Imaging via blood vessels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system positionable in vivo, the system comprising:
- an elongated probe having a distal end portion configured to be inserted in vivo into at least a portion of a vascular system of a patient, and having a longitudinally-extending conduit formed therein and extending from a proximal end portion of the elongated probe to the distal end portion;
at least one optical emitter operatively coupled to the probe and configured to emit at least one of infrared or near-infrared light from the distal end portion of the elongated probe onto a tissue proximate the distal end portion;
at least one optical receiver operatively coupled to the probe and configured to detect infrared or near-infrared light reflected from the tissue proximate to the distal end portion;
at least one suction line operatively coupled to the probe and configured to remove a first fluid proximate to at least one of the optical emitter or the at least one optical receiver, the at least one suction line including at least one suction apparatus;
at least one injection line including at least one fluid injector operatively coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated probe and configured to inject a second fluid proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the second fluid substantially the same volume as the first fluid;
at least one data processing circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one second set of optical transducers and configured to convert the infrared or near-infrared light reflected from the tissue proximate to the distal end portion into image data, the at least one data processing circuitry operatively coupled to and configured for receiving signals from the at least one optical receiver, and configured for creating a multiple-pixel image from a plurality of individual pixel data signals serially received from the at least one optical receiver, and further configured for causing the at least one suction apparatus to draw a removed volume of the first fluid from an area proximate to the at least one optical transducer, and for causing the at least one fluid injector to inject a volume of the second fluid into the area proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the volume of the second fluid based on the removed volume of the first fluid;
device control circuitry configured for generating one or more control signals for controlling the at least one optical transducer; and
at least one fiber optic cable at least partially disposed within the longitudinally-extending conduit and operatively coupled between the at least one optical transducer and the device control circuitry, the at least one fiber optic cable configured for at least;
conveying the one or more control signals from the device control circuitry to the at least one optical transducer; and
conveying one or more signals from the at least one optical transducer to the device control circuitry.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are described for generating a signal indicative of an intravascular image received at least partly via a light transducer and invoking circuitry for passing the generated signal out of a subject'"'"'s body.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system positionable in vivo, the system comprising:
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an elongated probe having a distal end portion configured to be inserted in vivo into at least a portion of a vascular system of a patient, and having a longitudinally-extending conduit formed therein and extending from a proximal end portion of the elongated probe to the distal end portion; at least one optical emitter operatively coupled to the probe and configured to emit at least one of infrared or near-infrared light from the distal end portion of the elongated probe onto a tissue proximate the distal end portion; at least one optical receiver operatively coupled to the probe and configured to detect infrared or near-infrared light reflected from the tissue proximate to the distal end portion; at least one suction line operatively coupled to the probe and configured to remove a first fluid proximate to at least one of the optical emitter or the at least one optical receiver, the at least one suction line including at least one suction apparatus; at least one injection line including at least one fluid injector operatively coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated probe and configured to inject a second fluid proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the second fluid substantially the same volume as the first fluid; at least one data processing circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one second set of optical transducers and configured to convert the infrared or near-infrared light reflected from the tissue proximate to the distal end portion into image data, the at least one data processing circuitry operatively coupled to and configured for receiving signals from the at least one optical receiver, and configured for creating a multiple-pixel image from a plurality of individual pixel data signals serially received from the at least one optical receiver, and further configured for causing the at least one suction apparatus to draw a removed volume of the first fluid from an area proximate to the at least one optical transducer, and for causing the at least one fluid injector to inject a volume of the second fluid into the area proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the volume of the second fluid based on the removed volume of the first fluid; device control circuitry configured for generating one or more control signals for controlling the at least one optical transducer; and at least one fiber optic cable at least partially disposed within the longitudinally-extending conduit and operatively coupled between the at least one optical transducer and the device control circuitry, the at least one fiber optic cable configured for at least; conveying the one or more control signals from the device control circuitry to the at least one optical transducer; and conveying one or more signals from the at least one optical transducer to the device control circuitry.
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2. A system positionable in vivo, the system comprising:
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an elongated probe having a distal end portion configured to be inserted in vivo into at least a portion of a vascular system of a patient, and having a longitudinally-extending conduit formed therein and extending from a proximal end portion of the elongated probe to the distal end portion; at least one first optical transducer operatively coupled to the probe and configured to emit at least one of infrared or near-infrared light from the distal end portion of the elongated probe onto a tissue proximate the distal end portion; at least one second set of optical transducers arranged in a common grid and operatively coupled to the probe and configured to detect infrared or near-infrared light reflected from the tissue proximate to the distal end portion; at least one suction line operatively coupled to the probe and configured to remove a first fluid proximate to the optical transducers arranged in the common grid, the at least one suction line including at least one suction apparatus; at least one injection line including at least one fluid injector operatively coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated probe and configured to inject a second fluid proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the second fluid substantially the same volume as the first fluid; at least one data processing circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one second set of optical transducers and configured to convert the infrared or near-infrared light reflected from the tissue proximate to the distal end portion into one or more diagnostic signals, the at least one data processing circuitry operatively coupled to and configured for receiving signals from the second set of transducers, and configured for creating a multiple-signal diagnostic image from the signals received from the set of transducers, and further configured for causing the at least one suction apparatus to draw a removed volume of the first fluid from an area proximate to the at least one optical transducer, and for causing the at least one fluid injector to inject a volume of the second fluid into the area proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the volume of the second fluid based on the removed volume of the first fluid; device control circuitry configured for generating one or more control signals for controlling the at least one optical transducer; and at least one fiber optic cable at least partially disposed within the longitudinally-extending conduit and operatively coupled between the at least one optical transducer and the device control circuitry, the at least one fiber optic cable configured for at least; conveying the one or more control signals from the device control circuitry to the at least one optical transducer; and conveying the one or more image signals from the at least one data processor to the device control circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (3)
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4. A system positionable in vivo, the system comprising:
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an elongated probe having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion configured to be inserted in vivo into at least a portion of a vascular system of a patient, and having a longitudinally-extending conduit formed therein and extending from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion; at least one optical transducer operatively coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated probe and configured to; emit at least one of infrared or near-infrared light onto a tissue proximate the distal end portion, receive reflected light that is reflected from the tissue, and emit a plurality of individual pixel data signals indicative of the received reflected light; at least one suction line operatively coupled to the elongated probe and configured to remove a first fluid proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the at least one suction line including at least one suction apparatus; at least one injection line including at least one fluid injector operatively coupled to the distal end portion of the elongated probe and configured to inject a second fluid proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the second fluid substantially the same volume as the first fluid; at least one optical fiber disposed within the longitudinally-extending conduit and operatively coupled to the at least one optical transducer; and at least one processing circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one optical fiber and configured to; cause the at least one suction apparatus to draw a removed volume of first fluid from an area proximate to the at least one optical transducer; cause the at least one fluid injector to inject a volume of the second liquid into the area proximate to the at least one optical transducer, the volume of the second fluid based on the removed volume of the first fluid; transmit one or more control signals to the at least one optical transducer for controlling the at least one optical transducer; serially receive the plurality of individual pixel data signals from the at least one optical transducer, and create a multiple-pixel image from the plurality of individual pixel data signals serially received from the at least one optical transducer. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification