674 results about "Molecular imaging" patented technology

The present invention provides multifunctional magnetic nanoparticle probe compositions for molecular imaging and monitoring, comprising a nucleic acid or polypeptide probe, a delivery ligand, and a magnetic nanoparticle having a biocompatible coating thereon. The probe compositions may further comprise a fluorescent or luminescent resonance energy transfer moiety. Also provided are compositions comprising two or more such multifunctional magnetic nanoparticle probes for molecular imaging or monitoring. In particular, the nucleic acid or polypeptide probes bind to a target and generate an interaction observable with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or optical imaging. The invention thereby provides detectable signals for rapid, specific, and sensitive detection of nucleic acids, polypeptides, and interactions thereof in vivo.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for preparation of radiochemicals, such as PET molecular imaging probes, wherein the reaction step or steps that couple the radioactive isotope to an organic or inorganic compound to form a positron-emitting molecular imaging probe are performed in a microfluidic environment. The method for synthesizing a radiochemical in a microfluidic environment comprises: i) providing a micro reactor comprising a first inlet port, a second inlet port, an outlet port, and at least one microchannel in fluid communication with the first and second inlet ports and the outlet port; ii) introducing a reactive precursor into the first inlet port of the micro reactor, the reactive precursor adapted for reaction with a radioactive isotope to form a radiochemical; iii) introducing a solution comprising a radioactive isotope into the second inlet port of the micro reactor; iv) contacting the reactive precursor with the isotope-containing solution in the microchannel of the micro reactor; v) reacting the reactive precursor with the isotope-containing solution as the reactive precursor and isotope-containing solution flow through the microchannel of the micro reactor, the reacting step resulting in formation of a radiochemical; and vi) collecting the radiochemical from the outlet port of the micro reactor.

Compounds and methods related to NIR molecular imaging, in-vitro and in-vivo functional imaging, therapy/efficacy monitoring, and cancer and metastatic activity imaging. Compounds and methods demonstrated pertain to the field of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor imaging, metabolic imaging, cellular respiration imaging, cellular proliferation imaging as targeted agents that incorporate signaling agents.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for preparation of radiochemicals wherein the reaction that couples the radioactive isotope to the reactive precursor to form a positron-emitting molecular imaging probe is performed in a microfluidic environment. The method comprises: providing a micro reactor; introducing a liquid reactive precursor dissolved in a polar aprotic solvent into an inlet port of the micro reactor, the reactive precursor adapted for reaction with a radioactive isotope to form a radiochemical; introducing a solution comprising a radioactive isotope dissolved in a polar aprotic solvent into another inlet port of the micro reactor; contacting the reactive precursor with the isotope-containing solution in a microchannel of the micro reactor; reacting the reactive precursor with the isotope-containing solution as the reactive precursor and isotope-containing solution flow through the microchannel of the micro reactor, wherein the reacting step is conducted at a temperature above the boiling point of the polar aprotic solvent at 1 atm and at a pressure sufficient to maintain the polar aprotic solvent in liquid form; and collecting the resulting radiochemical from the micro reactor.

An integrated tomosynthesis/molecular breast imaging device having improved sensitivity includes tomosynthesis imaging components and molecular breast imaging components. The imaging components may be used individually or in combination to provide a system with improved sensitivity and specificity. Molecular imaging components may be smoothly advanced or withdrawn depending upon the desired imaging mode. The system supports both PET and SPECT imaging and enables SPECT collimation to be modified in accordance with image capture requirements.

The use of a selective chemical and bioorthogonal reaction providing a covalent ligation such as the [3+2] cycloaddition, in targeted molecular imaging and therapy is presented, more specifically with interesting applications for pre-targeted imaging or therapy. Current pre-targeted imaging is hampered by the fact that it relies solely on natural/biological targeting constructs (biotin/streptavidin). Size considerations and limitations associated with their endogenous nature severely limit the number of applications. The present invention describes how the use of an abiotic, bio-orthogonal reaction which forms a stable adduct under physiological conditions, by way of a small or undetectable bond, can overcome these limitations.

Raman molecular imaging is used to differentiate between normal and diseased cells or tissue. For instance benign and malignant lesions of bladder and other tissues can be distinguished, including epithelial tissues such as lung, prostate, kidney, breast, and colon, and non-epithelial tissues, such as bone marrow and brain. Raman scattering data relevant to the disease state of cells or tissue can be combined with visual image data to produce hybrid images which depict both a magnified view of the cellular structures and information relating to the disease state of the individual cells in the field of view.

Charged and neutral particles, photons (13), photonic optics, detectors (15) and sensor arrays are used for application to molecular imaging, communication with biological organisms and monitoring and learning biological activity inside living organisms. The living organisms include among others living tissue, biological organs, cells (10), eukaryotes, prokaryotes, viruses and phages. Molecular imaging can be an effective new tool to understand the mechanisms of life and communicate, modify and control it. Techniques, methods and devices are described to achieve these aims. The probes used in molecular imaging described above will include the full spectrum of photons; charged and uncharged particles (13); chemicals; and biological probes.

A biological sample can be subjected to measurement, description and ionization of ions is possible under atmospheric pressure without undergoing pretreatment. Imaging having a resolution on the nanometer order can be performed. An STM needle (probe) of an XYZ-axis-drive piezoelectric element is oscillated along the Z axis to contact the sample to a depth on the nanometer order and capture molecules at the needle tip. A pulsed high voltage is applied to the needle, achieving needle electrospray. The sample molecules are then desorbed and ionized, and mass spectrometry is carried out. The needle is swept in the XY directions, oscillation is repeated and an image obtained by molecular imaging of a nanometer area of the biological sample is measured. The probe may be brought into contact with a droplet produced at the tip of a capillary connected to the outlet port of a liquid chromatograph to capture a sample.

