Apparatus, methods and computer-accessible media for in situ three-dimensional reconstruction of luminal structures

1 . A method, comprising:

providing a catheter having optically coupled thereto a strain-sensing system,

the catheter including a lens,

the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates within the strain-sensing sheath;

determining, by a controller in communication with the strain-sensing system, a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath comprising:

transmitting a first light towards the strain-sensing sheath,

obtaining a second light from the strain-sensing sheath, and

determining the first strain based on obtaining the second light;

determining, by the controller, a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath comprising:

transmitting a third light towards the strain-sensing sheath,

obtaining a fourth light from the strain-sensing sheath, and

determining the second strain based on obtaining the fourth light,

the first location being different from the second location; and

determining, by the controller, a catheter curvature between the first location and the second location based on determining the first strain and the second strain of the strain-sensing sheath.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the strain-sensing sheath is disposed within a luminal sample, and

wherein the catheter is optically coupled to a structural imaging system,

wherein the structural imaging system is in communication with the controller, and

wherein the method further comprises:

determining a first position of the catheter in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at the first location, and

determining a second position of the catheter in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at the second location,

determining a relative sample curvature of the luminal sample with respect to the catheter between the first location and the second location based on determining the first position and the second position of the catheter, and

determining an actual curvature of the luminal sample between the first location and the second location based on determining the catheter curvature and the relative sample curvature.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the structural imaging system comprises an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the strain-sensing sheath comprises a sheath wall.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the strain-sensing sheath comprises strain-sensing molecules associated with the sheath wall.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the strain-sensing molecules are associated with an inside face of the sheath wall.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the strain-sensing molecules are embedded within the sheath wall.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the strain-sensing molecules are associated with an outside face of the sheath wall.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the strain-sensing molecules are associated with a plurality of wires attached to the outside face of the sheath wall.

10 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the strain-sensing sheath is disposed within another sheath.

11 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the strain-sensing molecules comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs).

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first strain further comprises:

determining the first strain based on detecting a spectral shift in the second light, and

wherein determining the second strain further comprises:

determining the second strain based on detecting a spectral shift in the fourth light.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the first strain further comprises:

determining the first strain based on at least one of fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, or absorption spectroscopy, and

wherein determining the second strain further comprises:

determining the second strain based on at least one of fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, or absorption spectroscopy.

14 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system are optically coupled to the catheter by a rotary junction.

15 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a three-dimensional (3D) shape of the luminal sample based on determining the catheter curvature.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens moves helically through the strain-sensing sheath.

17 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the luminal sample comprises a coronary artery.

18 . A method, comprising:

providing a catheter having optically coupled thereto a strain-sensing system,

the catheter including a lens,

the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates within the strain-sensing sheath;

determining, by a controller in communication with the strain-sensing system, a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath;

determining, by the controller, a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath,

the first location being different from the second location; and

determining, by the controller, a catheter curvature between the first location and the second location based on determining the first strain and the second strain of the strain-sensing sheath,

wherein the strain-sensing sheath is disposed within a luminal sample,

wherein the catheter is optically coupled to a structural imaging system comprising an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system,

wherein the structural imaging system is in communication with the controller,

wherein the method further comprises:

determining a first position of the catheter in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at the first location,

determining a second position of the catheter in an x-z plane and a y-z plane at the second location,

determining a relative sample curvature of the luminal sample with respect to the catheter between the first location and the second location based on determining the first position and the second position of the catheter, and

determining an actual curvature of the luminal sample between the first location and the second location based on determining the catheter curvature and the relative sample curvature,

wherein the strain-sensing sheath comprises a sheath wall,

wherein the strain-sensing sheath comprises strain-sensing molecules associated with the sheath wall, and

wherein the strain-sensing molecules are associated with an inside face of the sheath wall,

wherein the strain-sensing molecules are embedded within the sheath wall, or

wherein the strain-sensing molecules are associated with a plurality of wires attached to an outside face of the sheath wall.