Apparatus, systems and methods for providing information regarding the aortic valve

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one first section comprising a guide catheter having a single channel,
• at least one portion of the first section being at least partially transparent to light;
• at least one second section which has a cross-section that is smaller than that of the first section, at least a portion of the second section being disposed within the single channel of the first section,
• the second section having a predefined curved shape which is constrained to be straight when the second section is disposed within the single channel of the first section, and
• the second section having the predefined curved shape prior to the second section being inserted into the single channel of the first section;
• a first imaging arrangement disposed within the second section;
• and
• a rotate and translate arrangement to rotate and translate the imaging arrangement in a helical scan pattern.

A method for obtaining information about an aortic valve of a subject, comprising:

• providing an optical catheter comprising:
• at least one first section having a single channel,
• at least one portion of the at least one first section being at least partially transparent to light,
• at least one second section which has a cross-section that is smaller than that of the first section, at least a portion of the second section being disposed within the single channel of the first section, and
• a first imaging arrangement disposed within the second section;
• guiding the at least one first section toward an aortic sinus of the subject,
• the at least one first section comprising a curvature;
• positioning the at least one first section adjacent the aortic valve of the subject;
• and
• collecting image data from the aortic valve using the first imaging arrangement,
• the first imaging arrangement collecting the image data through the at least one portion of the first section that is at least partially transparent to light.