INTRAVASCULAR IMAGING GUIDEWIRE

摘要

An intravascular imaging guidewire (10) which can accomplish longitudinal translation of an imaging plane allowing imaging of an axial length of a region of interest without moving the guidewire. The imagi ng guidewire (10) comprises a body in the form of a flexible elongate tubular member. An elongate flexible imaging core is slidably received within the body. The imaging core includes a shaft having an imaging device mounted on its distal end. The body and the imaging core a re cooperatively constructed to enable axial translation of the imaging core and imaging device relative to the body. The body has a transparent distal portion extending an axial length over which axially translatable imaging may be performed. The imaging guidewire (10) ha s a maximum diameter over its entire length sized to be received within a guidewire lumen of an intrasvascular catheter.