The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 04, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 23, 2002
Systems and methods for high-resolution in vivo imaging of biochemical activity in a living organism
Ileana Hancu, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Mohan Mark Amaratunga, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Denyce Kramer Wicht, Saratoga Springs, NY (US);
Paritosh Dhawale, Brookfield, WI (US);
Nadeem Ishaque, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Faisal Ahmed Syud, Guilderland, NY (US);
Bruce Fletcher Johnson, Scotia, NY (US);
Amy Casey Williams, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Ileana Hancu, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Mohan Mark Amaratunga, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Denyce Kramer Wicht, Saratoga Springs, NY (US);
Paritosh Dhawale, Brookfield, WI (US);
Nadeem Ishaque, Clifton Park, NY (US);
Faisal Ahmed Syud, Guilderland, NY (US);
Bruce Fletcher Johnson, Scotia, NY (US);
Amy Casey Williams, Clifton Park, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
This invention relates to bifunctional detection agents useful for providing high-resolution, in vivo imaging of biochemical activity in a living organism. Methods of using these bifunctional detection agents may comprise administering them into a living organism, and then estimating the localization of the detection agent using one modality (i.e., MRI), while concurrently estimating the level of biological activity using a second modality (i.e., optical imaging). One of the bifunctional detection agents comprises a magnetic resonance component and an optical imaging component. The magnetic resonance component comprises a contrast agent that is always activated or 'on'. The optical imaging component comprises an activatable contrast agent or dye that is activated or turned 'on' only in the presence of a particular event. For example, the optical imaging component may be activated by a certain wavelength of light and (1) by the presence of a particular biochemical marker, (2) by enzyme cleavage, or (3) by a change in the temperature or pH of the surrounding medium. These bifunctional detection agents allow both anatomical and functional/metabolic information to be obtained simultaneously.