Methods and compositions to reduce scattering of light during therapeutic and diagnostic imaging procedures

• US 7,983,736 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2010
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Freeman, Gregory L., Kim, Jeehoon, Villard, Joseph W., Milner, Thomas E., Feldman, Marc D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Long V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bor; Helene
• Application Number:
  US12/780,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20100298716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 600462-463, 600/425, 600/467, 436/14, 436/16
• US Class Current: 600/473
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0066 Optical coherence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0073 by tomography, i.e. reconstruction of 3D images from 2D projections A61B5/0066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14535 for measuring haematocrit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14553 specially adapted for cerebral tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/416 the spleen

Abstract

Disclosed are improved methods and compositions for use in light-based in vivo imaging and treatment. The techniques described involve the use of low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitutes in imaging and treatment methods, including OCT imaging. The invention has particular advantages in imaging within the cardiovascular system and highly vascularized or oxygen-dependent tissues.

Claims

1. A method for performing optical imaging or treatment of at least a first tissue in an animal, comprising providing into the blood associated with said at least a first tissue a biologically effective amount of a low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute, wherein the low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute substantially reduces optical scattering whilst substantially maintaining tissue oxygenation, and then applying an optical imaging or treatment step to said at least a first tissue, wherein said optical imaging or treatment step applies light of a wavelength of between about 600 nm and about 1500 nm.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein an optical imaging step is performed on said at least a first tissue.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said optical imaging step generates an image by light transmitting through said at least a first tissue.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said optical imaging step generates an image by light reflected by said at least a first tissue.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said optical imaging step is a spectroscopic imaging step.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said spectroscopic imaging step is reflectance spectroscopy.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said spectroscopic imaging step is fluorescence spectroscopy.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said spectroscopic imaging step is resonance spectroscopy.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said spectroscopic imaging step is Raman spectroscopy.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said optical imaging step is selected from a group consisting of a photoacoustic imaging step, a non-linear harmonic imaging step, a photothermal imaging step, passing a guidewire, and an optical coherence tomography imaging step.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said optical imaging step provides a spatial image of the at least first tissue.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said optical imaging step provides a temporal image of the at least a first tissue.

13. The method of claim 2, further comprising performing at least a first treatment based upon the image provided in said optical imaging step.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least a first treatment is selected from the group consisting of:

a surgical treatment step, and an optical treatment step.

15. A method for performing optical imaging or treatment of at least a first tissue in an animal, comprising providing into the blood associated with said at least a first tissue a biologically effective amount of a low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute, wherein the low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute substantially reduces optical scattering whilst substantially maintaining tissue oxygenation, and then applying an optical imaging or treatment step to said at least a first tissue, wherein an optical treatment step is performed on said at least a first tissue.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said optical treatment step is a laser ablation treatment step.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said optical treatment step is selected from a group consisting of a laser angioplasty treatment step, a laser photothermolysis treatment step, and a photoacoustic treatment step.

18. A method for performing optical imaging or treatment of at least a first tissue in an animal, comprising providing into the blood associated with said at least a first tissue a biologically effective amount of a low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute, wherein the low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute substantially reduces optical scattering whilst substantially maintaining tissue oxygenation, and then applying an optical imaging or treatment step to said at least a first tissue, wherein said optical imaging or treatment step comprises a light refraction step.

19. A method for performing optical imaging or treatment of at least a first tissue in an animal, comprising providing into the blood associated with said at least a first tissue a biologically effective amount of a low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute, wherein the low-scattering, oxygen-carrying blood substitute substantially reduces optical scattering whilst substantially maintaining tissue oxygenation, and then applying an optical imaging or treatment step to said at least a first tissue, wherein optical imaging and treatment steps are each performed on said at least the first tissue.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least first tissue is selected from a group consisting of:

a neural tissue, a brain tissue, a highly perfused organ, a cardiovascular tissue, a cardiac tissue, a blood vessel, ischemic tissue, a vascularized tumor, or tissue located within the kidney, lung, liver, spleen, brain, heart and one of the great vessels.