Patent ID: 7338652

Claim:
A method for imaging human or animal tissue comprising the steps of: administering a diagnostic agent to a patient, a portion of said diagnostic agent being retained in tissue of interest, said diagnostic agent emitting positrons; and imaging said tissue based on detection of gamma ray photons produced upon annihilation of said positrons emitted from the diagnostic agent, wherein said diagnostic agent comprises a positron emitting radiolabeled halogenated xanthene, and wherein said radiolabel halogenated xanthene comprises incorporation, into said halogenated xanthene, of one or more positron emitting isotopes selected from the group consisting of 10 C, 11 C, 13 O, 14 O, 15 O, 17 F, 18 F, 32 Cl, 33 Cl, 34 Cl, 74 Br, 75 Br, 76 Br, 77 Br, 78 Br, 117 I, 118 I, 119 I, 120 I, 121 I, 122 I, 124 I, 126 I, and 128 I.