PRECLINICAL TIME-DOMAIN DIFFUSE OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM FOR MOLECULAR IMAGING

描述（由申请人提供）：临床前光学成像系统能够在动物模型中无创地研究生物医学问题，例如癌症、心血管疾病和神经学。在试管和显微镜下进行的基础生物学研究的研究成果可以扩展到活组织。临床前光学成像还可用于研究新药和其他干预措施的效果，这些干预措施可为人类医学提供直接益处。圣路易斯的华盛顿大学积极从事不同层次的生物成像，从细胞和小动物到人类。漫射光学成像能够实现比常规平面成像系统更大的荧光检测深度灵敏度，但是直到最近对于一般使用来说太慢和复杂。提出了对现有时域扩散光学成像系统进行升级改造的方案。目前的系统提供了突破性的光学成像结果，但由于采集速度慢、激发和检测能力有限以及用户界面复杂而过时。这些属性限制了用户群，从而失去了潜在的研究进展。所要求的系统包括一个可调谐激光器，用于选择480-780 nm的激发波长，提供检测所有常用荧光团的能力。与其他光学成像技术不同，在所要求的系统中使用的时域技术提供了更准确的深度和相对荧光团浓度的恢复，并实现了荧光团分布的真实3D表示。3D功能通过增强软件进行扩展，用于重建和与其他3D模态融合，包括CT、MRI、SPECT、PET和PAT。这一新系统在关键方面得到了显著改进，扩大了其应用领域，加强了当前的研究， 吸引光学成像的新用户。相关性：升级到新的时域漫射光学成像系统将扩大目前的应用和用户基础，并加强目前用户的资助研究。这些增强将导致分子靶向诊断剂开发、光学成像系统验证和基础生物医学科学方面更有效的研究进展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Preclinical optical imaging systems enable investigation of biomedical concerns such as cancer cardiovascular disease and neurology, non-invasively in animal models. Research findings from basic biological research conducted in test tubes and under the microscope can be expanded into living tissue. Preclinical optical imaging can also be used to investigate the effects of new drugs and other interventions which can provide direct benefit to human medicine. Washington University in St. Louis is actively engaged in biological imaging at different levels, ranging from cellular and small animals to humans. Diffuse optical imaging enables greater depth sensitivity for fluorescence detection than conventional planar imaging systems, but until recently have been too slow and complicated for general use. We propose to acquire upgrade the current time-domain diffuse optical imaging system. The current system has provided groundbreaking optical imaging findings, but is outdated by slow acquisition speed, limited excitation and detection capabilities and a complex user interface. These attributes limit the user base and thus potential research progress is lost. The requested system includes a tunable laser for selection of excitation wavelengths from 480-780 nm providing the capability to detect all commonly used fluorophores. Unlike other optical imaging techniques, the time domain technology used in the requested system provides more accurate recovery of depth and relative fluorophore concentration and enables true 3D representations of fluorophore distribution. The 3D capabilities are extended by enhanced software for reconstruction and fusion with other 3D modalities including CT, MRI, SPECT, PET and PAT. This new system has been improved significantly in key aspects that broaden its field of applications, enhancing current research and attracting users new to optical imaging. Relevance: Upgrade to the new time-domain diffuse optical imaging system will broaden the current applications and user base as well as enhance the funded research of the current users. The enhancements will result in more efficient research progress in molecular-targeted diagnostic agent development, optical imaging system validation and basic biomedical sciences.