Intra-operative molecular imaging

Abstract

A system for imaging an abnormal cell and or diseased tissue after topical application of a near infrared protease-specific probe is disclosed. The system includes a protease-specific near infrared (NIRF) imaging probe, means for topically administering the protease-specific probe to a diseased tissue and an imaging device capable of detecting the interaction between the protease-specific NIRF imaging probe and the diseased tissue. A method and surgical procedure are also disclosed.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a protease specific near infrared (NIRF) fluorescence imaging probe;   means for topically administering the protease specific NIRF imaging probe to a diseased tissue in which a targeted cell may be located, the probe being activatable by protease specific activation to produce a visually differentiated signal upon topical application to the cell, the cell comprising an abnormal cell or a diseased cell that secretes a protease that activates the protease-specific, fluorescence imaging probe; and   an imaging device to detect an interaction between the protease specific NIRF imaging probe and the diseased tissue imaging probe activation induced by an interaction between the imaging probe and the enzyme secreted by the cell, to determine the location of the targeted cell in the tissue.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , the diseased tissue being one of, tumor tissue, and heart tissue displaying inappropriate electrical activity. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5   1 , the cysteine protease being one of, Cathepsin B, and Cathepsin L. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , including an imaging logic to detect a tumor margin, based, at least in part, on the interaction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , including an imaging logic to detect a glioma cell infiltrating a tumor brain boundary, based, at least in part, on the interaction. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , including an imaging logic to detect cells displaying inappropriate electrical activity based, at least in part, on the interaction. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , the cells displaying inappropriate electrical activity being one of, heart cells, vasculature cells, and brain cells. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , including a radiologic plan logic to plan a radiologic treatment based, at least in part, on a detection of a tumor margin, and a detection of an infiltrating cell. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , including an ablative laser plan logic to plan an ablative laser treatment based, at least in part, on a detection of a tumor margin, and a detection of an infiltrating cell. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , the ablative laser plan logic being configured to control, at least in part, an ablative laser. 
     
     
         14 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A system, comprising:
 a protease-specific fluorescence imaging probe;   means for topically administering the protease specific imaging probe to an abnormal tissue in which a targeted cell may be located, the probe being activatable by protease specific activation to produce a visually differentiated signal upon topical application to the cell, the cell comprising an abnormal cell or a diseased cell that secretes a protease that activates the protease-specific, fluorescence imaging probe; and   an imaging device to detect an interaction between the protease specific NIRF imaging probe and the diseased tissue imaging probe activation induced by an interaction between the imaging probe and the enzyme secreted by the cell, to determine the location of the targeted cell in the tissue; and   a computing device including planning logic to plan one or more of, IOI and therapeutic strategy based, at least in part, on the interaction between the protease-specific imaging probe and the abnormal targeted cell.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , the computing device including control logic to control one or more of, IOI, and therapeutic delivering based, at least in part, on the interaction between the protease specific imaging probe and the abnormal targeted cell. 
     
     
         29 .- 39  (canceled)