Intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound imaging: current research and future directions.

Intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound imaging is a newly emerging catheter-based imaging modality with considerable promise. This review article presents the rationale behind attempts at developing intravascular imaging methods, the design features of intravascular instrumentation, the knowledge obtained with in vitro studies, the in vivo experience in humans, and the potential applications of intravascular imaging in arterial atherosclerosis. The feasibility of pulmonary artery imaging and the potential applications of intracardiac echocardiography are discussed. Finally, future directions in intravascular imaging are outlined.