Techniques for identifying molecular structures and treating cell types lining a body lumen using fluorescence
First Claim
1. A method for detecting fluorescence emitted by cells in a wall of a body lumen, comprising the steps of:
- a. introducing a capsule swallowable by a human into a body lumen;
b. illuminating cells in a lumen wall of the body lumen from a light source mounted in the capsule with a wavelength that excites a particular fluorescent signal;
c. introducing to cells in the lumen wall including the illuminated cells, an exogenous fluorescent-labeled probe that binds to or is internalized by certain cells in the lumen wall comprising releasing the exogenous fluorescent-labeled probe from a first reservoir in the capsule and the particular fluorescent signal is emitted by the exogenous probe;
d. generating an electric field from an electrode in the capsule to enhance uptake of the exogenous probe;
e. detecting at a detector mounted in the capsule whether illuminated cells illuminated during step b emit the particular fluorescent signal;
f. if the particular fluorescent signal is detected from the illuminated cells, then determining at least one of an intensity and a position in the lumen wall of the detected fluorescent signal;
g. releasing a drug from a second reservoir in the capsule for killing abnormal cells indicated by the detected particular fluorescent signal; and
h. controlling the movement of the capsule to keep it in place to monitor the efficacy of treatment by the released drug.
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Abstract
Techniques for detecting fluorescence emitted by molecular constituents in a wall of a body lumen include introducing an autonomous solid support into the body lumen. Cells in a lumen wall of the body lumen are illuminated by a light source mounted to the solid support with a wavelength that excites a particular fluorescent signal. A detector mounted to the solid support detects whether illuminated cells emit the particular fluorescent signal. If the particular fluorescent signal is detected from the illuminated cells, then intensity or position in the lumen wall of the detected fluorescent signal, or both, is determined. These techniques allow the information collected by the capsule to support diagnosis and therapy of GI cancer and other intestinal pathologies and syndromes. For example, these techniques allow diagnostic imaging using endogenous and exogenous fluoroprobes, treating diseased sites by targeted release of drug with or without photoactivation, and determining therapeutic efficacy.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for detecting fluorescence emitted by cells in a wall of a body lumen, comprising the steps of:
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a. introducing a capsule swallowable by a human into a body lumen; b. illuminating cells in a lumen wall of the body lumen from a light source mounted in the capsule with a wavelength that excites a particular fluorescent signal; c. introducing to cells in the lumen wall including the illuminated cells, an exogenous fluorescent-labeled probe that binds to or is internalized by certain cells in the lumen wall comprising releasing the exogenous fluorescent-labeled probe from a first reservoir in the capsule and the particular fluorescent signal is emitted by the exogenous probe; d. generating an electric field from an electrode in the capsule to enhance uptake of the exogenous probe; e. detecting at a detector mounted in the capsule whether illuminated cells illuminated during step b emit the particular fluorescent signal; f. if the particular fluorescent signal is detected from the illuminated cells, then determining at least one of an intensity and a position in the lumen wall of the detected fluorescent signal; g. releasing a drug from a second reservoir in the capsule for killing abnormal cells indicated by the detected particular fluorescent signal; and h. controlling the movement of the capsule to keep it in place to monitor the efficacy of treatment by the released drug. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A capsule swallowable by a human for detecting fluorescence emitted by cells in a wall of a body lumen in the human, comprising:
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a solid support that fits inside a body lumen; a light source mounted to the solid support for generating light with a wavelength that excites a particular fluorescent signal in certain molecules; a first optical element mounted to the solid support for illuminating a section of a lumen wall of the body lumen with light from the light source; a detector mounted to the solid support for generating measurements based on the particular fluorescent signal; a second optical element mounted to the solid support for directing onto the detector the particular fluorescent signal emitted from the section illuminated; a processor for controlling the operation of the other components in the capsule, for collecting data based on measurements from the detector, and for generating pixals for an image based on the measurements; a data transfer system for transferring data based on the measurements to a monitoring unit outside the human; a first reservoir mounted to the solid support for storing an exogenous fluorescent-labeled probe; a second reservoir mounted to the solid support for storing a drug for killing abnormal cells; a release mechanism to release contents of the first and second reservoirs upon command; an electrode mounted to the solid support for generating an electric field to enhance uptake of the contents of the first and second reservoirs by cells in the lumen wall after release of the contents; a communications system; a wireless power transfer system; and a position control system for working against peristaltic action by the walls of the lumen on the solid support. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification