Fluorescence-mediated molecular tomography

US8190241B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The General Hospital Corporation · US

Inventors

• Vasilis Ntziachristos · Gräfelfing, DE
• Ralph Weissleder · Peabody, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 23, 2008
• Grant date: May 29, 2012
• Expiry date: May 23, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/6484
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

This invention relates to a fluorescence-mediated molecular tomographic imaging system, designed to detect near-infrared fluorescence activation in deep tissues. The system can use targeted fluorescent molecular probes or highly sensitive activatable fluorescence molecular probes. Such probes add molecular specificity and yield high fluorescence contrast, to allow early detection and molecular target assessment of diseased tissue, such as cancers, in vivo. The new tomographic imaging system enables three-dimensional localization in deep tissues and quantitation of molecular probes.