Patent ID: 7778695
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: A61B,A61K

Abstract:
1. A method for determining in vivo fluorescent activity in a subject, comprising: positioning at least one sensor in tissue in a region of interest in the body; administering a fluorescent analyte to a subject, the fluorescent analyte including at least one of a fluorescently pre-labeled analyte, a naturally fluorescent analyte and an analyte that exhibits fluorescence when internally administered to the subject, wherein the fluorescent analyte is administered from a source other than the at least one sensor; emitting at least one excitation light signal from the at least one sensor to localized tissue proximate the at least one sensor, wherein the sensor projects the at least one excitation light signal outside the sensor at a distance sufficient to probe fluorescent activity at locations away from the sensor of several millimeters, wherein the excitation light signal has a wavelength that is between about 400 nm to about 900 nm; detecting in vivo from the at least one sensor a signal corresponding to fluorescence in the subject responsive to the administering and emitting steps; relaying the signal to a location external of the subject's body; electronically monitoring the relayed signal over time to electronically generate a time-dependent measurement profile of fluorescence in the localized tissue; and determining in vivo fluorescent activity of the subject based on the monitoring step.