Method and system for characterization and mapping of tissue lesions

Use of a differentiating agent in a method for monitoring the effects of said pathology differentiating agent on a tissue, comprising:

• administering a pathology differentiating agent to said tissue;
• exposing said tissue to optical radiation;
• and
• measuring a non-fluorescent dynamic optical property of said tissue, after said tissue has interacted with said pathology differentiating agent, wherein said dynamic optical property is obtained from at least two values of a time-dependent optical property, thereby monitoring the effects of a pathology differentiating agent on a tissue.

Use of a differentiating agent in a method for monitoring the effects of said pathology differentiating agent on a tissue, the method comprising:

• administering a pathology differentiating agent to said tissue;
• exposing said tissue to optical radiation;
• and
• while exposing said tissue to optical radiation, measuring a dynamic optical property of said tissue, after said tissue been interacted with said pathology differentiating agent, wherein said dynamic optical property is obtained from at least two values of a time-dependent optical property,
• thereby monitoring the effects of a pathology differentiating agent on a tissue.

Use of a differentiating agent in a method for monitoring and mapping the effects of said pathology differentiating agent on a tissue, comprising:

• administering a pathology differentiating agent to said tissue;
• exposing said tissue to broad band, continuous wave optical radiation;
• and
• after said tissue has interacted with said pathology differentiating agent, measuring a dynamic optical property at several locations of the tissue to produce a spatial map of the tissue, wherein said dynamic optical property is obtained from at least two values of a time-dependent optical property,
• thereby monitoring and mapping the effects of a pathology differentiating agent on a tissue.

The use of a differentiating agent in a method for the in vivo diagnosis and mapping of a tissue abnormality in a subject, comprising

• administering a pathology differentiating agent to a subject;
• exposing a tissue in said subject to optical radiation;
• and
• while exposing said tissue to optical radiation, monitoring the dynamic optical property of said tissue after said tissue has interacted with said pathology differentiating agent, wherein said dynamic optical property is obtained from at least two values of a time-dependent optical property,
• thereby diagnosing and mapping a tissue abnormality in a subject.

An apparatus for the in vivo diagnosis and mapping of a tissue abnormality comprising

• a. Optics for collecting light re-emitted by the tissue under analysis for magnification and focusing an image of the tissue;
• b. Optical imaging detector;
• c. Means for modulating, transferring, displaying and capturing of the image of the tissue;
• d. Computer which includes data storage, processing and analysis means;
• e. Monitor for displaying images, curves and numerical data;
• f. Optics for the optical multiplication of the image of the tissue;
• g. Light source consisting of broad band, continuous wave optical radiation for illuminating the tissue;
• h. Optics filters or selecting a spectral band of imaging and illumination;
• i. Means for transmitting light and illuminating the tissue;
• j. Control electronics;
• and
• k. Software for analyzing and processing of data, and for capturing, registering and storing of tissue images obtained at specific spectral bands and time instances, before and after administering an agent or a combination of agents that alter the optical properties of atypical and pathological tissue areas, wherein dynamic, optical properties and their spatial map is obtained from the stored images.

A system for diagnosing and mapping a tissue abnormality, the system comprising:

• a detector for measuring a difference in a dynamic optical property between a normal tissue and an abnormal tissue, said difference being caused by applying a pathology differentiating agent to the tissue;
• a light source for shining light on the tissue, wherein the light source and the detector are included on an optical head;
• a probing device connected to the optical head, said probing device coupled with the tissue so that relative motion between the tissue and the optical head is substantially eliminated;
• and
• an applicator for applying a pathology differentiating agent to the tissue.