Abstract: This invention describes the detection of atherosclerotic plaque or cancer cells by a light probe inside a blood vessel or internal to an elongate organ. In one embodiment, vessel wall is imaged by employing a scanning mechanism using one emitting and one receiving fiber, whereby light is directed at a spinning mirror, approximately normal to the vessel or elongate organ surface. The light is reflected circumferentially around the vessel or elongate organ surface as the mirror rotates and received by a low-numerical aperture (NA) fiber, which transmits it to a light detector, thereby generating a set of light amplitudes circumferentially around the vessel/elongate organ surface. Multiple rings are acquired by translating the probe within the vessel/elongate organ. In another embodiment, adding a piezoelectric transducer in proximity to the distal ends of the fibers permits simultaneous ultrasound and light images to be created.

Abstract: An implantable electrode lead assembly for coupling an electrical stimulator pulse generator to an internal organ and a method for preparing such an assembly, the electrode lead assembly including a coiled conductor wound in the form of a helix about a central axis. An electrical conductor is encapsulated within a coaxially disposed flexible cylindrical sleeve, with the sleeve including separate inner and outer tubular elements. The inner tubular element is fabricated from a semi-conductive silicone rubber having a resistivity of less than about 130 ohm-cm., and with the outer tubular element comprising an electrically insulative silicone rubber, with both tubular elements having the property of expanding upon exposure to certain solvents or other mediums. The preparation operations utilize the expansion characteristic to form a unitary lead assembly.