Infraredx, Inc.

Sandia Corporation

Precision Healing, Inc.

Infraredex, Inc.

Sean P Madden

David Barone

Kathleen DeRosa

Joel S Raichlen

John N Beck

W David Lee

Ira M Herman

Randal L Schmitt

Eric J Welle

M Kathleen Alam

Ryan Daniel Williams

David B Strasfeld

An intraluminal imaging catheter comprises an outer sheath of material that is efficiently transmissive of near infrared light, a guidewire lumen section extending distally from a distal end of the outer sheath, a terminal length section of the outer sheath extending proximally from the guidewire lumen section, a cable longitudinally and rotatably disposed lengthwise within the outer sheath and having an imaging tip located at its distal end including optical components for transmitting and receiving near infrared light, wherein the cable is longitudinally extendable to position the imaging tip at the terminal length section of the outer sheath, and reinforcement means for structurally reinforcing the terminal length section of the outer sheath against transverse bending or kinking.

Imaging catheter

A method of imaging a vessel with a catheter includes positioning an imaging tip in a reinforced terminal section of an outer sheath of the catheter, inserting the catheter into a vessel, and performing near infrared spectroscopy of the vessel by retracting the imaging tip to a retracted position proximally spaced from the reinforced terminal section of the outer sheath, transmitting near infrared light from the imaging tip to the vessel wall via the outer sheath, and collecting near infrared light from the vessel wall at the imaging tip via the outer sheath. Transmitting and collecting may be performed after retracting the cable and while the imaging tip is rotated and translated proximally from the retracted position along the outer sheath. Ultrasound energy may be transmitted to the vessel from a transducer on the imaging tip and received from the vessel at the transducer.

Method of using an imaging catheter with a reinforced section

Disclosed techniques include skin diagnostics using optical signatures. A plurality of optical excitation light wavelength bands is scanned on a material sample, wherein the material sample exhibits optical spectral characteristics along the light wavelength spectrum. Excitation response wavelengths emitted by the material sample are captured in response to the plurality of optical excitation light wavelength bands, wherein the capturing is accomplished using an imaging sensor. Output values of a plurality of pixels of an image from the imaging sensor are measured, wherein the image represents excitation response wavelengths captured by the imaging sensor, wherein the measuring detects optical spectral characteristics of the material sample, and wherein the optical spectral characteristics are in response to the plurality of optical excitation light wavelength bands. An output signature indicative of composition of the material sample is generated, wherein the output signature is based on interpreting the output values that were measured.

Skin diagnostics using optical signatures

Methods, devices and systems, including computer-implemented methods for building a lipid core plaque (LCP) cap collagen structural integrity classifier are described. The blood vessel wall is illuminated with near-infrared light. Reflected near-infrared light from the blood vessel wall is received. A reflectance spectrum based on the reflected near-infrared light from the blood vessel wall is determined. Whether the reflectance spectrum is indicative of the presence of an LCP is determined. Collagen structural integrity indicator data associated with the blood vessel wall are determined. The LCP cap collagen structural integrity classifier is generated based on the reflectance spectrum and the collagen structural integrity indicator data.

Assessment of lipid core plaque integrity

Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for examining a blood vessel wall. The blood vessel wall is illuminated with near-infrared light. Reflected near-infrared light from the blood vessel wall is received. A reflectance spectrum based on the reflected near-infrared light from the blood vessel wall is determined. Whether the reflectance spectrum is indicative of a presence of a lipid core plaque (LCP) by applying an LCP classifier to the reflectance spectrum is determined. A thickness of an LCP cap is determined by applying an LCP cap thickness classifier to the reflectance spectrum if the reflectance spectrum is indicative of the presence of the LCP. Indicia of the thickness of the LCP cap are displayed.

Detection of lipid core plaque cap thickness

A slapper detonator which integrally incorporates an optical wavequide structure for determining whether there has been degradation of the explosive in the explosive device that is to be initiated by the detonator. Embodiments of this invention take advantage of the barrel-like character of a typical slapper detonator design. The barrel assembly, being in direct contact with the energetic material, incorporates an optical diagnostic device into the barrel assembly whereby one can monitor the state of the explosive material. Such monitoring can be beneficial because the chemical degradation of the explosive plays an important in achieving proper functioning of a detonator/initiator device.

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Arlington, MA, United States of America

Sean P Madden