Claims for Patent: 7,128,894

Summary for Patent: 7,128,894

Title:	Contrast enhancing solution for use in confocal microscopy
Abstract:	A method of optically detecting a tumor during surgery. The method includes imaging at least one test point defined on the tumor using a first optical imaging system to provide a first tumor image. The method further includes excising a first predetermined layer of the tumor for forming an in-vivo defect area. A predetermined contrast enhancing solution is disposed on the in-vivo defect area, which is adapted to interact with at least one cell anomaly, such as basal cell carcinoma, located on the in-vivo defect area for optically enhancing the cell anomaly. Thereafter the defect area can be optically imaged to provide a clear and bright representation of the cell anomaly to aid a surgeon while surgically removing the cell anomaly.
Inventor(s):	Tannous; Zeina (Boston, MA), Torres; Abel (Loma Linda, CA), Gonzalez; Salvador (Newton, MA)
Assignee:	The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC) N/A (N/A)
Application Number:	10/607,630
Patent Claims:	1. A method of enhancing optical characteristics of at least one cell anomaly associated with a tumor, comprising: (a) applying a predetermined contrasting solution comprising an AlCl solution to an in-vivo defect area associated with the tumor for optically enhancing the at least one cell anomaly associated with the tumor; and (b) imaging at least a portion of the in-vivo defect area associated with the tumor using a first optical imaging system to provide an in-vivo enhanced tumor image, wherein the in-vivo enhanced tumor image includes the at least one cell anomaly having enhanced attributes. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the predetermined contrasting solution comprising an AlCl solution to the in-vivo defect area comprises applying the AlCl solution having a predetermined concentration of Al and a predetermined concentration of Cl. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the predetermined contrasting solution comprising an AlCl solution to the in-vivo defect area comprises applying a solution of AlCl (hexahydrate) 20% w/v in anhydrous ethyl alcohol (S.D. alcohol 40) 93% v/v. 4. The method of claim 2 wherein applying the AlCl solution having a predetermined concentration of Al and a predetermined concentration of Cl comprises applying an AlCl solution having a concentration ranging from approximately 20% to approximately 40%. 5. The method of claim 2, further comprising: (c) freezing an excised predetermined layer of the in-vivo defect area associated with the tumor. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: (d) imaging the excised predetermined layer of the in-vivo defect area associated with the tumor using a second predetermined optical imaging system to provide an ex-vivo enhanced tumor image. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: (e) comparing the in-vivo enhanced tumor image and the ex-vivo tumor image to investigate the presence of the at least one cell anomaly. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein after step (a), the method further comprises: applying sterile water to the in-vivo defect area for further optically enhancing the at least one cell anomaly. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein after step (a), the method further comprises: applying an optically transparent sterile tape to the in-vivo defect area for sterilizing the in-vivo defect area. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein imaging using the first optical imaging system comprises imaging using a confocal microscope. 11. The method of claim 6 wherein imaging using the second predetermined optical imaging system comprises imaging using a microscope.

Details for Patent 7,128,894

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2022-06-27