A direct intracardiac imaging catheter capable of entering chambers of the heart and providing an image through a vein or an artery percutaneously, or through direct access during open surgery. The intracardiac imaging catheter apparatus is a small optical fiber imaging system. The catheter is deflectable and capable of navigating within all heart chambers to acquire detailed images, and adjacent large vessels during percutaneous cardiac procedures. The catheter can access the arterial system to acquire blood vessel images. It can pass through the intra-atrial septum (foramen ovale) for cardiac procedures in the left chambers and large vessels adjacent the left heart, including pulmonary veins and the aorta. During open heart surgery, images can be provided from hard to access regions including the back of the heart during off pump cardiac surgery. The apparatus includes balloon tip that can be inflated and deflected based the movement of catheter.
