Patent ID: 9510732
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A tissue visualization device, comprising: a flexible elongate shaft defining a lumen therethrough; an imaging hood attached to a distal end of the shaft, the hood defining an open area and projecting distally from the shaft; and an inflation member suspended within the open area of the hood, the inflation member inflatable by introduction of a purging fluid, wherein; wherein the inflation member defines one or more apertures along a proximal side of the external surface of the inflation member and wherein the inflation member has a partially inflated state in which the purging fluid inflates the inflation member such that the inflation member is circumferentially separated from an inner surface of the hood to form an annular flow path for the purging fluid from the one or more apertures, between the inner surface and an external surface of the inflation member, and into fluid communication with an environment external to the hood and wherein the inflation member has a blocking inflated state in which the pressure of the purging fluid in the inflation member is increased and expands the inflation member into contact with the imaging hood to block the flow from the one or more apertures to the annular flow path, the inflation member having a conical shape when inflated.