Abstract: An angioscope comprises a tubular sheath and a central member. The central member carries a lateral reflector for receiving images circumscribing the central member. The tubular sheath includes a light source for axially illuminating a vascular region as it is being optically imaged using the lateral reflector of the central member. The central member can be axially translated through the field illuminated by the light source on the tubular sheath. The angioscope may be combined in a catheter a catheter capable of delivering a therapeutic intervention while viewing a delivery site within a body passageway.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of occluding blood in a blood vessel during the imaging of a portion of the blood vessel. The method includes the steps of selecting an inflatable element such that diameter of the inflated inflatable element is greater than the diameter of the blood vessel being imaged, introducing the inflatable element into the blood vessel and underinflating the inflatable element such that the vessel wall is not substantially deformed by the inflatable element, the inflatable element substantially occluding the blood vessel to reduce imaging distortion resulting from vessel fluids.