An instrument adapted for the infusion of a catheter into a vessel or performing a biopsy procedure is in the form of a needle with an OCT probe affixed adjacent its distal end. An optics cable extends from the probe to an optoelectronics module which supplies light to, receives reflected light from the probe and deciphers the reflected light to form an image of the tissue 2-3 mm in from to the probe. A catheter may be placed over the instrument for insertion into a vessel or vein or the instrument may be provided with a tissue receiving channel for biopsy use.
