Medical imaging apparatus and method

Abstract

A medical device is used to image a body cavity using a plurality of axially and angularly spaced imaging sensors. Each imaging sensor generates an image that is distinct from one another due to distinct fields of vision. Each image includes an overlapping zone with commonalities that are used to extrapolate a greater calibrated image.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 imaging a first cavity portion of a greater body cavity using a first imaging sensor of a catheter to generate a first digital image;   imaging a second cavity portion of the greater body cavity using a second imaging sensor of the catheter to generate a second digital image; wherein the first and second cavity portions are contiguous portions of the greater body cavity, and wherein first and second images partially overlap in an overlap portion; and   generating a greater image of the greater body cavity from at least the first and second digital images; the generating including identifying the overlap portion in the first image, identifying the overlap portion in the second image, and using the identified overlap portion to combine the first and second images to generate the greater image.