Abstract: A method of making a vascular phantom based on imaging data of vasculature of a subject. A mold having a core and a shell is constructed based on the imaging data. A liquid precursor is introduced into the mold and is cured. The mold is removed, leaving a model of the vasculature of the subject. A plaque component is fabricated by making a plaque mold and introducing liquid precursors containing T1 and T2 modifiers to mimic the T1 and T2 of portions of the plaque. The plaque components are attached to the vasculature using adhesive.

Abstract: A method of making a vascular phantom based on imaging data of vasculature of a subject. A mold having a core and a shell is constructed based on the imaging data. A liquid precursor is introduced into the mold and is cured. The mold is removed, leaving a model of the vasculature of the subject. A plaque component is fabricated by making a plaque mold and introducing liquid precursors containing T1 and T2 modifiers to mimic the T1 and T2 of portions of the plaque. The plaque components are attached to the vasculature using adhesive.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel approach for effective ex vivo and in vivo imaging of blood and establishes the feasibility of blood as an effective agent for CEST to generate sufficient CEST contrast relative to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stent including a variable porosity, tubular structure having pores defined by structural surfaces. The tubular structure has a low porosity region on a path around the tubular structure, where the low porosity region is less porous than other regions located on the path and fully or partially obstructs passage of fluid. The low porosity region is larger than the structural surfaces between adjacent pores. Also disclosed is a method of altering blood flow within and near an opening of a defective blood vessel involving deploying the above stent of the present invention in a defective blood vessel so that the low porosity region is aligned to and in contact with an opening in the defective blood vessel, thereby altering blood flow within and near the opening of the defective blood vessel.