Back to results
US 7,003,345 B1Granted
System and method for enhancing microscope images of tissue using citric acid and agents of the like
AssigneeLucid, Inc.
InventorJay M. Eastman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for enhancing images of ex-vivo or in-vivo tissue produced by confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography, two-photon microscopy, or ultrasound, is provided by applying to the tissue a solution or gel having an effective concentration of citric or other alpha-hydroxy acid which enhances tissue structures, such as cellular nuclei, in such images. Such concentration may be 3–20% acid, and preferably 5% acid.
Claims17
A method for enhancing contrast in images of in-vivo or ex-vivo tissue comprising the steps of:
- directly applying to said tissue an image contrast enhancing agent consisting of an effective concentration of alpha-hydroxy acid to enhance contrast of structures in said tissue in which the response of said tissue to said alpha-hydroxy acid in and of itself directly provides said enhancement of contrast of said structures in said tissue;
- and
- imaging said tissue.
A method of using citric acid to enhance contrast for imaging cells comprising the steps of:
- directly applying an image enhancing agent consisting of citric acid to tissue in sufficient concentration whereby the response of said tissue to said citric acid enhances in and of itself contrast of nuclei in the cells;
- and
- imaging the tissue having said cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.