DILATING AND IMAGING APPARATUS

摘要

A dilating and imaging apparatus for attaching to and receiving pressurized fluid from a distal end of a catheter. The apparatus includes an inflatable balloon and an imaging device positioned behind an expandable portion of the balloon and upstream of the flow of pressurized fluid into the balloon so as to enable the balloon to deflate and achieve a smaller diameter than that of the imaging device, thus enabling the apparatus to enter a stenosis having a smaller diameter than the imaging device. In one embodiment of the invention, the imaging device can be maneuvered within the balloon while the balloon is inflated and dilating the stenosis.