Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) is a novel imaging approach allowing label-free biochemical characterization of atherosclerotic plaque. A combined optical coherence tomography (OCT) and FLIm that can provide a simultaneous structural and biochemical assessment of atheroma has been constructed successfully. This study sought to investigate whether the dual-modal intravascular OCT-FLIm is able to characterize high-risk plaques in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.~Thirty two patients with multivessel coronary artery disease, who had at least one obstructive lesion (>70% diameter stenosis) that is considered suitable for PCI, will be included in the study. Culprit and mildly stenotic non-culprit plaques will be imaged using OCT-FLIm catheter.
Patients will undergo intracoronary imaging using combined optical coherence tomography-fluorescence lifetime imaging (OCT-FLIm) during percutaneous coronary intervention, and the obtained imaging data will be used to assess the efficacy of this dual-modal catheter imaging strategy in characterizing high-risk plaque.