Patent ID: 8396539
Filing Date: 2013-03-12
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring gene expression in a target tissue site in a human or animal patient, the method comprising: co-transfecting the target tissue site in the humag or animal patient with a composition comprising a marker gene that expresses a fluorescent protein and a therapeutic gene; providing an optical fiber having a proximal lead end and a distal lead end, the distal lead end positioned at the target tissue site; wherein the distal lead end comprises a fiber umbrella; transmitting an excitation light by the optical fiber to the distal lead end 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 transmitting the emitted fluorescence signal to the proximal end of the optical fiber to monitor gene expression at the target tissue site.