Systems and methods for making and using intravascular imaging systems with multiple pullback rates

A computer-readable medium having processor-executable instructions for imaging tissue, the processor-executable instructions when installed onto a device enable the device to perform actions, comprising:

• imaging a survey region of patient vasculature with an intravascular imager to obtain a set of first images while pulling back the imager from the first end of the survey region to a second end of the survey region opposite the first end, wherein the imager is pulled back at a first linear rate of pullback;
• imaging a region of interest identified within the survey region to obtain a set of second images while pulling back the imager from a first end of the region of interest to a second end of the region of interest opposite the first end, wherein the imager is pulled back at a second linear rate of pullback that is less than the first linear rate of pullback;
• and
• displaying at least a portion of the set of second images.

An intravascular imager comprising:

• at least one imager disposed in a catheter insertable into patient vasculature, the at least one imager coupled to a control module;
• and
• a processor disposed in the control module, the processor for executing processor-readable instructions that enable actions, including:
• imaging a survey region of patient vasculature to obtain a set of first images while pulling back the imager from the first end of the survey region to a second end of the survey region opposite the first end, wherein the imager is pulled back at a first linear rate of pullback;
• imaging a region of interest identified within the survey region to obtain a set of second images while pulling back the imager from a first end of the region of interest to a second end of the region of interest opposite the first end;
• wherein the imager is pulled back at a second linear rate of pullback that is less than the first linear rate of pullback;
• and
• displaying at least a portion of the set of second images.