Evaluation of the characterization of thrombi in vitro by optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to provide a new assessable method of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) in characterization of thrombi with different concentrations of red blood cell (RBC).

Methods and results: A series of thrombus models were constructed by using human blood in vitro. The thrombi were made by using human blood with different concentration of RBC (from 1% to 35%). Then tip of an FD-OCT catheter was put on the top of the thrombus to scan. After OCT being performed, all the acquired images were processed by a newly developed software to analyze the RBC levels related thrombus characteristics including attenuation, backscattering and light penetration depth. The attenuation was correlated with RBC concentration up to 9%. However, no apparent change was observed in thrombus with RBC concentration range from 10% to 35%. The same trend was seen in backscattering and penetration depth.

Conclusions: FD-OCT is able to detect thrombus with different RBC concentrations up to 9%.

Keywords: Erythrocyte; Optical coherence tomography; Thrombus.