HYBRIDIZED OPTICAL-MRI METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MOLECULAR DYNAMIC MONITORING OF IN VIVO RESPONSE TO DISEASE TREATMENT

摘要

An apparatus for providing physiological information from an organism in disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring, for use in an MRI instrument. The apparatus operates on the concept of hybridized magneto-optical sensitivity. The MRI includes an MRI scanner and a controller for controlling the MRI scanner. The MRI scanner provides a magnetic field of at least 0.5T. The apparatus further includes a front end built of non-magnetic components, comprising light guides for illuminating a region of interest (ROI) and for collecting light emitted at said ROI; and a back-end comprising a light source for injecting light into said light guides; a light detector for receiving light collected at said ROI; and a processing and control unit for processing said light collected at said ROI.