Medical Imaging System and Contrast Agents (BIDMC 681)

Category:    Medical Imaging

KeyWords:  Cancer;  Vascular/Thrombosis;  

BIDMC ID:    681

Abstract:

An imaging system that, for the first time, provides simultaneous rendering of visible light and fluorescent images during medical procedures using harmless light. The system can employ contrast agents in a small-molecule form that remain in a patients blood stream for several minutes, allowing real-time imaging of the patients circulatory system superimposed upon a conventional, visible light image of the subject. The system can employs contrast agents in antibodies or ligand form that accumulate within a region of diagnostic significance and allow a surgeon to simultaneously view tumor cells, or any other desired target, in the context of a standard color video image. This system can be configured for use in open surgical procedures.

Inventor:   John V. Frangioni, M.D., Ph.D.

Commercial Opportunity:

Contrast Agents and System for Vascular Imaging: In the fields of Cardiac or General Surgery there is tremendous potential for the utilization of Dr. Frangioni?s contrast agent/s and imaging system for direct visualization of cardiac blood flow intraoperatively and organ vasculature after vessel repair. This also applies to Oncology and Endoscopic applications. In the non-surgical Dermatologic setting the system would enable diagnosis of dermatologic diseases using ligands and/or antibodies. Contrast Agents and System for Tissue Imaging: The system enables direct visualization and identification of myocardium that is at risk for infarction in the operating room as well as the identification of organs or tissues that are operatively non-viable.

Competitive Advantages:

Fluorophore for Vascular Imaging The contrast agents have a longer in vivo half life than presently used agents, but not too long as to preclude multiple injections during a single procedure, have high sensitivity and are non-radioactive. The contrast agents are also more readily water soluble and a higher quantum yield than presently used agents. Can be used intraoperatively w/ a simultaneous/near infrared (NIR) imaging system. Imaging System 1) Allows simultaneous imaging of both visible and invisible NIR light with no moving parts. This advantage is not available with present imaging systems. In cardiac surgery, this system can visualize areas of poor blood flow or areas of myocardium at risk for infarction in the operating room, which is not possible with present imaging systems. Importantly, the sytem enables the surgeon or endoscopist to independently view the operative field in color or using NIR information as well as a combined overlap of the two. In this way, the physician sees both ?structure? and ?function?. This device is an important ground breaking technology as it has application to a wide range of surgical procedures. Clearly, its use in the operating room will grow as more NIR fluorescent ligands are developed. By working in the NIR region, there is extremely low auto-fluorescence background, and therefore high sensitivity.

Related Publications:

State of Development:

Related Technology URL:

http://research.bidmc.harvard.edu/research/ResearchPIInfo.ASP?Submit=Display&PersonID=206

Patent Status:

US utility patent pending.

TVO Contact Info:
     Jason S Felsch
     Senior Licensing Manager, TVO
     jfelsch@bidmc.harvard.edu
     Phone: 617-667-9490   Fax: 617-667-0646

     Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
     Technology Ventures Office  Room: BR-202
     330 Brookline Avenue
     Boston, MA 02215