Dye application for confocal imaging of cellular microstructure
First Claim
1. A method for imaging of tissue, comprising:
- operatively coupling a dye carrier to a distal end of a fiber optic bundle, the dye carrier comprising at least one fluorescent dye;
positioning a portion of the dye carrier in contact with a tissue region of interest of a subject such that at least a portion of the at least one fluorescent dye diffuses into the tissue region of interest; and
acquiring a confocal image of the tissue region of interest, wherein the step of acquiring the confocal image of the tissue region of interest comprises;
transmitting light into the fiber optic bundle, through the dye carrier, and then into the tissue region of interest to excite the fluorescent dye within the tissue region of interest;
receiving light emitted from the excited fluorescent dye within the tissue region of interest, wherein the light emitted from the excited fluorescent dye is emitted through the dye carrier and then into the fiber optic bundle; and
processing the received emitted light to form the confocal image of the tissue region of interest.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for confocal imaging of tissue in vivo and in situ, e.g., for minimally invasive diagnosis of patients. A catheter is provided that has a dye carrier coupled to the distal end of 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 confocal images permit the acquisition of diagnostic information on the progression of diseases at cellular/tissue level in patients. Furthermore, a system for ECG-triggered image acquisition is provided.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method for imaging of tissue, comprising:
-
operatively coupling a dye carrier to a distal end of a fiber optic bundle, the dye carrier comprising at least one fluorescent dye; positioning a portion of the dye carrier in contact with a tissue region of interest of a subject such that at least a portion of the at least one fluorescent dye diffuses into the tissue region of interest; and acquiring a confocal image of the tissue region of interest, wherein the step of acquiring the confocal image of the tissue region of interest comprises; transmitting light into the fiber optic bundle, through the dye carrier, and then into the tissue region of interest to excite the fluorescent dye within the tissue region of interest; receiving light emitted from the excited fluorescent dye within the tissue region of interest, wherein the light emitted from the excited fluorescent dye is emitted through the dye carrier and then into the fiber optic bundle; and processing the received emitted light to form the confocal image of the tissue region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A catheter for developing a confocal image of a tissue region of interest of a subject in a confocal microscopic imaging system comprising a source of light energy that is configured to selectively generate light energy at a desired wavelength, the catheter comprising:
-
a fiber-optic bundle having a distal end and an opposed proximal end, the proximal end of the fiber-optic bundle being configured for operative communication with the source of light energy of the confocal microscopic imaging system; and a dye carrier coupled to the distal end of the fiber-optic bundle, the dye carrier comprising at least one fluorescent dye, the dye carrier being coupled to the distal end of the fiber-optic bundle such that the dye carrier substantially covers the distal end of the fiber-optic bundle, wherein, upon positioning of a portion of the dye carrier in contact with the tissue region of interest, the dye carrier is configured to permit diffusion of at least a portion of the at least one fluorescent dye into the tissue region of interest, wherein the fiber-optic bundle is configured to transmit the light energy through the dye carrier and then into the tissue region of interest to excite the fluorescent dye within the tissue region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A catheter for developing a confocal image of a tissue region of interest of a subject in a confocal microscopic imaging system comprising a source of light energy that is configured to selectively generate light energy at a desired wavelength, the catheter comprising:
-
a fiber-optic bundle having a distal end and an opposed proximal end, the proximal end of the fiber-optic bundle being configured for operative communication with the source of light energy of the confocal microscopic imaging system; and a dye carrier coupled to the distal end of the fiber-optic bundle, the dye carrier comprising at least one fluorescent dye and a light transparent matrix, the light transparent matrix comprising a hydro-gel, wherein the hydro-gel is configured to permit diffusion of the at least one fluorescent dye from the hydro-gel into the tissue region of interest at a selected rate, wherein the at least one fluorescent dye is configured to diffuse through the tissue region of interest, and wherein the fiber-optic bundle is configured to transmit light into the tissue region of interest to excite the fluorescent dye within the tissue region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
Specification