# US 9,040,921 B2 · Analytical methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,040,921 B2 - Document ID: US9040921B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/952,641 - Filed: 2013-07-28 - Published: 2014-05-08 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-28 - Assignees: Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Harvard Bioscience, Inc. - Inventors: Ron Sostek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040921B2 ## CPC - G01J 5/10: using electric radiation detectors - A61L 27/56: Porous materials, {e.g. foams or sponges} - G01J 5/025: {Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface} - G01J 5/0265: {Handheld, portable (ear thermometers G01J5/049)} - G01J 5/0871: {Beam switching arrangements; Photodetection involving different fields of view for a single detector} - G01J 5/48: Thermography; Techniques using wholly visual means - G01J 2005/0077: {Imaging} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract Aspects of the disclosure provide techniques for detecting differences and/or changes in biological and non-biological material using infrared imaging. Aspects of the disclosure are useful for monitoring and evaluating synthetic scaffolds and engineered tissue and organs for tissue engineering and transplantation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of detecting a physical or functional property of a biological object, the method comprising: detecting a first infrared emission from a first site of the biological object, identifying a contrast between the first infrared emission and a second infrared emission, wherein the contrast is indicative of the physical or functional property, and wherein the first infrared emission is detected while the biological object is present in a subject. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the biological object is an engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the engineered tissue or organ comprises a synthetic scaffold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of fluid perfusion through the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid comprises cells, molecules, growth factors, nutrients, or waste. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the fluid is perfused through one or more conduits within the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of cellularization of the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the biological object is a tissue or organ, and wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of injury, disease, damage, or growth of the tissue or organ. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first infrared emission is detected from the first site of the biological object using an infrared camera. ### Claim 10 A method of detecting a physical or functional property of a biological object, the method comprising: detecting a first infrared emission from a first site of the biological object, identifying a contrast between the first infrared emission and a second infrared emission, wherein the contrast is indicative of the physical or functional property, and wherein the first infrared emission is detected while the biological object is present in a bioreactor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the biological object is a tissue or organ. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the biological object is skin, lung, liver, heart, muscle, airway, or kidney. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of injury, disease, damage, or growth of the tissue or organ. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first site comprises at least a portion of a conduit of the tissue or organ. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the conduit is a branched conduit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of hydration or vascularization of the tissue or organ. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second infrared emission is a reference level of infrared emission. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the tissue or organ is engineered. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the tissue or organ comprises a synthetic scaffold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of fluid perfusion through the engineered-tissue or organ. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the fluid comprises cells, molecules, growth factors, nutrients, or waste. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the fluid is perfused through one or more conduits within the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of cellularization of the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 24 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first infrared emission is detected from the first site of the biological object using an infrared camera. ### Claim 25 A method of detecting a physical or functional property of an engineered tissue or organ, the method comprising: detecting a first infrared emission from a first site of the engineered tissue or organ, identifying a contrast between the first infrared emission and a second infrared emission, wherein the contrast is indicative of a physical or functional property, and wherein the first site comprises at least a portion of a conduit of the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the conduit is a branched conduit. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the engineered tissue or organ comprises a synthetic scaffold. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of fluid perfusion through the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the fluid comprises cells, molecules, growth factors, nutrients, or waste. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the fluid is perfused through one or more conduits within the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the first infrared emission is detected from the first site of engineered tissue or organ using an infrared camera. ### Claim 32 A method of detecting a physical or functional property of an engineered tissue or organ, the method comprising: detecting a first infrared emission from a first site of the engineered tissue or organ, identifying a contrast between the first infrared emission and a second infrared emission, wherein the contrast is indicative of a physical or functional property, and wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of hydration or vascularization of the engineered tissue or organ. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the engineered tissue or organ comprises a synthetic scaffold. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of hydration of the engineered tissue or organ, and wherein the first infrared emission is detected from the first site of the engineered tissue or organ using an infrared camera. ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein the physical or functional property is an extent of vascularization of the engineered tissue or organ, and wherein the first infrared emission is detected from the first site of the engineered tissue or organ using an infrared camera.