Miniaturized imaging device including GRIN lens optically coupled to SSID

1. A miniaturized imaging device, comprising:

a catheter having proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said catheter comprises a deformable tip, the deformable tip comprising:

at least one opening about a lateral side of the tip;

a solid state imaging chip disposed at a distal end of the catheter;

a lens system optically coupled to the solid state imaging chip;

a mirror element fixedly disposed within a distal end of the deformable tip and oriented to reflect light entering the deformable tip through the at least one opening directly towards the lens system; and

an adjustable imaging field of view created by movement of the deformable tip and mirror element with respect to the lens system.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the lens system is oriented substantially collinear with the mirror element when the deformable tip is disposed in an unbiased position.

3. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a field of view of the imaging device is at least partially rearward of the lens system when the deformable tip is disposed in an unbiased position.

4. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a first imaging field of view when the deformable tip is disposed in an unbiased position and a second imaging field of view when the deformable tip is disposed in a biased position.

5. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a field of view of the imaging device is adjustable dependent upon the position of the deformable tip relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.

6. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a field of view of the imaging device is approximately 25 to 50 degrees rearward of the lens system, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, when the deformable tip is disposed in an unbiased position.

7. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a field of view of the imaging device is at least partially forward of the lens system when the deformable tip is disposed in a biased position.

8. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the at least one lateral opening is adjacent a distal end of the lens system.

9. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the deformable tip is laterally deformable relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.

10. A miniaturized imaging device, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a solid state imaging chip disposed near a distal end of the catheter;

a lens system optically coupled to the solid state imaging chip;

a deformable tip having an opening about a lateral side of the tip and a mirror element fixedly disposed within a distal end of the deformable tip and oriented to reflect light entering the deformable tip through the at least one lateral opening directly towards the lens system to create an imaging field of view which is:

a. at least partially rearward of the lens system when the deformable tip is disposed in a first position with respect to the lens system;

b. at least partially lateral of the lens system when the deformable tip is disposed in a second position with respect to the lens system; and

c. at least partially forward and partially rearward of the lens system when the deformable tip is disposed in a third position with respect to the lens system.

11. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 10 , further comprising a tensioning device adapted to deform the deformable tip.

12. The miniaturized imaging device of claim 10 , further comprising a shape memory alloy disposed within the deformable tip and adapted to move the deformable tip from an unbiased position to a biased position.

13. A method of imaging a target within a body, comprising:

advancing a catheter into a portion of the body, said catheter comprising a deformable tip, and at least one opening about a lateral side of the tip, a solid state imaging chip disposed at a distal end of the catheter, a lens system optically coupled to the solid state imaging chip, and a mirror element fixedly disposed within a distal end of the deformable tip;

disposing the deformable tip in an unbiased position such that a field of view of the imaging chip is at least partially rearward of the lens system;

propagating a wavelength of light onto the target;

receiving a wavelength of light reflected from the target to the mirror element; and

receiving a wavelength of light reflected directly from the target mirror element to the lens system.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising laterally moving the deformable tip relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that a field of view of the imaging chip is at least partially lateral and partially rearward of the lens system.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising laterally moving the deformable tip relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter such that a field of view of the imaging chip is at least partially forward and partially rearward of the lens system.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising laterally moving the deformable tip relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter to adjust the field of view of the imaging chip.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the deformable tip further comprises a shape memory material configured to maintain the deformable tip substantially collinear with a longitudinal axis of the catheter when the shape memory material is in an unbiased state.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising injecting a fluid onto a shape memory material to laterally move the deformable tip.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising conducting a current of electricity through the shape memory material to laterally move the deformable tip.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the lens system comprises a GRIN lens attached directly to the solid state imaging chip.