TISSUE VISUALIZATION CATHETER WITH IMAGING SYSTEMS INTEGRATION
Tissue visualization catheters with imaging systems integrated within the imaging catheter system are described. The tissue-imaging apparatus relates to devices and/or methods to provide visualization of tissue regions within a body lumen such as a heart, which is filled with blood flowing dynamically therethrough. High-resolution images can be obtained by miniaturizing and integrating solid state cameras into the tissue visualization catheter in a number of different off-axis configurations. One or more light sources can also be optionally integrated with the solid state imagers to illuminate the tissue from different angles.
1 . A solid state electronic imaging system, comprising:
a lens assembly;
an electronic imaging sensor positioned adjacent to the lens assembly for receiving an image from the lens assembly; and
a video processing assembly electrically coupled to the imaging sensor via a flexible connector,
wherein the imaging system is sized to be positioned within or along an inner surface of an imaging hood which is reconfigurable between a delivery profile and a deployment profile.
2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a prism positioned distal to the lens assembly.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are aligned in parallel with the lens assembly.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are planarly aligned with respect to one another.
5 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one supplemental board assembly interconnected with the imaging sensor and/or video processing assembly.
6 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one light source integrated with the imaging system.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are coupled in series.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are positioned in series along the inner surface of the imaging hood.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are positioned radially along the inner surface of the imaging hood.
11 . A tissue visualization system, comprising:
a deployment catheter having a distal end;
an imaging assembly extending from the distal end and defining an inner surface and an outer surface and which is configurable between a delivery profile and a deployment profile, wherein the imaging assembly defines an open area in fluid communication with a fluid lumen defined through the catheter;
an electronic imaging assembly positioned within or along the inner surface of the imaging assembly such that a tissue region defined by the open area is imaged by the imaging assembly, and
wherein the imaging assembly comprises an electronic imaging sensor and a video processing assembly coupled to the imaging sensor via a flexible connector such that the imaging assembly is flexibly configured along the inner surface.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the deployment catheter is articulatable.
13 . The system of claim 12 wherein the deployment catheter is robotically controlled.
14 . The system of claim 11 wherein the imaging assembly comprises a hood defining at least one aperture through a distal membrane over the open area
15 . The system of claim 11 wherein the imaging assembly comprises an inflatable balloon member.
16 . The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one supplemental board assembly interconnected with the imaging sensor and/or video processing assembly.
17 . The system of claim 11 further comprising at least one light source integrated with the imaging assembly.
18 . The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.
19 . The system of claim 11 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are coupled in series.
20 . The system of claim 11 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are positioned in series along the inner surface.
21 . The system of claim 1 wherein the imaging sensor and video processing assembly are positioned radially along the inner surface.
22 . A method of visualizing a tissue region, comprising:
intravascularly advancing an imaging assembly extending from a distal end of a deployment catheter to a tissue region of interest;
reconfiguring the imaging assembly from a delivery profile to a deployment profile such that the imaging assembly defines an open area in fluid communication with a fluid lumen defined through the catheter;
positioning the open area against the tissue region of interest such that blood is displaced from the open area; and
visualizing the tissue region of interest via an off-axis electronic imaging assembly positioned within or along an inner surface of the imaging assembly, wherein the imaging assembly comprises an electronic imaging sensor and a video processing assembly coupled to the imaging sensor via a flexible connector such that the imaging assembly is flexibly configured along the inner surface.
23 . The method of claim 22 wherein intravascularly advancing comprises articulating the imaging assembly via the catheter.
24 . The method of claim 23 wherein articulating comprises robotically articulating the imaging assembly.
25 . The method of claim 22 wherein reconfiguring comprises configuring an imaging hood from a delivery configuration to a deployment configuration.
26 . The method of claim 22 wherein reconfiguring comprises inflating an expandable balloon member from a delivery configuration to an expanded deployment configuration.
27 . The method of claim 22 wherein positioning comprises displacing the blood between an expanded balloon and the tissue region of interest.
28 . The method of claim 22 wherein positioning comprises displacing the blood from the open area via a transparent fluid introduced through the fluid lumen.
29 . The method of claim 22 wherein the imaging assembly is reconfigured from a collapsed profile to an expanded profile upon reconfiguring the imaging assembly.