University Health Network

Tufts University

University of Toronto

Theralase Technologies, Inc.

The General Hospital Corporation

Photonics Research Ontario

Cytotelesis Inc.

Lothar Lilge

Brian Campbell Wilson

Arkady Mandel

Paul Milgram

Peter Y Wong

Caroline G L Cao

Kai Zhang

Roger Dumoulin-White

David J Walsh

Thomas E Haw

Wayne Embree

Jenny Wu

Peter S Pennefather

Michelle K Nielsen

Carl Fisher

Don Lem

Cha-Min Tang

Stephen M Ross

Apparatus for illuminating comprises one or more fibers, the one or more fibers including fiber portions meeting at an apex and a bottom location to form a three dimensional cage; a detector attached to each of the fiber portions for receiving light and transmitting light along each of the fiber portions, respectively; and an illumination member situated within the cage. A method for illuminating a hollow member includes the steps of inserting one or more fibers into the hollow member, wherein one or more fibers include fiber portions that meet at a location to form a three-dimensional cage; permitting light to emit from within the three-dimensional cage and towards the fiber portions; receiving light at distinct locations on each of said fibers; and allowing each of the fibers to transmit the light received on each of the fiber portions out of the hollow member.

Fiber optic light delivery, monitoring and apparatus therefor

A method for destroying cells and/or microorganisms in an organism includes the following steps: (a) administering to the organism a composition including a photodynamic compound containing at least one transition metal; and (b) irradiating the photodynamic compound in the organism with electromagnetic radiation, wherein the electromagnetic radiation includes ionizing radiation and is effective to activate the photodynamic compound to destroy at least one of the cells and the microorganisms in the organism. The ionizing radiation is preferably X-rays and/or gamma rays. The non-ionizing radiation is preferably light in the range from 600-950 nm.

Photodynamic compounds and methods for activating them using ionizing radiation and/or other electromagnetic radiation for therapy and/or diagnostics

The present invention provides systems, devices, and methods employing fiber optic shape and position tracking. The systems, devices, and methods permit measurement of and continuous tracking of the shape and position of objects whose shape dynamically changes with time. Applications include tracking and monitoring of endoscopes for diagnostic and surgical procedures.

Systems, devices, and methods employing fiber optic shape tracking

The present invention uses spectroscopic tissue volume measurements using non-ionizing radiation to detect pre-disease transformations in the tissue, which increase the risk for this disease in mammals. The method comprises illuminating a volume of selected tissue of a mammal with light having wavelengths covering a pre-selected spectral range, detecting light transmitted through, or reflected from, the volume of selected tissue, and obtaining a spectrum of the detected light. The spectrum of detected light is then represented by one or more basis spectral components, an error term, and an associated scalar coefficient for each of the basis spectral components. The associated scalar coefficient is calculated by minimizing the error term. The associated scalar coefficient of the each of the basis spectral components is correlated with a pre-selected property of the selected tissue known to be indicative of susceptibility of the tissue for the pre-selected disease to obtain the susceptibility for the mammal to developing the pre-selected disease.

Optical transillumination and reflectance spectroscopy to quantify disease risk

System and method employing fiber optic shape tracking

A multitasking optical fiber probe for collecting dosimeter information from more than one position in a sample. The basic principle of the present invention involves using one or more different sensor zones along the length of the fiber each with a different photoactive constituent having a sufficiently unique emission spectra (spectral or temporal) to enable deconvolution of the emission spectra by the computer and therefore correlation of the detected parameter with the position of the sensor zone along the length of the optical fiber. In the broadest form of the invention the probe is embodied by only one sensor zone located at some point along the length of the fiber spaced away from the end face of the fiber. Probes are provided in which multiple sensor zones are disposed along the length of the fiber and photoactive constituents with sufficiently unique emission spectra (intensity and/or spectral shape which convey the optical information) are used in the different sensor zones so that the different spectra can be deconvoluted so that the contributions from the various etch zones can be distinguished. More than one different photoactive constituent could be incorporated into a single sensor zone for measuring several factors in the vicinity of the sensor zone. In photodynamic therapy applications the probe is isotropic in response and can be employed for all light (300 to 900nm) based medical diagnostics and therapeutics. As an extension the probe can include photosensitiser and molecular oxygen concentrations dosimetry to be used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment monitoring, dosimetry and planning utilizing a mathematical model describing tissue response to PDT.

Fiber optic multitasking probe

Apparatus for exciting a fluorescent or phosphorescent molecule applied to a specimen in a microscope, the molecule having a known excitation wavelength, comprises a semiconductor light source capable of emitting an output light within a preselected wavelength band correlated with the excitation wavelength of the molecule, an electronic controller coupled to the light source for controlling the intensity of the output light, and an optical system for converting the output light into an excitation beam having a pre-selected distribution of light flux suitable for illuminating the specimen. The semiconductor light source is preferably a light emitting diode or superluminescent diode. The subject invention provides for a fluorescence excitation illuminator having a long lifetime and relatively low cost. Intensity modulation or attenuation can be achieved electronically, without the need for shutters.

Semiconductor based excitation illuminator for fluorescence and

The invention features a probe for radiance dosimetry. The probe includes a tip portion containing a fluorescent dye connected to a translucent spacer element.

Probes for radiance dosimetry

Growing community of inventors

Toronto, Canada

Lothar Lilge