Patent ID: 8548572

Claim:
In a catheterization device having a first end for insertion into a passageway of the body in the practice of a medical procedure, and a second end, an improvement for locating and determining orientation of the first end of the device using an external light detector, comprising: (a) at least three optical fibers disposed within said catheterization device configured to transmit at least three distinct light beams along the length of said device from said second end toward said first end, said at least three optical fibers terminating near said first end in at least three light emitting locations spaced axially in a sequence along a terminal segment of said device near said first end; (b) at least three light sources configured to pulse said at least three light beams, each light beam having a wavelength comprising at least 650 nanometers, said at least three light sources being operatively connected to said second end of said device through said at least three optical fibers; and (c) a timing circuitry configured to pulse sequentially said at least three light sources toward the first end in the spacial sequence of said at least three light emitting locations.