In-vivo visualization systems

A method for assessing a tissue region of interest within a blood-filled environment, comprising:

• visualizing the tissue region of interest through a purging fluid restrained temporarily within an open area defined by a fluid barrier or membrane attached to a distal end of a catheter where the open area is in fluid communication with an environment external to the barrier or membrane;
• projecting a computer generated model representative of the barrier or membrane onto a model representative of the tissue region of interest;
• and,
• imposing an image of the tissue region visualized through the purging fluid upon the model representative of the tissue region of interest in proximity to the model representative of the barrier or membrane.

A method for navigating relative to a tissue region of interest within a blood-filled environment, comprising:

• visualizing the tissue region of interest through a purging fluid restrained temporarily within an open area defined by a fluid barrier or membrane attached to a distal end of a catheter where the open area is in fluid communication with an environment external to the barrier or membrane;
• and,
• projecting a computer generated model representative of the barrier or membrane onto a model representative of the tissue region of interest;
• and,
• selecting one or more regions for treatment upon the model representative of the tissue region of interest;
• and
• indicating directional information upon an image of the visualized tissue region of interest corresponding to the one or more regions selected for treatment.