Imaging catheter system

An imaging catheter system comprising:

• a pulsed autofluorescence light source;
• an OCT device;
• a catheter device configured to receive rays from the pulsed autofluorescence light source and an OCT light source of the OCT device and configured to scan a specimen;
• an optical detector unit configured to detect autofluorescence generated from the specimen;
• and
• a first optics system configured to transfer the autofluorescence generated from the specimen to the optical detector unit and configured to transfer a ray of the OCT light source reflected from the specimen to the OCT device,
• wherein the first optics system comprises:
• a first collimator configured to receive the rays from the pulsed autofluorescence light source and the OCT light source and configured to transfer the rays to the catheter device via a double-clad fiber,
• wherein the autofluorescence generated from the specimen is transferred to the optical detector unit via the double-clad fiber,
• wherein a first time at which the autofluorescence generated from the specimen is detected at the optical detector unit is later by a threshold time or more than a second time at which autofluorescence generated by a core of the double-clad fiber of the first collimator is detected at the optical detector unit,
• wherein a length from one end of the double-clad fiber joined to the first collimator up to a lens of a catheter where the rays of the light sources are outputted is determined according to the threshold time,
• wherein the threshold time is determined by a fluorescence lifetime of the autofluorescence generated by the core of the double-clad fiber of the first collimator, and
• wherein the autofluorescence generated by the core of the double-clad fiber is generated before the autofluorescence generated from the specimen.