Abstract: A method of treating diseased cells including the steps of instilling an optical imaging agent to a tissue of a patient, accessing the tissue with a device comprising a fiber tip, emitting a first light from the fiber tip and photodynamically diagnosing abnormal cells, and emitting a second light from the fiber tip to treat the abnormal cells. The first light can be a first power blue light and the second light can be a second power blue light, where the first power blue light can be a lower power than the second power blue light.

Abstract: A method of treating diseased cells including the steps of instilling an optical imaging agent to a tissue of a patient, accessing the tissue with a device comprising a fiber tip, emitting a first light from the fiber tip and photodynamically diagnosing abnormal cells, and emitting a second light from the fiber tip to treat the abnormal cells. The first light can be a first power blue light and the second light can be a second power blue light, where the first power blue light can be a lower power than the second power blue light.

Abstract: A method of managing catheter data for a catheter-based imaging system includes coupling a catheter to a control module. The catheter includes a memory structure that includes catheter management data. The control module includes a processor. The catheter management data is accessed from the memory structure using the processor. Patient tissue is imaged using control module settings that are selected based, at least in part, on the accessed catheter management data. At least one image is displayed based, at least in part, on the imaged patient tissue.

Abstract: A dripless cannula system usable with a syringe or other fluid container in a fluid sampling procedure and operable to minimize retention of residual fluids at a sampling site following the sampling procedure. In the preferred embodiment, a vacuum chamber operatively connected to a blunt cannula of the dripless cannula system is operative upon withdrawal of the cannula from the sampling site to draw residual fluids at the site into the vacuum chamber for subsequent disposal. The dripless cannula system of the present invention is a simple, effective apparatus for minimizing the presence of residual fluids at a sampling site following a sampling procedure.

Abstract: A blood sampling system incorporates a fluid storage mechanism which can be disposed along the longitudinal axis of a fluid line extending from an injection site to a fluid supply. Both the main body portion of the fluid storage mechanism and a fluid draw element of the fluid storage mechanism are axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fluid line. The fluid storage mechanism also incorporates a vortex inducer element at the distal end of the fluid draw element to induce a swirl of fluid to cleanse the fluid storage mechanism once a sample drawn into the fluid storage mechanism has been returned to the patient. An alternative embodiment of the fluid storage mechanism includes a volume control device.