SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTICAL VIEWING AND THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION IN BLOOD VESSELS

摘要

An angioscope comprises a tubular sheath and a central member. The central member carries a lateral reflector for receiving images circumscribing the central member. The tubular sheath includes a light source for axially illuminating a vascular region as it is being optically imaged using the lateral reflector of the central member. The central member can be axially translated through the field illuminated by the light source on the tubular sheath. The angioscope may be combined in a catheter a catheter capable of delivering a therapeutic intervention while viewing a delivery site within a body passageway.