INFRARED SIDE IMAGING OF CARDIOVASCULAR STRUCTURES AND INDWELLING MEDICAL DEVICES

摘要

Disclosed is a infrared imager which views out of the side of the catheter at various angles depending on the application. This is accomplished by placing a prism or mirror near or at the distal end of the catheter to direct the light in an angular direction. The mirror/prism the catheter can be rotated to view the full 360 deg. angle of the cardiovascular structure. Alternatively, the prism/mirror itself could be rotated by manipulating a wire on the proximal end of the catheter which is connected to the prism or mirror internal in the catheter. In a similar manner, the prism/mirror angle could also be changed by manipulation of the proximal end of the wire.