Intravascular imaging The researchers developed a tiny piezoelectric microprobe and navigated it through a full-scale human vascular model, advancing smoothly from the femoral artery to the middle cerebral artery. (Courtesy: Dawei Wu, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)"> Intravascular imaging The researchers developed a tiny piezoelectric microprobe and navigated it through a full-scale human vascular model, advancing smoothly from the femoral artery to the middle cerebral artery. (Courtesy: Dawei Wu, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally, with atherosclerotic disease – caused by the build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries – responsible for around three-quarters of these deaths . Modern intravascular imaging allows us to see these fatty plaque build-ups in detailed cross sections, revolutionizing atherosclerosis diagnosis and treatment planning.…