| US 7,515,953 B2 | ||
| Techniques for identifying molecular structures and treating cell types lining a body lumen using fluorescence | ||
| Igal Madar, Baltimore, Md. (US); and John C. Murphy, Clarksville, Md. (US) | ||
| Assigned to The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. (US) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 01, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/633,446. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/400325, filed on Aug. 01, 2002. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0092825 A1, May 13, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 6/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 600—476 [348/68; 348/69; 600/411; 600/414] | 32 Claims |
| 1. A method for detecting fluorescence emitted by cells in a wall of a body lumen, comprising the steps of:
a. introducing a capsule swallowable by a human into a body lumen;
b. illuminating cells in a lumen wall of the body lumen from a light source mounted in the capsule with a wavelength that
excites a particular fluorescent signal;
c. introducing to cells in the lumen wall including the illuminated cells, an exogenous fluorescent-labeled probe that binds
to or is internalized by certain cells in the lumen wall comprising releasing the exogenous fluorescent-labeled probe from
a first reservoir in the capsule and the particular fluorescent signal is emitted by the exogenous probe;
d. generating an electric field from an electrode in the capsule to enhance uptake of the exogenous probe;
e. detecting at a detector mounted in the capsule whether illuminated cells illuminated during step b emit the particular
fluorescent signal;
f. if the particular fluorescent signal is detected from the illuminated cells, then determining at least one of an intensity
and a position in the lumen wall of the detected fluorescent signal;
g. releasing a drug from a second reservoir in the capsule for killing abnormal cells indicated by the detected particular
fluorescent signal; and
h. controlling the movement of the capsule to keep it in place to monitor the efficacy of treatment by the released drug.
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