Vessel imaging system and method

Abstract

A system and a method for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the system comprising a light source for generating an illuminating light, an imaging probe for laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with the illuminating light, a detection unit for detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle, and a processor unit for reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light.

1 . A method for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the method comprising: laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with an illuminating light; detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle; and reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the image of the illuminated portion of said particle is a two-dimensional (2D) image. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising acquiring an image of a cross-section of the portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the image of the cross-section of the vessel comprises a cross-section of one or more particles in the portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising spectrally dispersing the illuminating light along an axis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising collimating the illuminating light prior to spectrally dispersing the light. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the illuminated portion of said particle comprises a distinct spectral band. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein detecting light from the illuminated portion of said particle comprises measuring a spectrum of the emitted light. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising creating interference between the emitted light and a reference light to determine axial location of the illuminated portion of said particle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  comprising reproducing a three-dimensional (3-D) image of the illuminated portion of said particle. 
     
     
         11 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A system for acquiring an image of a particle flowing in a vessel, the system comprising: a light source for generating an illuminating light; an imaging probe for laterally statically illuminating at least a portion of said vessel with the illuminating light; a detection unit for detecting emitted light from an illuminated portion of said particle; and a processor unit for reproducing an image of the illuminated portion of said particle from the emitted light. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the imaging probe captures the emitted light from the illuminated portion of said particle. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the imaging probe is an endoscope. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the imaging probe is a catheter. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the image of the illuminated portion of said particle is a two-dimensional (2D) image. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the processor unit reproduces an image of a cross-section of the portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the image of the cross-section of the portion of the vessel comprises a cross-section of one or more particles in the portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the detection unit comprises a spectrometer for measuring a spectrum of the emitted light, a camera for capturing a single shot of the emitted light, or a single detector for measuring a wavelength of the emitted light, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising a diffraction grating to spectrally disperse the illuminating light along an axis. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the illuminated portion of said particle comprises a distinct spectral band. 
     
     
         29 - 38 . (canceled)