Patent ID: 6546272
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
Apparatus for acquiring in vivo images of a site of interest within the internal organs of a body comprising:an elongate, flexible catheter having a longitudinal axis and a lumen defined by lumen walls extending along a length of the catheter, the catheter being introducible into the body and having a first end that remains external to the body and a second end positionable adjacent the site of interest; a movable scanning unit having at least one sensor for acquiring images housed adjacent to the second end of the catheter; communication means extending through the lumen of the catheter from the at least one sensor to communicate a signal from the,sensor to the first end of the catheter; a drive mechanism to control movement of the movable scanning unit from the first external end of the catheter to acquire at least one image of the site of interest, the drive mechanism having a control element extending the length of the catheter lumen and adapted for linear movement within the lumen.