Patent ID: 7918787
Filing Date: 2011-04-05
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for imaging an immersed region of tissue, comprising: translating a hood projecting distally from a deployment catheter relative to a sheath such that the hood reconfigures from a constrained state within the sheath to an unconstrained state external to the sheath; positioning an opening defined by the hood against or adjacent to the region of tissue to be imaged; urging a translucent fluid into the hood via the deployment catheter such that an opaque fluid is displaced from within the hood and is purged through the opening to an environment external to the hood while the opening is maintained against the region of tissue; and visualizing the region of tissue through the translucent fluid via a visualization element positioned on the hood within or adjacent to an open area defined by the hood such that the element is in fluid communication through the opening with the environment, where the visualization element is moved out of alignment with the deployment catheter when in the constrained state to an off-axis position relative to a longitudinal axis of the deployment catheter when in the unconstrained state.