Device and method for in vivo detection of clots within circulatory vessels
AssigneeThe University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
InventorsVladimir Pavlovich Zharov, Ekaterina Galanzha
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Abstract
A device and method of using the device to detect the presence and composition of clots and other target objects in a circulatory vessel of a living subject is described. In particular, devices and methods of detecting the presence and composition of clots and other target objects in a circulatory vessel of a living subject using in vivo photoacoustic flow cytometry techniques is described.
Claims17
A method for continuous monitoring of a circulatory vessel of a living organism, the method comprising:
- pulsing target objects comprising light absorbing red blood cells and non-absorbing clots within the circulatory vessel with at least one pulse of laser energy at a first pulse wavelength ranging between about 400 nm and about 2500 nm, wherein the first pulse wavelength induces a photoacoustic signal from the target objects;
- obtaining a photoacoustic pattern induced by the at least one pulse of laser energy, wherein the photoacoustic pattern comprises at least one photoacoustic signal;
- analyzing the photoacoustic pattern, wherein a negative contrast photoacoustic pattern indicates a clot is detected when the photoacoustic signals emitted by the target objects comprise a negative dip in the photoacoustic signals emitted by surrounding red blood cells;
- calculating one or more clot properties when a clot is detected, wherein the one or more clot properties are chosen from a clot size, a clot composition, a clot speed through the circulatory vessel, a clot quantity, a clot concentration, a clot age, a clot origin, and any combination thereof;
- producing a detection signal if the photoacoustic pattern indicates a clot;
- and providing an alarm signal in response to the detection signal.
A method for continuous monitoring of a circulatory vessel of a living organism, the method comprising:
- pulsing target objects comprising light absorbing red blood cells and non-absorbing clots within the circulatory vessel with at least one pulse of laser energy at a first pulse wavelength ranging between about 400 nm and about 2500 nm, wherein the first pulse wavelength induces a photoacoustic signal from the target objects;
- obtaining a photoacoustic pattern induced by the at least one pulse of laser energy, wherein the photoacoustic pattern comprises at least one photoacoustic signal;
- analyzing the photoacoustic pattern, wherein a negative contrast photoacoustic pattern indicates a clot is detected when the photoacoustic signals emitted by the target objects comprise a negative dip in the photoacoustic signals emitted by surrounding red blood cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.