Nov 28 2007
Cambridge Research and Instrumentation (CRi) announced today that the United States Patent Office has issued a notice of allowance for their patent application number 10/669,101, for Spectral Imaging of Deep Tissue.
This method patent covers the use of multispectral imaging combined with spectral unmixing to greatly increase the signal-to-noise level of fluorophores in a living mammal. The unmixing of tissue autofluorescence is a critical component in achieving quantitative, highly sensitive results from fluorophores in vivo. The methodology covered by this allowance broadly covers multispectral imaging hardware and algorithm-based approaches, including the use of CRi's patented liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) technology and CRi's image acquisition and data analysis software packages.
"We are pleased to see recognition from the US Patent office for this fundamental patent that teaches quantitative multispectral image analysis of fluorescent samples in living mammals," says Peter Miller, Vice President and Chief Science Officer at CRi. "This patent allowance further strengthens our position in the area of in vivo imaging and further validates CRi's approach to providing customers with effective imaging solutions."
Increasing sophistication in the design and interrogation of biological models and the advent of novel fluorescent probes have lead to new demands on molecular imaging systems to deliver enhanced sensitivity, reliable quantification and the ability to resolve multiple simultaneous signals each separated from the ubiquitous autofluorescence background. Furthermore, orthotopic tumor and disease models are increasingly preferred over less biologically relevant subcutaneous xenografts. CRi has responded to these demands, and with this patent allowance, researchers performing in vivo fluorescence imaging are left with one reasonable choice. That choice is CRi.