Systems and methods for measuring and characterizing interior surfaces of luminal structures

1. A method for generating a three-dimensional digital topographic model of a luminal surfaces of a body lumen, said method comprising:

scanning a light pattern with a known geometry comprising at least one ring which circumscribes a cross-section of the lumen on the luminal surface from at least one illumination source over a number of first locations along a longitudinal axis within the lumen to reflect a geometric pattern of light from the luminal surface from each of said first locations;

detecting at least a portion of the reflected light pattern over the full cross-section circumscribing the body lumen with at least one light sensor at a number of second locations within the lumen, wherein said second locations are spaced-apart axially along the longitudinal axis from the first location;

determining an angle of the detected portion of the reflected light pattern with respect to the longitudinal axis using the light sensor; and

generating the three-dimensional digital topographic model of the luminal surface of the body lumen by triangulating the detected portion of the reflected light pattern from the projection and detection locations

wherein triangulating comprises (1) determining a distance between the illumination source and the light sensor, and (2) calculating the position of the detected portion of the reflected light pattern based upon the angle of the reflected light pattern with respect to the longitudinal axis.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the illumination source and the light sensor are translated in tandem along a path through the lumen.

3. A method as in claim 2 , wherein the path extends over a distance in a range from 5 mm to 250 mm.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor remains stationary as the illumination source is translated.

5. A method as in claim 4 , wherein the illumination source includes a plurality of illumination sources distributed along a path through the lumen.

6. A method as in claim 5 , wherein the path extends over a distance in a range from 5 mm to 250 mm.

7. A method as in claim 5 , wherein at least some of the plurality of illumination sources project a ring pattern which circumscribes a cross-section of the lumen surrounding the source.

8. A method as in claim 5 , wherein at least some of the plurality of illumination sources project a pattern geometrically different from a pattern projected by one or more of the other illumination sources.

9. A method as in claim 5 , wherein at least some of the plurality of illumination sources project a pattern having a different light wavelength than projected by one or more of the other illumination sources.

10. A method as in any one of claims 5 - 9 , wherein detecting comprises sensing light from the illumination sources which has been reflected from the wall with at least one sensor within the lumen.

11. A method as in claim 10 , wherein a single sensor is located at one end of the plurality of illumination sources.

12. A method as in claim 10 , wherein a first sensor is located at one end of the plurality of illumination.

13. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising inflating a balloon within the body lumen so that the balloon conforms to the luminal surface and the luminal surface comprises an inner surface of the balloon.

14. A method as in claim 13 , wherein the balloon is elastic to conform elastically to the luminal surface.

15. A method as in claim 13 , wherein the balloon is inelastic and sized larger than the body lumen.

16. A method as in claim 13 , wherein an inner surface of the balloon is coated with a material which increases specular reflection.

17. A method as in claim 13 , wherein projecting the optical pattern comprises projecting light from the at least one illumination source within the balloon and detecting comprises sensing light from the illumination source which has been reflected from the inner surface of the balloon with the at least one sensor within the balloon.

18. A method as in claim 17 , wherein the balloon is drawn through the body lumen, further comprising tracking the position of the illumination source and the light detector axially with the body lumen.

19. A method as in claim 13 , further comprising monitoring a patient's electrogram via electrodes on or adjacent to the balloon to determine a likelihood of heart block following valve implantation.

20. A method as in claim 19 , wherein at least two electrodes on or adjacent to the balloon are configured to allow electrogram measurement from the luminal wall as the balloon is inflated.

21. A method as in claim 19 , wherein at least one electrode is positioned at or near a distal end of the balloon and at least one electrode is positioned at or near a proximal end of the balloon.

22. A method as in claim 1 , wherein projecting comprises projecting light from the at least one illumination within a transparent portion of a catheter body disposed in the body lumen.

23. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the illumination source is translated along a path through the transparent portion of a catheter body.

24. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the body lumen is selectable from the group consisting of a heart valve annulus, an aneurysm, a left atrial appendage, and a vascular occlusion.

25. A method as in claim 24 , wherein the body lumen is an aortic valve annulus.

26. A method as in claim 24 , wherein the body lumen is an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

27. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising analyzing a wavelength of the reflected or fluoresced light.

28. A method as in claim 1 , wherein projecting light from the illumination source comprises projecting light of two or more wavelengths.