Methods and systems for noninvasive fluorescence-based functional imaging of kidneys
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsJie Zheng, Mengxiao Yu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for evaluating renal function of a live subject. The method includes intravenously administering nanoparticles of a noble metal to the kidney of the live subject, followed by illuminating the kidney with a near infrared excitation wavelength such that the nanoparticles in the kidney fluoresce, and finally detecting presence or absence of nanoparticle fluorescence in the kidney. Detecting presence or absence of nanoparticle fluorescence includes obtaining at least one image of the kidney through the subject's skin.
Claims20
A non-invasive method for evaluating renal function of an individual kidney in a living subject, the method comprising:
- a) intravenously administering nanoparticles of noble metal to a kidney of the live subject;
- b) illuminating the kidney with a near infrared excitation wavelength such that the nanoparticles in the kidney fluoresce;
- and
- c) detecting presence or absence of nanoparticle fluorescence in the kidney of the live subject, wherein detecting presence or absence of nanoparticle fluorescence includes obtaining at least one image of the kidney through the subject's skin.
A system for non-invasive evaluation of renal function of an individual kidney in a living subject comprising:
- a) intravenous administration of nanoparticles of a noble metal to a kidney of the live subject;
- b) illumination of the kidney with a near infrared excitation wavelength such that the nanoparticles in the kidney fluoresce;
- and
- c) detection of presence or absence of nanoparticle fluorescence in the kidney of the live subject, wherein detection includes obtaining at least one image of the kidney through the subject's skin.
A kit comprising:
- an amount of renal clearable, nanoparticles of a noble metal in a sealed container, wherein the amount of the nanoparticles is suitable for imaging a kidney of a mammal, and instructions for the use thereof in imaging said kidney, the instructions comprising the steps of:
- a) administering renal clearable nanoparticles of a noble metal to a kidney of the live subject, wherein the noble metal is selected from a group consisting of gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium, or combinations thereof;
- b) illuminating the kidney with a near infrared excitation wavelength such that the nanoparticles in the kidney fluoresce;
- and
- c) detecting presence or absence of nanoparticle fluorescence in the kidney of the live subject, wherein detecting presence or absence of nanoparticle fluorescence includes obtaining at least one image of the kidney through the subject's skin wherein taking at least one image of the kidney includes taking sequential images and the sequential images are collected at time intervals within an evaluation time window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.