LIGHT-GUIDED TRANSLUMINAL CATHETER

摘要

Generally, the present invention is directed to a light-guided catheter (118) for direct visualization of placement through the skin. An embodiment of the invention includes a method for transcutaneous viewing and guiding of intracorporeal catheters into a body that comprises inserting a catheter into the body having at least one lumen (216) and internally illuminating the catheter with light (213) capable of propagating through the blood and tissue to an external viewer outside (220) of the body.