologists identify which patients are at high risk for complications during stenting and enables cardiologists to predict the risk of periprocedural heart attacks by assessing both the degree of stenosis and the presence and extent of lipid-core plaques (LCPs).

According to Infraredx, the Advanced TVC imaging system rapidly, specifically, and reliably identifies LCPs. The system integrates near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to enable quick, informed clinical determinations on procedural and treatment strategies requiring information on vessel structure and plaque composition.

The new platform is designed to evolve with coronary care. It incorporates advanced computing technology; high-definition monitors; an intuitive, user-friendly interface; and near-infrared laser optics for in vivo chemical analysis. Additionally, the new system includes Infraredx’s Extended Bandwidth IVUS imaging technology, which harmonizes multiple signal frequencies to produce a sharp image of the complete vessel for easy identification of the lumen, plaque, and vessel structure.

At the ACC.15 meeting, Infraredx’s TVC imaging system will be discussed at several sessions, including “FFR/IVUS/OCT: Which One to Pick and When,” presented by Morton J. Kern MD; “In Vivo Verification of Lipid Detection by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Calcified Lesions—Comparison with Optical Coherence Tomography,” presented by Sadako Motoyama, MD; and, “The Impact of Lipid-Containing Plaque Composition Measured by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy on Coronary Arterial Remodeling,” presented by Hideaki Ota, MD. Annapoorna Subhash Kini, MD, will present “Multimodality Intravascular Imaging to Predict Periprocedural Myocardial Infarction During PCI” and “Classifying Plaques According to Lipid Content As Assessed by Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Implications for Plaque Vulnerability.”

The company also noted that the Lipid-Rich Plaque Study investigators will hold a meeting at ACC. The multicenter Lipid-Rich Plaque study is designed to test the hypothesis that TVC imaging can identify the plaques likely to cause a heart attack. To date, the study has enrolled more than 850 patients and is expected to yield a result in late 2015.