Patent ID: 8155730
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: A61B,A61K,C09B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of optical electrophysiological probing, comprising: providing a fluorescing chemical probe, said fluorescing chemical probe having at least one excitation wavelength such that when an electromagnetic radiation of the excitation wavelength is administered to the fluorescing chemical probe, said probe emits electromagnetic radiation at least one emission wavelength, wherein said excitation wavelength and said emission wavelength are at least about 90 nanometers apart; contacting a thick portion of tissue with said fluorescing chemical probe to create a thick portion of treated tissue; applying a first range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation to said treated portion of tissue, said first range of wavelengths of electromagnetic including said excitation wavelength of said fluorescing chemical probe; and detecting a plurality of depth-specific emission wavelengths emitted from said thick portion of treated tissue, said plurality of depth-specific emission wavelengths incremented from a surface of said thick portion of treated tissue to an inner tissue depth from about 2.5 millimeters, said depth-specific emission wavelengths emitted from said portion of treated tissue in response to said applying, wherein the fluorescing chemical probe comprises a voltage-sensitive dye of the formula: wherein R1 is a first hydrocarbon group; and R2 is a second hydrocarbon group.