Patent ID: 6083487
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: A61B,A61N,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of detecting tumor sites within a tissue field having normal tissue, said method comprising the following steps:identifying a tissue site for treatment;administering a photosensitizing solution having a concentration of methylene blue between 0.0075% and 0.02% to said tissue site;allowing said tissue site to respond to the photosensitizing solution during a period of time;illuminating said tissue site with light energy at approximately 660 nm to promote a photodynamic response, said photodynamic response including a difference in fluorescence intensity between the tumor site and the normal tissue;detecting said difference in fluorescence intensity between the tumor site and the normal tissue; anddifferentiating between the tumor site and the normal tissue based upon the difference in fluorescence intensity between the tumor site and the normal tissue.