Abstract: In some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for advancing and positioning tethered capsule microendoscopes are provided. In some embodiments, a device for capsule endomicroscopy is provided, comprising: a tether having a proximal end and distal end; an optical fiber disposed within the tether; a tube enclosing at least a portion of the tether, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a diameter of the tube being larger than the diameter of the tether; a housing coupled to the distal end of the tether and the distal end of the tube; and an optical element disposed within the housing, the optical element being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and configured to direct light received from the optical fiber toward a periphery of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining interferometric data, including: an optical detector to detect the interferometric data, the optical detector including at least one pixel, and the at least one pixel including at least one counter configured to count photoelectrons.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

Abstract: A method for detecting inflammatory activity, including: providing a catheter including a near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging system configured to perform NIRF imaging and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system configured to perform structural imaging; introducing a near-infrared fluorescent cathepsin-activatable imaging agent into a blood vessel; placing a distal end of the catheter within the blood vessel; obtaining, using the OCT imaging system, structural images of an atherosclerotic plaque within the blood vessel; obtaining, using the NIRF imaging system. NIRF images of the atherosclerotic plaque within the blood vessel; detecting the near-infrared fluorescent cathepsin-activatable imaging agent in the NIRF images; and identifying inflammation within the atherosclerotic plaque based on detecting the near-infrared fluorescent cathepsin-activatable imaging agent in the NIRF images.

Abstract: An injection apparatus, including: a needle configured to be inserted into a tissue; a light source to deliver light to the tissue to generate reflected light; a detector to detect the reflected light from the tissue; a processor coupled to the detector and configured to: analyze the reflected light from the tissue to identify a tissue type associated with the reflected light, and provide an output to a user based on the identified tissue type.

Abstract: An injection apparatus, including: a needle configured to be inserted into a tissue; a light source to deliver light to the tissue to generate reflected light; a detector to detect the reflected light from the tissue; a processor coupled to the detector and configured to: analyze the reflected light from the tissue to identify a tissue type associated with the reflected light, and provide an output to a user based on the identified tissue type.

Abstract: In some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for advancing and positioning tethered capsule microendoscopes are provided. In some embodiments, a device for capsule endomicroscopy is provided, comprising: a tether having a proximal end and distal end; an optical fiber disposed within the tether; a tube enclosing at least a portion of the tether, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a diameter of the tube being larger than the diameter of the tether; a housing coupled to the distal end of the tether and the distal end of the tube; and an optical element disposed within the housing, the optical element being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and configured to direct light received from the optical fiber toward a periphery of the housing.

Abstract: Exemplary method and apparatus for diagnosing or characterizing an inflammation within an anatomical structure can be provided. For example, using at least one source arrangement, it is possible to provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the anatomical structure at at least one first wavelength in vivo. With at least one detector arrangement, it is possible to detect at least one second electro-magnetic radiation at at least one second wavelength provided from the anatomical structure. The second radiation can be associated with the first radiation, and the first wavelength can be shorter than the second wavelength. The second radiation can be provided from the anatomical structure due to at least one change in the anatomical structure caused by the inflammation without providing an artificial fluorescence substance.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

Abstract: In some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for advancing and positioning tethered capsule microendoscopes are provided. In some embodiments, a device for capsule endomicroscopy is provided, comprising: a tether having a proximal end and distal end; an optical fiber disposed within the tether; a tube enclosing at least a portion of the tether, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a diameter of the tube being larger than the diameter of the tether; a housing coupled to the distal end of the tether and the distal end of the tube; and an optical element disposed within the housing, the optical element being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and configured to direct light received from the optical fiber toward a periphery of the housing.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods can be provided which can generate data associated with at least one portion of a sample. For example, at least one first radiation can be forwarded to the portion through at least one optical arrangement. At least one second radiation can be received from the portion which is based on the first radiation. Based on an interaction between the optical arrangement and the first radiation and/or the second radiation, the optical arrangement can have a first transfer function. Further, it is possible to forward at least one third radiation to the portion through such optical arrangement (or through another optical arrangement), and receive at least one fourth radiation from the portion which is based on the third radiation. Based on an interaction between the optical arrangement (or the other optical arrangement) and the third radiation and/or the fourth radiation, the optical arrangement (or the other optical arrangement) can have a second transfer function.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a shape of a luminal sample including: a catheter including a lens, the catheter disposed within a strain-sensing sheath such that the lens rotates and translates; a structural imaging system optically coupled to the catheter; a strain-sensing system optically coupled to the catheter; and a controller coupled to the strain-sensing system and the structural imaging system. The controller determines: a first position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a first location within the strain-sensing sheath; a second position of the catheter relative to the luminal sample at a second location within the strain-sensing sheath; a first strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the first location; a second strain of the strain-sensing sheath at the second location; a local curvature of the luminal sample relative to the catheter; a local curvature of the catheter; and a local curvature of the luminal sample.

Abstract: Probes, catheters, systems, methods, and ferrofluids are provides for acquiring direct visualization medical images of internal structures. The probes can include a channel, an optical waveguide, and a ferrofluid attractor. The ferrofluid attractor can be configured to magnetically attract the ferrofluid when exiting a distal port of the channel The medical image can be acquired through the ferrofluid, which is excluding blood from the area that the ferrofluid is occupying. The ferrofluid has a lower optical absorbance than blood, so the acquiring the image through the ferrofluid rather than through blood provides improved images.

Abstract: Exemplary method and apparatus for diagnosing or characterizing an inflammation within an anatomical structure can be provided. For example, using at least one source arrangement, it is possible to provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the anatomical structure at at least one first wavelength in vivo. With at least one detector arrangement, it is possible to detect at least one second electro-magnetic radiation at at least one second wavelength provided from the anatomical structure. The second radiation can be associated with the first radiation, and the first wavelength can be shorter than the second wavelength. The second radiation can be provided from the anatomical structure due to at least one change in the anatomical structure caused by the inflammation without providing an artificial fluorescence substance.

Abstract: Exemplary method and apparatus for diagnosing or characterizing an inflammation within an anatomical structure can be provided. For example, using at least one source arrangement, it is possible to provide at least one first electro-magnetic radiation to the anatomical structure at least one first wavelength in vivo. With at least one detector arrangement, it is possible to detect at least one second electro-magnetic radiation at least one second wavelength provided from the anatomical structure. The second radiation can be associated with the first radiation, and the first wavelength can be shorter than the second wavelength. The second radiation can be provided from the anatomical structure due to at least one change in the anatomical structure caused by the inflammation without providing an artificial fluorescence substance.

Abstract: In some embodiments, devices, systems, and methods for advancing and positioning tethered capsule microendoscopes are provided. In some embodiments, a device for capsule endomicroscopy is provided, comprising: a tether having a proximal end and distal end; an optical fiber disposed within the tether; a tube enclosing at least a portion of the tether, the tube having a proximal end and a distal end, a diameter of the tube being larger than the diameter of the tether; a housing coupled to the distal end of the tether and the distal end of the tube; and an optical element disposed within the housing, the optical element being optically coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber and configured to direct light received from the optical fiber toward a periphery of the housing.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of systems and methods can be provided which can generate data associated with at least one portion of a sample. For example, at least one first radiation can be forwarded to the portion through at least one optical arrangement. At least one second radiation can be received from the portion which is based on the first radiation. Based on an interaction between the optical arrangement and the first radiation and/or the second radiation, the optical arrangement can have a first transfer function. Further, it is possible to forward at least one third radiation to the portion through such optical arrangement (or through another optical arrangement), and receive at least one fourth radiation from the portion which is based on the third radiation. Based on an interaction between the optical arrangement (or the other optical arrangement) and the third radiation and/or the fourth radiation, the optical arrangement (or the other optical arrangement) can have a second transfer function.