Lasers Visualize Arterial Plaques in 3D

Researchers at Purdue have published some research on using pulsed near-infrared lasers to create 3D scans of arterial structures, allowing detailed scans without requiring cuts.

The laser generates molecular “overtone” vibrations, or wavelengths that are not absorbed by the blood. The pulsed laser causes tissue to heat and expand locally, generating pressure waves at the ultrasound frequency that can be picked up with a device called a transducer.

via Lasers Visualize Arterial Plaques in 3D – Medgadget.com — Internet Journal of Emerging Medical Technologies.

This story written by Randall Hand

Randall Hand is a visualization scientist working for a federal research lab, aiding researchers to discover the insights buried within their terabyte datasets generated on some of the most powerful supercomputers in the world. He also runs VizWorld.com .