Patent ID: 7929145

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting vulnerable plaque within a lumen defined by an intraluminal wall, the apparatus comprising: a probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion; a first optical waveguide extending along the probe and having a distal end, the first optical waveguide being configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portions; a second optical waveguide extending along the probe and having a distal end, the second optical waveguide being configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portions; an interferometer coupled to the first optical waveguide and configured to provide an interference signal for sub-surface imaging of the intraluminal wall; a processing module coupled to the second optical waveguide and configured to extract spectroscopic information about the intraluminal wall from detected intensity of light collected from the intraluminal wall; and an optical source coupled with one of the first and second optical waveguides; wherein the first and second optical waveguides define a double-clad optical fiber having a core and an annular cladding.