Clinical Intravital Microscope

Abstract

A clinical intravital microscope with a heavy base; a motorized, mechanized or manual cantilever arm; and a microscope and camera portion at the distal end of the cantilever arm is provided. A method for observing and/or recording conditions such as blood flow, vessel characteristics, such as vessel density, tumor structure, tumor size and dimensions, is provided such that a physician is permitted to observe such information and characteristics in real-time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravital microscope system for observing the tissues of a human patient in real-time during a medical procedure, the system comprising:
 a base;   an arm having a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end of the arm supported by the base, the arm extending horizontally from the base;   an intravital microscope having an eyepiece and an objective, the microscope mounted on the arm;   a video camera operatively associated with the microscope;   a surface for supporting the patient underneath the microscope;   a processor for receiving and storing video images from the camera; and,   wherein the base has a weight substantially greater than the arm such that the arm is stabilized and motion artifact in the system is minimized   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microscope is configured and arranged for adjustment in the X and Y-axis. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microscope is configured and arranged for vertical adjustment in the Z-axis. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the intravital microscope has a magnification between about 100× and 200×. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a stabilizing element. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient supporting surface is disposed on a cart having a plurality of casters disposed thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluorescent illumination source. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the illumination source is epifluorescent. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microscope is configured and arranged to be adjusted in the Z-axis relative to the arm. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the position of the arm is adjusted by a motorized system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the arm is a cantilever. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is disposed inside the base. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the illumination source is disposed inside the base. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microscope is mounted on a rotating turret. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microscope is configured and arranged to provide visualization of human tumors in situ in real-time. 
     
     
         16 . A method for observing the tissues of a human patient, the method comprising:
 providing a base;   providing a stabilized arm such that motion artifact in the system is minimized;   providing an intravital microscope having an eyepiece and an objective, the microscope mounted on the arm;   providing a video camera operatively associated with the microscope;   providing a surface for supporting the patient underneath the microscope; and,   using the microscope to observe the tissues in real-time.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing visualization of human tumors in situ in real-time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising observing and/or recording conditions selected from the group consisting of blood flow, vessel density, tumor structure, tumor size and tumor shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising a processor provided with software for minimizing motion artifact. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising observing and/or recording therapeutic delivery. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising observing and/or recording imaging agent delivery and/or presence. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the imaging agent is fluorescent. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the microscope has a magnification between about 100 and 200×.