The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

The United States of America As Represented by the Department of Health

Robert S Balaban

Han Wen

Jay R Knutson

Christian A Combs

Steven D Wolff

Anthony H Aletras

Kathleen M Ward

David G Wiesler

Andrew S Chesnick

Light collectors for fluorescence microscopy include slab light guides having a specimen volume such as a specimen well configured to retain a specimen. The specimen volume is bounded by a surface of the slab light guide that permits laterally propagating fluorescence to enter the slab light guide and propagate toward a detection or imaging system. Typically, the slab light guide has an elliptical perimeter and the sample volume is situated at a first focus of the elliptical perimeter. A reflector such as a conical reflector is situated at the second focus so as to direct the collected fluorescence to exit the slab light guide.

Lightguides to simplify total emission detection for multiphoton microscopy

A multi-photon microscope having an illumination source that transmits an illumination light into a housing having an objective lens arrangement for illuminating a sample disposed outside the housing and directing a first portion of emission light emitted from the sample to a detection system is disclosed. A light collection system is disposed proximate the objective lens arrangement for directing a second portion of emission light in a coaxial relationship with the first portion of emission light to the detection system such that substantially all of the emission light on, around and above the illumination region is detected.

Non-contact total emission detection method and system for multi-photon microscopy

A multi-photon microscope has an illumination source, an objective lens unit arranged in an optical path of the illumination source, a first light collection system arranged to collect a first portion of light emitted from a sample when the sample is illuminated by light from the illumination source, and a second light collection system arranged to collect a second portion of light emitted from the sample when the sample is illuminated by light from the illumination source. The first portion of light when collected by the first light collection system and the second portion of light when collected by the second light collection system, together provide a means of collecting as much light from as many angles as possible emanating from an emitting point source. This collection scheme has the potential to approach the total emission collection of light from an emitting point source depending on the optical properties of the sample being imaged.

Wide-area fluorescence detection system for multi-photon microscopy

Method for determining in vivo concentration of a metabolite that includes administering a contrast agent to a subject, allowing the contrast agent to disperse to tissue of interest, performing CEDST MRI analysis of the subject, and comparing the results to known in vitro results to determine metabolite concentration.

Method for determining in vivo concentration of a metabolite

A method for obtaining an image by MRI, comprising: administering at least one contrast agent to a subject in amounts effective to perform CEDST MRI analysis; and performing CEDST MRI analysis to produce an image of the subject. A number of different contast agents can be used to practice the present method including, without limitation, sugars, animo acids, nitrogen-containing heterocycles, purines and pyrimidines, nucleosides; imidazole and derivatives thereof, imino acids, barbituric acid and analogs thereof, and miscellaneous materials, such as guanidine hydantoin, parabanic acid, and biologically active salts thereof.

Method for enhancing contrast produced by MRI

Methods are disclosed for obtaining electroacoustic images of specimens. One method includes applying an acoustic wave to a specimen and forming an image based on an electroacoustically induced electric field or voltage. In another method, an electric field or voltage is applied to a specimen and an electroacoustically induced acoustic wave is measured to form an image. Apparatus suitable for obtaining electroacoustc images are disclosed as well as methods for distinguishing image contributions from the electroacoustic, thermoacoustic, and Hall effects.

Electroacoustic imaging methods and apparatus

A method, and related apparatus, for suppressing the magnetic resonance signal to an experimentally adjustable depth by applying a spatially inhomogeneous field between the slice-select pulse and the data acquisition. Eliminating the signal from near surface regions allows one to shrink the field of view of an image without introducing aliasing artifacts, thereby improving the image's resolution or decreasing imaging time. Experimental tests on a phantom and a human subject indicate that the depth of signal suppression may be continuously varied to depths of over 80 millimeters with modest requirements on power supplies, pulse sequences, and materials.

Local magnetization spoiling using a gradient insert for reducing the field of view in magnetic resonance imaging

An MRI probe/transmitter coil has a pair of concentric cylinders with a plurality of inductively coupled freely rotating resonant elements radially mounted between the two cylinders. The coil can be tuned both symmetrically by pivoting all the resonant elements uniformly or asymmetrically by tuning them individually. The coil is driven in quadrature by a quad-hybrid circuit. A substantial part of the electromagnetic energy is stored in the resonant elements outside of the loading region of the coil to reduce perturbation in the coil operation due to the characteristics of the test subject.

MRI coil using inductively coupled individually tuned elements arranged

A nuclear magnetic resonance method is provided for monitoring and imaging the exchange of magnetization between protons in free water and protons in a relatively immobilized pool of protons in a sample. The method provides a new form of contrast for nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of samples such as biological tissues, polymers, and geological samples.

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Bethesda, MD, United States of America

Robert S Balaban