Real time optoacoustic monitoring of changes in tissue properties
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring tissue properties in real time during treatment using laser optoacoustic imaging comprising the steps of:
- administering a treatment agent to tissue of interest;
irradiating a volume of said tissue with at least one laser pulse so as to penetrate said tissue and selectively heat a small volume or layer of said tissue with a higher optical absorption causing the tissue to produce a pressure profile confined in said volume or layer of said tissue, wherein said pressure profile reflects a value of pressure as a function of depth in said tissue, and wherein said pressure profile is characteristic of said tissue;
wherein said at least one irradiating laser pulse is different from said treatment agent and wherein said treatment agent is electromagnetic radiation which is in a radiofrequency or in a microwave spectral range or which is a X-ray or a gamma radiation;
detecting said pressure profile with at least one acoustic transducer;
recording an amplitude and temporal profile of said pressure profile by an electronic system; and
analyzing said pressure profile with a computer.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method/system of for monitoring tissue properties in real time during treatment using optoacoustic imaging system. Optoacoustic monitoring provides a control of the extent of abnormal tissue damage and assures minimal damage to surrounding normal tissues. Such technique can be applied for monitoring and controlling during surgical, therapeutic, and cosmetic procedures performed in various tissues and organs.
194 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring tissue properties in real time during treatment using laser optoacoustic imaging comprising the steps of:
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administering a treatment agent to tissue of interest;
irradiating a volume of said tissue with at least one laser pulse so as to penetrate said tissue and selectively heat a small volume or layer of said tissue with a higher optical absorption causing the tissue to produce a pressure profile confined in said volume or layer of said tissue, wherein said pressure profile reflects a value of pressure as a function of depth in said tissue, and wherein said pressure profile is characteristic of said tissue;
wherein said at least one irradiating laser pulse is different from said treatment agent and wherein said treatment agent is electromagnetic radiation which is in a radiofrequency or in a microwave spectral range or which is a X-ray or a gamma radiation;
detecting said pressure profile with at least one acoustic transducer;
recording an amplitude and temporal profile of said pressure profile by an electronic system; and
analyzing said pressure profile with a computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
contacting said tissue with an exogenous molecular probe whose properties change in response to said treatment.
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18. The method of claim 1, wherein said treatment agent is electromagnetic radiation which is in a radiofrequency or in a microwave spectral range.
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19. The method of claim 1, wherein said treatment agent is electromagnetic radiation which is a X-ray or a gamma radiation.
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20. A method of monitoring tissue properties in real time during treatment using laser optoacoustic imaging comprising the steps of:
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administering a treatment agent to tissue of interest;
irradiating a volume of said tissue with at least one laser pulse so as to penetrate said tissue and selectively heat a small volume or layer of said tissue with a higher optical absorption causing the tissue to produce a pressure profile confined in said volume or layer of said tissue, wherein said pressure profile reflects a value of pressure as a function of depth in said tissue, and wherein said pressure profile is characteristic of said tissue;
wherein said at least one irradiating laser pulse is different from said treatment agent;
detecting said pressure profile with at least one acoustic transducer;
recording an amplitude and temporal profile of said pressure profile by an electronic system; and
analyzing said pressure profile with a computer;
wherein said method further comprises the step of;
contacting said tissue with an exogenous molecular probe whose properties change in response to said treatment. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification