Imaging system

Abstract

We provide a patient imaging system equipped with an imaging probe and an imaging assembly. [Solution] The imaging probe 100 comprises an elongated shaft 120, a rotatable optical core 110, and an optical assembly 115 positioned close to the distal end 1109 of the optical core. The shaft has a proximal end 1201, a distal end 1209, and a lumen 1205 extending between the proximal and distal ends. The optical core has a proximal end 1101 and a distal end, and at least a portion of the optical core is positioned within the lumen of the shaft. The optical assembly is configured to direct light towards the tissue to be imaged and to collect reflected light from the tissue to be imaged. The imaging assembly 300 is constructed and positioned to be optically coupled to the imaging probe. The imaging assembly is configured to emit light into the imaging probe and to receive reflected light collected by the optical assembly.

Claims

1. A patient imaging system, The imaging system comprises an imaging probe and an imaging assembly constructed and positioned to be optically coupled to the imaging probe. The imaging probe comprises an elongated shaft, a rotatable optical core, and an optical assembly. The shaft comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The optical core comprises a proximal end and a distal end, At least a portion of the optical core is disposed within the lumen of the shaft, The optical assembly is positioned close to the distal end of the optical core, The optical assembly is configured to direct light towards the tissue to be imaged and to collect reflected light from the tissue to be imaged. An imaging system in which the imaging assembly is configured to emit light into the imaging probe and receive the reflected light collected by the optical assembly.

2. Further equipped with a rearward assembly with a carrier, The imaging probe is equipped with a pullback connector, The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is configured to be detachably attached to the pullback connector.

3. The retraction assembly is operably mounted and further comprises a delivery catheter into which the imaging probe is inserted, The imaging system according to claim 2, wherein the carrier comprises a two-piece assembly configured to allow an operator to adjust the relative position of the pullback connector with respect to the delivery catheter.

4. The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the two-piece assembly is configured to allow adjustment of the relative position of the pullback connector with respect to the delivery catheter to a distance of at least 5 mm, at least 7 mm, and / or at least 15 mm.

5. The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the two-piece assembly is configured to allow adjustment of the relative position of the pullback connector with respect to the delivery catheter in small increments of approximately 1.0 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.5 mm, and / or 0.3 mm.

6. The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an algorithm configured to determine the duration.

7. The imaging system according to claim 6, wherein the algorithm is further configured to calculate dynamic parameters of blood flow based on the determined duration.

8. The imaging system is configured to perform a pullback process, The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further configured to initiate the pullback process based on the detection of a T wave.

9. The imaging system is configured to perform a pullback process, The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further configured to initiate the pullback process based on the analysis of angiographic images.

10. The imaging system is configured to perform a pullback process, The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further configured to initiate the pullback process based on the analysis of the EKG signal.

11. The imaging system is configured to perform a pullback process, The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further configured to initiate the pullback process based on the detection of the removal of blood from the imaging location.

12. The imaging system is configured to perform a pullback process, The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further configured to initiate the pullback process based on the simultaneous fulfillment of two trigger conditions.

13. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein the first trigger condition includes detection of the removal of blood from the imaging location, and the second trigger condition is based on the analysis of the EKG signal.

14. The optical assembly is configured to be placed inside the first blood vessel, The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the imaging system is configured to generate an image of a target location outside the first blood vessel.

15. The first blood vessel mentioned above includes the blood vessels of the brain, The imaging system according to claim 14, wherein the target location includes a location outside the cerebral blood vessels within the brain.

16. The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the light directed towards the tissue and / or the light collected from the tissue passes through the cerebrospinal fluid.

17. The target location includes tumor tissue, neurite plaques, amyloid plaques, cerebral infarction, and / or atherosclerosis, and / or The imaging system according to claim 14, wherein the target location includes one or more locations within a blood vessel, an extravascular location, a perivascular structure, the subarachnoid space, and / or arachnoid trabeculae.

18. The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the imaging system is configured to display image data in a first mode including oblique depiction of the imaged tissue and a second mode including fly-through depiction of the imaged tissue.

19. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein the imaging system is configured to allow an operator to switch between the first mode and the second mode.

20. The imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the optical assembly is configured to be positioned within the lumen of the intracranial vascular system to generate an image of one or more physiological markers of vascular dementia and / or Alzheimer's disease.

21. The imaging system according to claim 20, wherein the one or more physiological markers include markers selected from the group consisting of amyloid plaques, neurite plaques, cerebral infarction, atherosclerosis, and combinations thereof.

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