Methods and apparatuses for positioning within an internal channel

An assembly to be inserted into a vessel, the assembly comprising:

• a sheath, the sheath to house a core capable of at least one of:
• projecting a light onto a portion of the vessel and receiving a light from a portion of the vessel, the core being movable along the sheath to scan at least a portion of a vessel;
• and
• a balloon coupled to at least a portion of the sheath along the sheath, when inflated the balloon to clear or reduce at least a portion of a light path between the sheath and the vessel to reduce light blockage.

A method to operate an assembly, the method comprising:

• inserting a distal portion of the assembly into a vessel, the distal portion of the assembly having a sheath to house a core capable of at least one of:
• projecting a light onto a portion of the vessel and receiving a light from a portion of the vessel;
• and
• operating at a proximal portion of the assembly to expand a spiral radius of the sheath in the vessel.

An assembly having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion to be inserted into a vessel, the distal portion controllable through operations on the proximal portion, the assembly comprising:

• a sheath at the distal portion to house a core capable of at least one of:
• projecting a light onto a portion of the vessel and receiving a light from a portion of the vessel;
• and
• means for adjusting a shape of the sheath within the vessel through operations at the proximal portion.

An assembly having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion to be inserted into a vessel, the distal portion controllable through operations on the proximal portion, the assembly comprising:

• a sheath at the distal portion to house a core capable of at least one of:
• projecting an optical beam onto a portion of the vessel and receiving a light from a portion of the vessel;
• and
• a controller coupled to the sheath, the controller to adjust a shape of the sheath within the vessel through operations at the proximal portion.

An assembly to be inserted into a vessel, the assembly comprising:

• a sheath, the sheath to house a core capable of at least one of:
• projecting an optical beam onto a portion of the vessel and receiving a light from the portion of the vessel, the core being movable along the sheath to scan at least a portion of a vessel;
• and
• a support coupled to at least a portion of the sheath, the support capable of changing shape to clear or reduce at least a portion of a signal path between the sheath and the vessel.