Cardiovascular imaging system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a laser catheter that includes a catheter body, a light guide, and a distal tip that extends beyond the exit aperture of the light guide. In some embodiments, an imaging device is disposed on the distal tip such that the imaging device is distal relative to the exit aperture of the light guide. In some embodiments, the imaging device can be gated to record images during and or slightly beyond periods when the laser catheter is not activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser ablation and imaging method including:
 activating an imaging source to provide a pulsed imaging signal;   activating a laser source to provide a pulsed laser signal while the imaging source remains activated; and   coordinating the pulsed laser signal and the pulsed imaging signal to a plurality of imaging pulses of the pulsed imaging signal between each consecutive laser pulse of the pulsed laser signal and in non-overlapping time windows with pulses of the pulsed laser signal.   
     
     
         2 . The laser ablation and imaging method of  claim 1 , further including
 positioning a fiber optic catheter within a human vessel; and   routing the laser signal and the imaging signal through the fiber optic catheter to the human vessel.   
     
     
         3 . The laser ablation and imaging method of  claim 2 , further including capturing images of an interior of the human vessel near a distal tip of the fiber optic catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The laser ablation and imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging signal includes at least one of an ultrasonic signal and a light reflectance signal. 
     
     
         5 . The laser ablation and imaging method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser signal includes an ultraviolet signal.