Devices and systems for fluorescence imaging of tissue
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a probe defining a central bore, the probe having an outer surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the probe, the distal end defining a distal tip configured to contact a selected tissue of a subject, the outer surface of the probe extending away from the distal tip in a proximal direction and defining an outer diameter of the probe along a longitudinal length of the probe, the probe comprising;
image transmission means positioned therein the central bore of the probe and configured for communication with a light source; and
an objective lens positioned therein the central bore of the probe proximate the distal tip of the probe; and
an annular dye carrier comprising an open-cell polymer foam filled at least partially with a hydrogel, the dye carrier being loaded with at least one fluorescent dye, the dye carrier having a bottom surface, the dye carrier being detachably coupled thereto at least a portion of the outer surface of the distal end of the probe such that the entire bottom surface of the dye carrier is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis and the objective lens of the probe to permit direct transmission of light between the objective lens of the probe and the selected tissue, wherein the bottom surface of the dye carrier is configured to selectively contact the selected tissue of the subject to diffuse the at least one fluorescent dye through the bottom surface of the dye carrier and into the selected tissue of the subject,wherein, following diffusion of the at least one fluorescent dye into the selected tissue, the image transmission means and the objective lens are configured to transmit light to the selected tissue and to receive emitted light from the selected tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for fluorescence imaging of tissue in vivo and in situ, e.g., for minimally invasive diagnosis of patients. A fluorescent imaging system is provided that has a dye carrier coupled to the distal end of a probe containing a fiber optics bundle, which allows for the introduction of at least one fluorescent dye therein the dye carrier into a portion of the tissue of interest of a subject or patient when the dye carrier is selectively brought into contact with the portion of the tissue of interest. The resulting fluorescence images permit the acquisition of diagnostic information on the progression of diseases at cellular/tissue level in patients.
10 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a probe defining a central bore, the probe having an outer surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the probe, the distal end defining a distal tip configured to contact a selected tissue of a subject, the outer surface of the probe extending away from the distal tip in a proximal direction and defining an outer diameter of the probe along a longitudinal length of the probe, the probe comprising; image transmission means positioned therein the central bore of the probe and configured for communication with a light source; and an objective lens positioned therein the central bore of the probe proximate the distal tip of the probe; and an annular dye carrier comprising an open-cell polymer foam filled at least partially with a hydrogel, the dye carrier being loaded with at least one fluorescent dye, the dye carrier having a bottom surface, the dye carrier being detachably coupled thereto at least a portion of the outer surface of the distal end of the probe such that the entire bottom surface of the dye carrier is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis and the objective lens of the probe to permit direct transmission of light between the objective lens of the probe and the selected tissue, wherein the bottom surface of the dye carrier is configured to selectively contact the selected tissue of the subject to diffuse the at least one fluorescent dye through the bottom surface of the dye carrier and into the selected tissue of the subject, wherein, following diffusion of the at least one fluorescent dye into the selected tissue, the image transmission means and the objective lens are configured to transmit light to the selected tissue and to receive emitted light from the selected tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for fluorescence imaging of tissue, comprising:
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a processor; a light source; and a fluorescence imaging device that is operatively coupled to the processor and comprises; a probe defining a central bore, the probe having an outer surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the probe, the distal end defining a distal tip configured to contact a selected tissue of a subject, the outer surface of the probe extending away from the distal tip in a proximal direction and defining an outer diameter of the probe along a longitudinal length of the probe, the probe comprising; an image transmission means positioned therein the central bore of the probe and placed in communication with the light source and the processor; and an objective lens positioned therein the central bore of the probe proximate the distal tip of the probe; and an annular dye carrier comprising an open-cell polymer foam filled at least partially with a hydrogel, the dye carrier being loaded with at least one fluorescent dye, the dye carrier having a bottom surface, the dye carrier being detachably coupled thereto at least a portion of the outer surface of the distal end of the probe such that the entire bottom surface of the dye carrier is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis and the objective lens of the probe to permit direct transmission of light between the objective lens of the probe and the selected tissue, wherein the bottom surface of the dye carrier is configured to selectively contact the selected tissue of the subject to diffuse the at least one fluorescent dye through the bottom surface of the dye carrier and into the selected tissue of the subject, wherein, following diffusion of the at least one fluorescent dye into the selected tissue, the image transmission means and the objective lens are configured to transmit light to the selected tissue and to receive emitted light from the selected tissue. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of fluorescence imaging of selected tissue of a subject, comprising:
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using a fluorescence imaging device comprising; a probe defining a central bore, the probe having an outer surface, a distal end, an opposed proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end of the probe, the distal end defining a distal tip, the outer surface of the probe extending away from the distal tip in a proximal direction and defining an outer diameter of the probe along a longitudinal length of the probe, the probe comprising; a fiber optic bundle positioned therein the central bore of the probe and positioned in communication with a light source; and an objective lens positioned therein the central bore of the probe proximate the distal tip of the probe; and an annular dye carrier comprising an open-cell polymer foam filled at least partially with a hydrogel, the dye carrier being loaded with at least one fluorescent dye, the dye carrier having a bottom surface, the dye carrier being detachably coupled thereto at least a portion of the outer surface of the distal end of the probe such that the entire bottom surface of the dye carrier is radially spaced from the longitudinal axis of the probe and the objective lens of the probe to permit direct transmission of light between the objective lens of the probe and the selected tissue; selectively contacting the selected tissue of the subject with the bottom surface of the dye carrier to diffuse the at least one fluorescent dye through the bottom surface of the dye carrier and into the selected tissue of the subject; following diffusion of the at least one fluorescent dye into the selected tissue, using the fiber optic bundle and the objective lens to transmit light to the selected tissue and to receive emitted light from the selected tissue; and using a processor coupled to the fiber optic bundle, processing received emitted light from the selected tissue to form a fluorescence image. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification