Patent ID: 6261246
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
An imaging guidewire comprising:a body in the form of an elongate flexible tubular member, said body having a proximal end and a distal end, at least a portion of said body being at least substantially transparent to imaging energy;a flexible elongate imaging core slidably received within said body, said imaging core having a shaft and an imaging device mounted on a distal end of said shaft and arranged to position said imaging device in axial relation to said substantially transparent portion of said body, said imaging device adapted to receive imaging energy related to internal body structures and to transmit imaging signals to an imaging signal processor;the imaging guidewire having a maximum diameter along its entire length not exceeding that which can effectively receive a guidewire lumen of an intravascular catheter;wherein said imaging core is axially translatable relative to said body to enable axial translation of said imaging device; anda connector on the proximal end of the shaft adapted to provide only a mechanical connection to a mating connector on a drive unit.