The disclosed embodiments relate to multimodal imaging system comprising a fiber-coupled fluorescence imaging system, which operates based on ultra-violet (UV) excitation light, and a fiber-coupled optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system. The multimodal imaging system also includes a fiber optic interface comprising a single optical fiber, which facilitates light delivery to a sample-of-interest and collection of returned optical signals for both the fluorescence imaging system and the OCT imaging system. During operation of the system, the single optical fiber carries both UV light and coherent infrared light through two concentric light-guiding regions, thereby facilitating generation of precisely co-registered optical data from the fluorescence imaging system and the OCT imaging system.

The invention provides systems for characterizing a biological sample by analyzing emission of fluorescent light from the biological sample upon excitation and methods for using the same. The system includes a laser source, collection fibers, a demultiplexer and an optical delay device. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as though fully set forth. Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of-ordinary skill in the art in which this invention belongs.

A method of treating CTCL comprising applying a combination of an effective amount of hypericin together with a form of visible light photodynamic therapy. Preferably, the effective amount of hypericin is an ointment comprising less than 1% hypericin. More preferably, the form of photodynamic therapy comprises an administration of escalating doses of visible light. Optionally, the escalating doses of visible light starts at about 5 J/cm.sup.2 and increases to a maximum dose of about 12 J/cm.sup.2.

Ablation visualization and monitoring systems and methods are provided. In some embodiments, such methods comprise applying ablation energy to a tissue to form a lesion in the tissue, illuminating the tissue with a light to excite NADH in the tissue, wherein the tissue is illuminated in a radial direction, an axial direction, or both, monitoring a level of NADH fluorescence in the illuminated tissue to determine when the level of NADH fluorescence decreases from a base level in the beginning of the ablating to a predetermined lower level, and stopping ablation of the tissue when the level of NADH fluorescence reaches the predetermined lower level.

A dental hand-held device (100), including a curing device (101) for curing a dental restauration material (103) with light in a first wavelength range; and a fluorescence excitation device (105) for exciting fluorescence of dental substance (107) with light in a second wavelength range.

The present invention relates to a parathyroid sensing system, and includes: a modulator for generating a modulation signal having a predetermined frequency; a lock-in amplifier and a light source which receive information on the modulation signal; an excitation filter for transmitting, among light emitted from the light source, only excitation light that excites parathyroid glands; an emission filter connected to a probe and selectively transmitting only fluorescence emitted from the parathyroid glands; a near-infrared sensor for sensing the autofluorescence that has passed through the emission filter, and converting the sensed autofluorescence into an electric signal; and a speaker for generating an alarm through the electric signal. Through the present invention, the locations of the parathyroid glands may be precisely identified even when lights are turned on in an operating room, and convenience may be provided by alerting a surgeon by means of an alarm when the parathyroid glands are detected. In addition, the locations of the parathyroid glands may be precisely detected, even when the probe is not directly in contact with the parathyroid glands, by using the autofluorescence characteristics of the parathyroid glands.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for imaging tumor resections.

Methods and systems for facilitating assessment of blood flow in a tissue volume of a subject are disclosed. In some variations, the method may include: after a predetermined amount of a fluorescence agent has been administered to the subject, exciting the fluorescence agent in the tissue volume such that the excited fluorescence agent emits fluorescent light, acquiring fluorescence data based on the fluorescent light emitted during blood flow through the tissue volume, estimating a molar concentration of the fluorescence agent in the blood flowing through the tissue volume, and generating an assessment of blood flow in the tissue volume based at least in part on the fluorescence data and the estimated molar concentration of the fluorescence agent. The estimated molar concentration may be based on the predetermined amount of the fluorescence agent and an estimated circulating blood volume of the subject.

Improved fluoresced imaging (FI) endoscope devices and systems are provided to enhance use of endoscopes with FI and visible light capabilities. An endoscope device is provided for endoscopy imaging in a white light and a fluoresced light mode. A chromatic adjustment assembly, typically implemented with prisms, compensates for a chromatic focal difference between the white light image and the fluoresced light image caused by the dispersive properties of the optical materials or optical design employed in the construction of the optical channel. The assembly is placed optically between the most proximal rod lens of the endoscope and the focusing optics, typically at an internal telecentric image space, to improve the chromatic correction. The prism assembly directs incoming light with different spectral content along separate paths which compensate for chromatic aberration.

Peptides that home, target, migrate to, are directed to, are retained by, or accumulate in and/or bind to the cartilage or kidney of a subject are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions and uses for peptides or peptide-active agent complexes comprising such peptides are also disclosed. Such compositions can be formulated for targeted delivery of an active agent to a target region, tissue, structure or cell in the cartilage. Targeted compositions of the disclosure can deliver peptide or peptide-active agent complexes to target regions, tissues, structures, or cells targeted by the peptide.