Systems, Circuits and Apparatus For In Vivo Detection of Biomolecule Concentrations Using Fluorescent Tags

Abstract

Systems are disclosed wherein labeled binding molecules can be provided in vivo to tissue having biomolecules that specifically bind the labeled binding molecule. A first optical radiation is emitted into the tissue in vivo to excite the labeled binding molecule bound to the biomolecule in vivo. A second optical radiation that is emitted by the excited labeled binding molecule, in response to the excitation thereof, can be detected in vivo. Related telemetric-circuits and apparatus are also disclosed.

Description

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY AND CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 005,889 filed Nov. 7, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 247,574 filed Nov. 9, 2000, entitled Methods, Circuits, and Compositions of Matter for In Vivo Detection of Biomolecule Concentrations Using Fluorescent Tags, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the field of sensors, and more particularly, to biomolecular sensors.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The ex vivo study of malignant cell populations has established some general principles by which clinical treatment protocols are developed. These principles have established differences between malignant and normal cell populations and have been employed in the treatment of malignant disease. There have been attempts to exploit these differences, both in pr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Enables accurate, continuous monitoring of biomolecular concentrations and tumor proliferation, improving treatment strategies by providing real-time data on malignant cell populations, reducing normal tissue toxicity, and enhancing tumor destruction rates.

Problems solved by technology

One of the major obstacles in achieving this goal has been the difficulty in minimizing normal tissue toxicity while increasing tumor cell kill (therapeutic index).

Unfortunately, this approach may not provide accurate information on the changes during treatment of a malignant cell population.

However, these attempts have not shown the ability to monitor the changes on a real time basis.

In addition, most of the conventional methods can be expensive as well as time consuming.

This can be problematic for patients undergoing extended treatment periods typical of radiation and chemotherapy, especially when it is desirable to follow changes both during an active treatment and subsequent to the active treatment.

In addition, tumors may have periods in which they are more susceptible to treatment by radiation or drug therapy.

Providing a monitoring system which can continuously or semi-continuously monitor and potentially identify such a susceptible condition could provide increases in tumor destruction rates.

The in vivo use of these techniques may involve an invasive introduction of a sensor into the in vivo site to be analyzed.

Moreover, these techniques may not be reliable if the surface where the sensor and the tissue interact is not clean.

In particular, in vivo use can cause a sensor to become “bio-fouled” over time such that the operational properties of the sensor may change.

In particular, proteins may begin to develop on the sensor within minutes of insertion of the sensor into the tissue, which may cause the sensor to operate improperly.

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