Patent ID: 7758499

Claim:
An invasive imaging control apparatus comprising: i. a flexible catheter with a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end being shaped for insertion into a blood vessel along a guide wire thereby to reach remote places in the vasculature or other organs; ii. an optical assembly positioned at the distal end of said catheter; iii. at least one working channel running from the proximal to the distal end of said catheter; iv. a control unit, that is not inserted into the blood vessel with the catheter, for regulating the opacity level of blood in said blood vessel around said distal end of said catheter, controllably injecting quantities of fluid into said blood vessel in the vicinity of said optical assembly, thereby enhancing visibility; v. a local controller located at the distal end of the catheter for controlling data flow to and from an optical head at the distal end portion of the catheter, the optical head comprising an image sensor and at least one of an illumination source, a light sensor, or a shutter, and wherein the local controller is configured to control one or more functions of the optical head while coordinating signals and power with the control unit and the functions of the optical head being selected from the group consisting of (1) commanding the illumination source, (2) accepting signals from the light sensor, (3) accepting signals from the image sensor, and (4) commanding the shutter; and wherein said optical head comprises a light sensor operable to sense at least one wavelength taken from within a range from visible light to infra-red light.