Arterial probe for oct

An apparatus for detecting vulnerable plaque within a lumen defined by an intraluminal wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion;
• a first optical waveguide extending along the probe and having a distal end, the first optical waveguide being configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portions;
• a second optical waveguide extending along the probe and having a distal end, the second optical waveguide being configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portions;
• an interferometer coupled to the first optical waveguide and configured to provide an interference signal for sub-surface imaging of the intraluminal wall;
• a processing module coupled to the second optical waveguide and configured to extract spectroscopic information about the intraluminal wall from detected intensity of light collected from the intraluminal wall;
• an optical source coupled with one of the first and second optical waveguides;
• and
• an optical bench at the distal portion of the probe, said optical bench configured to support the optical waveguides at the distal end of the probe and to optically couple radiation between the waveguides and an area of the intraluminal wall.

An apparatus for detecting vulnerable plaque within a lumen defined by an intraluminal wall, the apparatus comprising:

• a probe having a distal portion and a proximal portion;
• an optical waveguide extending along the probe and having a distal end, the optical waveguide being configured to carry optical radiation between the distal and proximal portions;
• an interferometer coupled to the optical waveguide and configured to provide an interference signal for sub-surface imaging of the intraluminal wall;
• a processing module coupled to the optical waveguide and configured to provide spectroscopic information about the intraluminal wall from detected intensity of light collected from the intraluminal wall;
• and
• an optical source configured to couple optical radiation into the optical waveguide, wherein the optical source is configured to emit light to form the interference signal for sub-surface imaging and the spectroscopic information provided from the detected intensity of light collected from the intraluminal wall.