Renal function analysis method and apparatus

摘要

A method for measuring a glomerular filtration rate in a mammalian kidney comprises a source of reporter and marker fluorescent molecules. The fluorescent molecules are introduced into the blood stream of a mammalian subject. Over a period of time, a measurement of the intensities of the reporter and marker fluorescent molecules is taken. A ratio is calculated to determine the health of the subject's kidney. This method measures volume of plasma distribution based on a fluorescence of a marker molecule relative to a fluorescence of a reporter molecule.

主权项

1. An apparatus for analyzing the condition of a kidney, said apparatus comprising:
a source of an analysis composition, said analysis composition comprising a plurality of fluorescent reporter molecules and a plurality of fluorescent marker molecules, said reporter molecules and said marker molecules sharing a molecular property; a percutaneously introducible catheter configured for introducing the analysis composition into a blood steam of a patient and for in situ delivery of excitation energy from an optical fiber extensible from a distal end of the catheter into the bloodstream of the patient and for collection of emission energy from within the bloodstream of the patient; and a detector for monitoring a level of the analysis composition within the blood stream and reporting the operating condition of the kidney; wherein a volume of plasma distribution of the patient is calculated based on the fluorescence of the marker molecules, and wherein the fluorescence of the marker molecules relative to the fluorescence of the reporter molecules is calculated and reported as a measure of kidney function.