Determining extent of lesions in coronary arteries - by three=dimensional tracking of injected positron emitting particles

摘要

The extent, location, and severity of stenotic anthero-sclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries are determined by intravenous injection into the blood of discrete positron-emitting particles and by tracking the particles in three dimensions in the region of the heart using suitable gamma detectors disposed external to the patient's chest. The resolution and counting rates of the gamma detectors permit the sequence of positions of each particle to be recorded as a function of time as each particle flows through a coronary vessel.