US5239998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for fluorescent excitation and detection from potentiometric dyes with a single-ended optical fiber
Assignee: United States Department of Health and Human Services
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Filing: 1991-07-18
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Granted: 1993-08-31
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Expires: 2011-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A method of detecting and recording action-potential-related fluorescent changes from a remote tissue situs which has been treated with a voltage-sensitivity dye. The method utilizes a single optical fiber to both direct excitation light to the remote tissue situs and receive emitted fluorescence from the remote tissue situs. The emitted fluorescence from the remote tissue situs is directed to a photomultiplier or photodiode which produces a resulting fluorescence-related signal which is analyzed. The method and related apparatus eliminates signal noise and allows accurate recording and analysis of action-potential-related fluorescent changes.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Krauthamer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6428; G01N2021/6439
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs which comprises: treating the remote sample situs with a voltage-sensitive dye providing a single optical fiber and a detector; delivering light of a sufficient wavelength to cause fluorescent emission of said dye-treated remote sample situs to said dye-treated remote sample situs by means of said single optical fiber; and receiving fluorescent emission from said dye-treated remote sample situs by said single optical fiber and delivering said received fluorescent emission to said detector for analyzing said received fluorescent emission.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs which comprises: treating the remote sample situs with a voltage-sensitive dye providing a single optical fiber and a detector; delivering light of a sufficient wavelength to cause fluorescent emission of said dye-treated remote sample situs to said dye-treated remote sample situs by means of said single optical fiber; and receiving fluorescent emission from said dye-treated remote sample situs by said single optical fiber and delivering said received fluorescent emission to said detector for analyzing said received fluorescent emission.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 1, wherein said remote sample situs comprises a tissue sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 2, wherein said tissue sample is within a subject's body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 1, wherein said detected electrical characteristics comprise electrical activity of said remote sample situs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 4, wherein said electrical characteristics comprise action-potential-related changes in said remote sample situs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 1, wherein said single optical fiber has a core diameter of between about 50 to 100 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 6, wherein said single optical fiber includes a cladding layer and an overall diameter of up to about 140 μm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 1, further comprising directing said light of a sufficient wavelength to cause fluorescent emission of said dye-treated remote sample situs though a neutral density filter to attenuate said light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 8, further comprising directing said light of a sufficient wavelength to cause fluorescent emission of said dye-treated remote sample though a short-pass interference filter to remove light of an interfering wavelength.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 9, further comprising directing said received fluorescent emission to said detector utilizing a beam splitter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 10, further, comprising directing said received fluorescent emission through a long-pass filter to remove any excitation light from said received fluorescent emission.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 1, wherein said dye treated remote sample situs is treated with a voltage-sensitive dye.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 12, wherein said voltage-sensitive dye comprises a styryl voltage-sensitive dye.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 13, wherein the wavelength of said light delivered to said dye-treated remote sample is between about 490 to 550 μm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a photomultiplier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 1, wherein said detector comprises a photodiode.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs which comprises: a light source for generating excitation light having a wavelength of between about 400 to 550 nm; means to pass said excitation light through a single optical fiber to a remote sample situs; means interposed between said light source and said single optical fiber for attenuating said excitation light; means interposed between said attenuating means and said single optical fiber for removing light of an interfering wavelength from said excitation light; a fluorescent detector; means for directing emitted light from said remote sample situs through said single optical fiber to said fluorescent detector; and means positioned between said directing means and said fluorescent detector for removing light of an excitation wavelength from said emitted light.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
128 words
An apparatus for detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs which comprises: a light source for generating excitation light having a wavelength of between about 400 to 550 nm; means to pass said excitation light through a single optical fiber to a remote sample situs; means interposed between said light source and said single optical fiber for attenuating said excitation light; means interposed between said attenuating means and said single optical fiber for removing light of an interfering wavelength from said excitation light; a fluorescent detector; means for directing emitted light from said remote sample situs through said single optical fiber to said fluorescent detector; and means positioned between said directing means and said fluorescent detector for removing light of an excitation wavelength from said emitted light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus for detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 17, wherein said single optical fiber has a core diameter of between about 50 to 100 μm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 18, wherein said single optical fiber includes a cladding layer and an overall diameter of up to about 140 μm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus for detecting electrical characteristics of a remote sample situs according to claim 17, wherein said fluorescent detector comprises a photomultiplier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5101814A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-30 | 1997-03-01 | 1997-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-30 | 2001-03-01 | 2001-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-30 | 2005-03-01 | 2005-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |