INTRAVITAL FLUORESCENCE AND LUMINESCENCE MONITORING MICROINSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF USING SAME

摘要

This invention is a microinstrument, and method for measuring fluorescence, luminescence or other light emitted or reflected by cells, tissues, organs, tumors or other structures or substances inside or outside the body of a living or dead organism, or in cell or organ cultures. The microinstrument includes a detector (68) for detecting light emitted or reflected by cells and producing a signal indicative of light intensity, an analog to digital converter (93) for converting the signal from the detector into a digital signal indicative of light intensity, and a transmitter for transmitting the digital signal to a data processing system. The detector, analog to digital converter, and transmitter may be mounted to a base portion (74) of the device of sufficient size to be inserted within a subject's vasculature. In addition, the microinstrument may be integrated with a catheter.