Patent ID: 9254090
Filing Date: 2016-02-09
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. An imaging catheter, comprising: a flexible catheter suitable for intravascular advancement; an imager in proximity to a distal end of the catheter, wherein the imager is positioned to visualize a tissue region adjacent to the distal end; a sensor in proximity to the distal end wherein the sensor is configured to detect fluorescence from the tissue region; an excitation source that is configured to activate the fluorescence from the tissue region and is electrically modulated at a rate that is higher than a video frame rate of the imager; and a hood attached to the distal end of the catheter and also defining an open area when the hood is in an expanded configuration, wherein the open area is in fluid communication with a fluid lumen defined through the catheter and with a blood-filled environment through an opening defined by the hood.