Patent ID: 7588535

Claim:
A system for providing an image of a target region located within an intravascular environment, said system comprising: an imaging apparatus comprising a. a camera having at least one light sensing region for detecting light, the sensing region being located within a portion of the apparatus inserted into the intravascular environment; b. at least one light source for emitting polarized light to impinge upon said target region, the light source being positioned and oriented along an insertion end of the apparatus so that at least a portion of the light that it emits is reflected by the target region to be detected by the sensing region; c. at least one polarization filter for polarization filtering said light, said filter being disposed on the light path such that light reflected from said target region passes through said filter before being detected by said light sensing region; and d. the system further comprising a processor and stored instructions for implementing an algorithm for reconstruction of at least one image from light detected by the light sensing region, the reconstruction being based upon the detected polarization filtered light; and wherein the stored instructions for reconstruction of at least one image from light detected by said light sensing region further comprise an algorithm based upon expected light reflection behavior for light emitted within a continuous tubular structure in order to recognize and exclude reflected light that is not expected according to said behavior; and wherein the stored instructions include an algorithm implementing a point illumination model for a continuous tubular structure.