Live Case Procedure to Demonstrate Capabilities of Novel Coronary Imaging System

An innovative coronary imaging system utilizes catheter-based near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to identify and evaluate the composition of intracoronary plaques within artery walls that cannot be detected by typically used diagnostic tests such as treadmill exams and coronary angiograms.

InfraReDx, Inc. (Burlington, MA, USA), a medical device company focused on developing novel diagnostic imaging technologies to accurately identify and characterize diseased tissues, announced that its commercially available LipiScan coronary imaging system was featured at the Scottsdale Interventional Forum (AZ, USA), an international conference for Interventional Cardiologists and other healthcare professionals. The Forum was held February 11-13, 2010 in conjunction with the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center. David G. Rizik, M.D., Scottsdale Healthcare medical director of invasive cardiology, will performed "live case” demonstrations of the LipiScan system, February 11 and 12, 2010.

InfraReDx's LipiScan system is the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared product to detect lipid core plaque. "The ability to detect vulnerable coronary and fatty plaques using the LipiScan technology is of great interest to the Interventional cardiology community and it represents an important advance in patient care,” said Dr. Rizik. "With the information provided by LipiScan on the chemical makeup of coronary artery plaques, which I look forward to demonstrating via the live case broadcasts, our practice is better equipped to identify the coronary plaques of particular concern--those with lipid cores. As a result of this improved imaging and robust diagnostic capability, we are better prepared to characterize patients' plaques, reduce stenting complications, and ultimately determine the most appropriate treatment for patients with coronary artery disease.”

Lipid core-containing plaque is believed to be vulnerable plaque, or fatty plaque that can rupture and form dangerous blood clots. Vulnerable coronary artery plaque is widely considered the primary cause of acute coronary events (sudden cardiac deaths, strokes, non-fatal heart attacks), the leading cause of death in the developed world. The LipiScan system has been used in more than 800 patients at approximately 20 cardiovascular healthcare centers in the United States.

"We are very pleased that Dr. Rizik and Scottsdale Healthcare are successfully utilizing our near infrared LipiScan system, and demonstrating its unique capabilities at this key educational Forum,” stated James E. Muller, M.D., founder and chief executive officer of InfraReDx. "We are proud of this technology and the benefits it currently offers the Interventional cardiology community.”

InfraReDx is a medical device company focused on intravascular characterization of disease in the coronary arteries. InfraReDx is the maker of the LipiScan system, an NIR spectroscopy catheter that can detect the lipid core coronary plaques suspected to cause most heart attacks and known to complicate stenting procedures.

The annual Scottsdale Interventional Forum provides comprehensive knowledge of the leading trends and best practices in cardiovascular disease therapies for cardiologists, industry professionals, nurses, technologists, and other health professionals with specific interest in interventional cardiology.

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