Volcano Therapeutics Inc has announced the exclusive license of coronary plaque characterization technology from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The software and hardware technology encompasses spectral analysis of backscattered intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) data and an IVUS analysis system and method to determine coronary artery composition, boundaries and geometries of a blood vessel.

Additionally, Volcano and the Cleveland Clinic have agreed to a development agreement for the continued development and commercialization of the technology. The licensed technology is covered by two issued patents. Additionally, there are five patents pending.

Rupture of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque is the cause of most acute coronary syndromes. Atherosclerotic plaque stability is related to histologic composition. Hence, accurate in vivo identification of plaque components may allow the detection of vulnerable atheroma before rupture. Current diagnostic tools do not allow adequate in vivo identification and characterization of coronary plaques. Spectral analysis of background intravascular (IVUS) data provides information on plaque composition beyond the standard gray-scale IVUS display; thereby, providing the potential for real-time in vivo plaque characterization.

"IVUS can potentially quantify the structure and composition of atherosclerotic coronary arteries in the clinical setting, but has been limited to subjective visual assessment or time-consuming off-line analysis. IVUS spectral analysis allows for a more detailed interrogation of various vessel components than current methods. The combination of IVUS spectral analysis and thermography will allow geometrical, compositional, and biochemical data to be collected from the same patient to aid the clinician in diagnosis and treatment. We feel that Volcano, as the most prominent company in the field of thermography and vulnerable plaque research, is ideally suited to commercialize our plaque analysis technology," said Geoffrey Vince, Director of the IVUS Research Laboratory at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.