The present invention relates to an imaging method with an OCT catheter for visualizing molecular functional processes in vulnerable plaques of a blood vessel of the blood vessel system of a patient, with OCT images of the contrast medium-marked vulnerable plaque being generated during continuously controlled movement of the light-emitting and light-absorbing OCT catheter head along the vulnerable plaque after the intravascular injection of a contrast medium into the blood vessel system and after the intravascular insertion of an imaging OCT catheter into the blood vessel comprising the vulnerable plaque.