Patent ID: 6572553
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A medical device for use within a body, the medical device comprising: an elongate, flexible tubular body adapted to enter the body;an elongate, flexible drive shaft adapted to be slidably movable within the tubular body; an imaging device coupled to the drive shaft, the drive shaft enabling the imaging device to rotate, the imaging device to transmit energy for forming images of tissue within the body; a fluid-confining sheath adapted to receive the imaging device; an energy-transmissive portion of the sheath located at or near the imaging device, the energy-transmissive portion to permit energy from the imaging device to substantially pass through the energy-transmissive portion; and the outer coil of the drive shaft configured such that when the drive shaft is driven in the direction tending to decrease the diameter of the outer coil, the outer surface of the outer coil pressurizes liquid distally of the outer surface.