INTRAVASCULAR IMAGING

摘要

This disclosure provides systems and methods for intravascular imaging. Some systems may be configured to generate a screening image of a section of a patient's vessel, identify one or more sub-sections of the screening image that each include a diagnostically significant characteristic of the vessel, and imaging the one or more sub-sections. Some systems may be configured to automatically identify the one or more sub-sections and/or to allow a user to manually identify the one or more sub-sections. Some systems may be configured to automatically image the one or more sub-sections after the one or more sub-sections are identified. In some examples, the system may be configured to displace blood during imaging of the sub-sections to enhance image quality. The system may be configured to minimize the period of time blood is displaced by synchronizing imaging and blood displacement.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
(a) a catheter assembly including an intravascular imaging device; (b) an intravascular blood displacement fluid port; (c) a translation device configured to translate the intravascular imaging device; and (d) an imaging engine in communication with the intravascular imaging device and the translation device, the imaging engine comprising at least one programmable processor, the imaging engine configured to:
(i) generate a screening image of a section of the patient's blood vessel,(ii) identify a sub-section of the patient's blood vessel within the section,(iii) automatically displace blood within the patient's blood vessel by introducing a quantity of blood displacement fluid into the patient's blood vessel via the intravascular blood displacement fluid port,(iv) automatically translate the intravascular imaging device through the sub-section with the translation device, and(v) automatically generate a blood-displaced image of the sub-section while blood within the sub-section is displaced by the quantity of blood displacement fluid and while the intravascular imaging device is translating through the sub-section.