METHODS, SYSTEMS AND APPARATUSES FOR DISPLAYING REAL-TIME CATHETER POSITION

1 . A system for tracking and displaying a real-time catheter position overlaying a fluoroscopic image, the system comprising:

a catheter having an optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensor thereon;

a displacement sensor configured to identify displacement of the catheter; and

a controller configured to:

receive a fluoroscopic image of the distal end of the catheter at a first position; and

determine a displacement of the catheter from the first position to a second position using the displacement sensor; and

a display configured to display the distal end of catheter at the second position as an overlay on the fluoroscopic image.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the display is further configured to display an OCT image from the OCT sensor.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluoroscopic image is a static fluoroscopic image.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to synchronize a zero position of the distal end of the catheter with the first position when the fluoroscopic image is captured.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein determining the displacement of the catheter comprises determining the location of the distal end of the catheter at the second position using signals from the displacement sensor.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor is attached to the catheter.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the displacement sensor is axially movable relative to the catheter.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor is a separate component from the catheter.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor is an optical sensor.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor is a mechanical sensor.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the displacement sensor is an electromagnetic positioning sensor.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter is an atherectomy catheter.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter is an occlusion-crossing catheter.

14 . A method for tracking and displaying a real-time catheter position comprising:

inserting a catheter into a body lumen;

capturing an optical coherence tomography (OCT) image with an OCT sensor on the catheter;

capturing a fluoroscopic image of the distal end of the catheter at a first position;

displaying the fluoroscopic image on a display;

advancing the catheter to a second position;

determining a displacement of the catheter from the first position to the second position using a displacement sensor; and

displaying the distal end of catheter at the second position as an overlay on the fluoroscopic image on the display.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein capturing a fluoroscopic image comprises capturing a static fluoroscopic image, and wherein displaying comprises displaying the static fluoroscopic image.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising synchronizing a zero position of the distal end of the catheter with the first position when the fluoroscopic image is captured.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying the zero position of the distal end of the catheter on the fluoroscopic image.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the displacement of the catheter comprises determining the location of the distal end of the catheter at the second position using signals from the displacement sensor.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the method further includes displaying the OCT image.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising displaying the distal end of the catheter overlaying the fluoroscopic image on a same display as the OCT image.

21 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the displacement sensor is attached to the catheter.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the displacement sensor is axially movable relative to the catheter.

23 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising placing the displacement sensor at an insertion point of the catheter into the body lumen.

24 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising reducing an overall amount of x-ray radiation by only capturing a single fluoroscopic image for a travel range of the catheter that is displayed within a view of the single fluoroscopic image.

25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the displacement sensor is an optical sensor.

26 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the displacement sensor is a mechanical sensor.

27 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the displacement sensor is an electromagnetic positioning sensor.

28 . A catheter device comprising

an elongate body extending from a proximal end to a distal end;

an optical coherence tomography (OCT) sensor attached to the elongate body; and

a displacement sensor attached to the elongate body and axially movable relative to the movable body, the displacement sensor configured to measure a displacement of the distal end of the catheter relative to the displacement sensor;

wherein the displacement sensor is configured to be connected to a controller configured to receive signals from the displacement sensor and determine a position of the distal end.

29 . The catheter device of claim 28 , wherein the displacement sensor is an optical sensor.

30 . The catheter device of claim 28 , wherein the displacement sensor is a mechanical sensor.

31 . The catheter device of claim 28 , wherein the displacement sensor is an electromagnetic positioning sensor.

32 . The catheter device of claim 28 , wherein the catheter is an atherectomy catheter.

33 . The catheter device of claim 28 , wherein the catheter is an occlusion-crossing catheter.