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Vascular catheters designed to combine ultrasound and near infrared (NIR) laser light capabilities. The catheters typically consist of a low-profile shaft with a distal tip that delivers and detects both ultrasound waves and NIR light. The catheter is connected at the proximal end to a rotating hub that includes appropriate connections to the ultrasonic and fiber optic systems located in the central unit of a dedicated scanning system. Ultrasound/near-infrared light vascular catheters are intended for intravascular imaging of the structure of the blood vessels; the images also show the chemical composition of the tissues and fatty deposits.
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