Imaging of the vasa vasorum to navigate through an occlusion

摘要

An aid in the percutaneous navigation through chronic total occlusions by imaging of the vasa vasorum is provided. A cavity is established in a vessel proximal to the occlusion of interest. Once the cavity is established, fluid is introduced into the cavity. The fluid is introduced under a pressure that is sufficient enough to drive the fluid into the vasa vasorum that is accessible from the cavity. An image is taken with an imaging means of the fluid filled cavity and vasa vasorum. This image is used as a visual aid for a physician to visualize the path/curvature of the vessel. With this visualization, the physician would be able to navigate a medical instrument through an occlusion. In addition, this visualization would aid the physician to open the occlusion and therewith promote blood flow in vessel, for instance, by expanding open, stenting open, or cutting away part of the occlusion.