Patent ID: 8131350

Claim:
An apparatus for stabilizing an open area of a visualization catheter, comprising: a deployment catheter defining at least one lumen therethrough; a barrier or membrane having an inner layer and an outer layer projecting distally from the deployment catheter such that the inner layer defines the open area therein and the outer layer is positioned adjacent to the inner layer whereby the inner layer and outer layer define an annular channel through the barrier or membrane, wherein the open area is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen and with an environment external to the barrier or membrane; a collapsible frame having a low-profile configuration and an expanded configuration which is advanceable through the annular channel defined between the inner layer and outer layer of the barrier or membrane such that the frame in its expanded configuration is seated circumferentially along the barrier or membrane; and a visualization element disposed within or adjacent to the barrier or membrane for visualizing tissue adjacent to the open area.