Patent ID: 9681809
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. An implantable medical device for monitoring gene expression in a target tissue site co-transfected with a therapeutic gene and a marker gene that expresses a fluorescent protein, the implantable medical device comprising: an elongated lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end adapted to be positioned at the target tissue site; a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber, each having a proximal lead end and a distal lead end extending through the elongated lead body; wherein the distal lead end of the first optical fiber and/or the second optical fiber comprises a fiber umbrella; the first optical fiber transmitting an excitation light to the distal lead end of the first optical fiber positioned at the target tissue site; the excitation light providing the excitation energy needed for the fluorescent protein expressed by the marker gene to emit a fluorescence signal; and the second optical fiber transmitting the emitted fluorescence signal from the distal lead end of the first optical fiber positioned at the target tissue site to the proximal end of the second optical fiber; thereby monitoring gene expression in the target tissue site co-transfected with the therapeutic gene and the marker gene.