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In-vivo visualization systems

  • US 9,055,906 B2
  • Filed: 05/12/2010
  • Issued: 06/16/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for assessing a tissue region of interest within a blood-filled environment, comprising:

  • advancing a deployment catheter within a body towards the tissue region of interest, the deployment catheter having a reconfigurable barrier or membrane attached to a distal end of the catheter, wherein the barrier or membrane is reconfigurable from a low-profile delivery configuration to an expanded deployment configuration which defines an open area;

    introducing a purging fluid through the catheter and into the open area when the barrier or membrane is positioned in proximity to the tissue region of interest, where the open area is in fluid communication with an environment external to the barrier or membrane;

    visualizing the tissue region of interest through the purging fluid restrained temporarily within the open area;

    projecting a computer generated model representative of the barrier or membrane onto a model representative of the tissue region of interest where the model of the barrier or membrane includes at least one directional indicator;

    flashing the at least one directional indicator in response to at least one sensor being contacted on a handle assembly attached to a proximal end of the catheter where the at least one sensor is coordinated with the at least one directional indicator.

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