InfraReDx Announces Presentation of LipiScan(TM) Research at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010

BURLINGTON, Mass., Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- InfraReDx, Inc., a medical device company developing intelligent cardiovascular diagnostic imaging technologies, today announced the upcoming presentation of three LipiScan-related scientific abstracts at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2010 (AHA 2010), being held Nov. 13-17, 2010 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The research being presented includes an oral abstract session focused on cost effectiveness and screening advances, as well as two abstract poster sessions involving InfraReDx's research in the area of lipid core plaque burden and its role in coronary health. Additionally, the company will be exhibiting at booth #950 on Nov. 14-16.

InfraReDx recently launched the LipiScan IVUS Coronary Imaging System, the world's first and only intravascular imaging system that combines and co-registers grayscale intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with the company's proprietary near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy lipid core plaque (LCP) detection technology, to improve the safety and effectiveness of stenting procedures.

"The role of lipid core plaque in coronary artery disease continues to be a topic of significant medical interest as indicated by the AHA meeting program," said James E. Muller, M.D., founder and chief executive officer of InfraReDx. "We are pleased that the LipiScan IVUS system is now available for use by the cardiology community. The LipiScan component of the multimodality catheter provides a rapid and accurate means to identify lipid core plaque in patients undergoing catheterization. Detection of these plaques is of clinical importance because there is extensive evidence indicating that these lipid core plaques are 'complication-prone' when stenting is performed. In addition, lipid core plaques are suspected to be 'vulnerable plaques' that cause spontaneous coronary events occurring in the community."

The three abstracts being presented per the schedule below highlight different aspects of the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease:

• Abstract poster session (APS.606.02), "Investigating Culprit Coronary Artery Plaques," Monday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Hall A2, Core 6.
  • The relevant presentation (18425), "Intracoronary Lipid Burden in Diabetic Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI); Results from the COLOR Registry," will be on display with Daniel H. Steinberg, M.D., of the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston available as a discussant from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Steinberg et al. report the frequency of lipid core plaque in coronary patients with and without diabetes, a condition associated with an increased frequency of coronary disease.

• Abstract poster session (APS.606.01), "Coronary Pathophysiology Assessment in the Catheterization Lab," Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Hall A2, Core 6.
  • The relevant presentation (21455), "Histopathologic Validation of Intravascular Ultrasound Diagnosis of a Calcified Coronary Nodule, a Type of Plaque Suspected to be Vulnerable," will be on display with Jin Bae Lee, M.D., of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Columbia University Medical Center in New York available as a discussant from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Lee et al. describe IVUS and spectroscopy features of a special type of plaque -- a calcified nodule -- that is suspected to be an unusual cause of heart attacks.

• Abstract oral session (AOS.107.03c), "Coronary Computed Tomography: Cost Effectiveness, Screening and Other Big Picture Issues," Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 2 to 5:15 p.m. in Room E271b.
  • The relevant oral presentation (19352) takes place at 3:35 p.m.; "Features of Plaque Disruption by Coronary CT Angiography are Associated with Lipid Core Plaque by Intracoronary Near-Infrared Spectroscopy," will be presented by Ivan D. Hanson, M.D., of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.

Hanson et al. present a comparison of signs of lipid core plaque as detected by CTA -- a non-invasive method suitable for a role in a preventive screening strategy -- with the presence of lipid core confirmed by LipiScan IVUS during coronary angiography.

About LipiScan IVUS

The LipiScan IVUS system employs proprietary optical imaging technology to overcome the challenges of heart motion, blood interference, and vascular access to perform NIR spectroscopic analysis of the vessel and produce a chemical map of lipid-core plaque called a Chemogram. The system provides physicians with a traditional IVUS image that shows plaque location, degree of stenosis and degree of stent expansion. At the same time, optical data are recorded that permit identification and co-localization of lipid core plaques. This innovative multi-modality analysis is accomplished directly in the catheterization laboratory during the coronary intervention via a single catheter pullback procedure. The data are immediately available to the physician to help guide the stenting procedure.

About InfraReDx, Inc.

InfraReDx, Inc. is a privately funded medical device company improving patient care through the development and commercialization of intelligent imaging technologies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease. InfraReDx's LipiScan IVUS Coronary Imaging System is the first and only available catheter to combine both near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) technologies to both visualize and characterize the intracoronary lipid core plaques (LCP) suspected of causing the majority of heart attacks. Founded in 1998, InfraReDx is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.infraredx.com.

SOURCE InfraReDx, Inc.