Abstract: The disclosed automatic calibration systems and methods provide a repeatable way to detect internal catheter reflections and to shift the internal catheter reflections to calibrate an image.

Abstract: The disclosed automatic calibration systems and methods provide a repeatable way to detect internal catheter reflections and to shift the internal catheter reflections to calibrate an image.

Abstract: Medical imaging devices and systems are provided. The medical imaging devices may include a transducer to transmit ultrasound signals (waves) and to receive the reflected ultrasound signals for imaging a vessel of interest. Embodiments may include disposing the transducer at a proximal end of the intravascular device and disposing a motor at a distal end of the intravascular device along with a rotatable acoustic mirror. The transducer may transmit and receive the ultrasound signals to and from the rotatable acoustic mirror via an acoustic lumen extending along the length of the device. Other embodiments may include disposing the transducer, the motor, and the rotatable acoustic mirror at the distal end of the medical imaging device. Further embodiments may include using a concentric layered structure to provide multiple conductors for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from components disposed at the distal end of the intravascular device.

Abstract: The invention is a rotating tip catheter-imaging probe where electromagnetic energy is delivered to the distal end of a catheter and converted to mechanical energy using a light drive apparatus. The mechanical energy is then used to rotate a mirror that redirects light in fixed pattern on a sample. The rotating element of the light drive apparatus contains vanes, which rotate about an axis and positioned with bearings to minimize friction. A chamber encompasses the rotating element and is set to a vacuum pressure. The rotational speed of the catheter tip can be controlled by varying the optical power delivered to the vanes, the vacuum pressure in the chamber, or by a braking mechanism applied to the rotating element. The vanes may be shaped in a particular geometry to increase forces on the vanes from thermally driven gas flow.