Implantable imagers for in vivo imaging
Inventors
ANWAR, Mekhail • Rabbani, Rozhan • Roschelle, Micah • NAJAFIAGHDAM, Hossein • MULLER, Rikky • Ghanbari, Mohammad Meraj
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12653400-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for in vivo fluorescence imaging. Disclosed herein is an implantable miniature fluorescence imager on a chip having a custom imaging array with angle selective gratings, fiber optics, or microcollimators for image deblurring, and optical filters that can be tuned to image fluorescence from multiple fluorophores simultaneously. Power is supplied by an on-chip power source or transmitted to the chip from an external transducer such as an ultrasound transducer, electromagnetic transducer, inductive transducer, or radiofrequency transducer. Wireless communication may be provided by electromagnetic or ultrasound links to the device. The function of a fluorescence microscope is provided in a millimeter-scale device that can be readily implanted in tissue and used to image fluorescently labeled cells in vivo. The small size of the fluorescence imager makes possible sustained in vivo imaging with real-time monitoring of multiple cell types within Shifting the dynamic diseased tissue or a tumor.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an implantable fluorescence imager that uses a chip-based imaging array comprising a plurality of photodiodes arrayed on the surface of a chip, where each photodiode is coated with at least one layer of filter material that functions as an optical filter. The imager provides excitation light using a plurality of light emitting sources that are located on the chip or externally, and stores imaging data in a data storage unit while an application-specific integrated circuit controls voltages and supplies power for operation.
Power for operation is supplied from an on-chip or off-chip energy storage device, and the ASIC supplies power such that the plurality of light emitting sources are sequentially illuminated. The imager supports multicolor or multifluorophore imaging by using filter material on the photodiodes, including filter-material configurations that select fluorescence emission light. In described embodiments, optical filtering is implemented using absorption filters and/or interference filters, including single-bandpass, dual-bandpass, triple-bandpass, and quadruple-bandpass variants.
The chip-based imager is configured as a lens-free fluorescence microscope function for in vivo imaging. Lens-free imaging uses on-pixel angle-selective structures, including microcollimators or angle-selective gratings, for image deblurring. Wireless power and wireless data transmission are supported using ultrasound or electromagnetic/RF inductive links, with stored data communicated using telemetry and modulation schemes.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim coverage centers on a chip-based fluorescence imager with photodiode-array optical filtering, excitation light sources (on-chip or external) sequentially illuminated under ASIC control, and data storage under controlled power supply from on-chip or off-chip energy storage. Four inventive features are identified.
Chip-based fluorescence imaging array with photodiode optical filtering layers
An imaging array comprising a plurality of photodiodes arrayed on the surface of a chip, wherein each photodiode is coated with at least one layer of filter material that functions as an optical filter.
On-chip or external excitation light sources sequentially illuminated
A plurality of light emitting sources to provide excitation light, wherein the plurality of light emitting sources are located on the chip or externally; power supplied to the plurality of light emitting sources is supplied such that the plurality of light emitting sources are sequentially illuminated.
On-chip or off-chip energy storage power supply with ASIC voltage control
An on-chip or off-chip energy storage device to supply power for operation of the fluorescence imager; an ASIC configured to control voltages and supply power from the on-chip or off-chip energy storage device to the imaging array, the plurality of light emitting sources on the chip, and the data storage unit.
Data storage of imaging data from the imaging array
A data storage unit in communication with the imaging array, wherein the data storage unit stores imaging data from the imaging array.
The independent claim emphasizes a photodiode array with optical filter layers, excitation light sources located on-chip or externally with sequential illumination, power supplied from on-chip or off-chip energy storage under ASIC voltage and power control, and storage of imaging data produced by the imaging array.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
In vivo multicolor or multifluorophore fluorescence imaging contexts are described, including real-time monitoring of tumor/immune response using fluorophore conjugates with antibody-based markers.
Documented system architectures are described for wireless ultrasound backscatter protocols and prototype imaging performance with fluorescent dyes.
The document describes an in vivo fluorescence imaging method using fluorophore conjugates targeting cellular markers for immune/tumor markers.
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