The present invention relates to near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) and near-field/far-field scanning microscopy methods, systems and devices that permit the imaging of biological samples, including biological samples or structures that are smaller than the wavelength of light. In one embodiment, the present invention permits the production of multi-spectral, polarimetric, near-field microscopy systems that can achieve a spatial resolution of less than 100 nanometers. In another embodiment, the present invention permits the production of a multifunctional, multi-spectral, polarimetric, near-field/far-field microscopy that can achieve enhanced sub-surface and in-depth imaging of biological samples. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to the use of polar molecules as new optical contrast agents for imaging applications (e.g., cancer detection).

A dynamic dada sampling system and method is disclosed for in vivo small animal fluorescence molecular imaging and dual-modality molecular imaging. The system comprises a computer, a rotation stage for animal suspension driven by a motor, and a fluorescence excitation-detection apparatus. The fluorescence excitation-detection apparatus comprises a fluorescence excitation module and a fluorescence detection module. The CCD device of the fluorescence detection module is connected to a computer through an interface controller. The motor is connected to a computer through RS232 interface. The process of dynamic data acquisition is as follows: a fluorescent probe is injected into a small animal in order to target specific cells or tissues; a small animal is vertically hung on a rotation stage after anesthesia; the fluorescence imaging detection module acquires the emitting light continuously. The present invention can provide 360 degree imaging quickly, efficiently, and non-invasively.

In-vivo optical molecular imaging methods for producing an image of an animal are described. A time series of image data sets of an optical contrast substance in the animal is acquired using an optical detector Each image data set is obtained at a selected time and has the same plurality of pixels, with each pixel having an associated value. The image data sets are analyzed to identify a plurality of distinctive time courses, and respective pixel sets are determined from the plurality of pixels which correspond to each of the time courses. In one embodiment, each pixel set is associated with an identified anatomical or other structure, and an anatomical image map of the animal can be generated which includes one or more of the anatomical structures.

The invention is directed to a probe-type imaging device useful to visualize interior surfaces, e.g., the lumen of blood vessels. Specifically, the probe-type device is particularly useful for direct tissue imaging in the presence or absence of molecular imaging agents.

The invention discloses an endoscope-based multispectral video navigation system and method. The system comprises an endoscope head module used for internal inspection, a light source module used for providing near infrared and visible light sources, an optical signal acquisition module used for acquiring near infrared and visible light images, a multispectral conversion module used for imaging different spectrum segments, and a controlling and processing module used for controlling a camera and processing the acquired images to achieve video navigation. The invention also discloses a method utilizing the system to achieve multispectral video navigation. By adopting the system and the method, the problem that at present, most endoscope fluorescent products can only see fluorescent images or visible light images but not multispectral images is solved, technical monopoly of foreign companies in China is broken through, the imaging research threshold of the multispectral endoscope is lowered, the selection space of optical molecular imaging probes is expanded, and the optical molecular imaging research and application ranges are extended.

Compounds and methods related to NIR molecular imaging, in-vitro and in-vivo functional imaging, therapy/efficacy monitoring, and cancer and metastatic activity imaging. Compounds and methods demonstrated pertain to the field of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor imaging, metabolic imaging, cellular respiration imaging, cellular proliferation imaging as targeted agents that incorporate signaling agents.

The invention provides a method for identifying a candidate imaging probe, the method comprising: a) contacting a first library of candidate compounds with a target biomacromolecule, b) identifying a first member from the first library exhibiting affinity for the first binding site; c) contacting the first member identified from the first library affinity for the first binding site with the target biomacromolecule; d) contacting a second library of candidate compounds with the first member and the target biomacromolecule, e) reacting the complementary first functional group with the second functional group via a biomacromolecule induced click chemistry reaction to form the candidate imaging probe; f) isolating and identifying the candidate imaging probe; g) preparing the candidate imaging probe by chemical synthesis; and h) for imaging applications, converting the candidate imaging probe into an imaging probe.

Raman molecular imaging is used to differentiate between normal tissue and benign and malignant lesions of bladder and other tissues, including epithelial tissues such as lung, prostate, kidney, breast, and colon, and non-epithelial tissues, such as bone marrow and brain. Raman scattering data relevant to the cancerous state of cells can be combined with visual image data to produce hybrid images which depict both a magnified view of the cellular structures and information relating to the cancerous state of the individual cells in the field of view.

The field of the invention is atmospheric pressure mass spectrometry (MS), and more specifically a process and apparatus which combine infrared laser ablation with electrospray ionization (ESI).

The invention relates to a multi-spectrum auto fluorescence fault imaging reconstruction method based on single view, which belongs to the optical molecular imaging field. The method is based on the diffusivity equation model, considers the uneven characteristics of small animal body, and simultaneously also considers the spectrum and the practical application characteristics of the auto fluorescence light source. In order to achieve the purpose, the multi-spectrum auto fluorescence fault imaging reconstruction method based on single view comprises the flowing steps: firstly, data acquisition; secondly, the dispersing processing of finite element; thirdly, the optimization of the selection of the feasible light source zone; fourthly, the reconstruction of the light source. The method overcomes the defects that the reconstruction light source of the auto fluorescence fault imaging reconstruction method is inaccurate, the reconstruction speed is low, the real-time processing is not convenient, and error can exist during the multi-spectrum data acquisition.