Method for assessing perfusion in tissue

Abstract

Methods for assessing perfusion in a portion of tissue in an animal may include administering a fluorescent dye to the animal such that the fluorescent dye enters the portion of tissue, exciting the fluorescent dye within the portion of tissue with a source of illumination such that the fluorescent dye emits radiation, capturing the radiation emitted by the fluorescent dye with a camera, and obtaining at least one image of the fluorescence radiation emitted from the portion of tissue

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assessing perfusion in a portion of tissue in an animal, comprising:
 administering a fluorescent dye to the animal such that the fluorescent dye enters the portion of tissue;   exciting the fluorescent dye within the portion of tissue with a source of illumination such that the fluorescent dye emits radiation;   capturing the radiation emitted by the fluorescent dye with a camera; and   obtaining at least one image of the fluorescence radiation emitted from the portion of tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising examining the at least one image to assess the extent of perfusion in the portion of tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent dye is selected from the group consisting of tricarbocyanine dyes, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent dye is indocyanine green. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the at least one image on a video monitor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the at least one image with software installed on a computer terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising storing the at least one image on a recordable medium. 
     
     
         8 . A method for assessing perfusion in a portion of tissue in an animal, wherein said tissue portion is located downstream of a blood vessel that has undergone an invasive procedure, comprising:
 administering a fluorescent dye to the animal such that the fluorescent dye enters the portion of tissue;   exciting the fluorescent dye within the portion of tissue with a source of illumination such that the fluorescent dye emits radiation;   capturing the radiation emitted by the fluorescent dye with a camera;   obtaining at least one image of the fluorescence radiation emitted from the portion of tissue; and   examining the at least one image to assess the extent of perfusion in the portion of tissue, wherein assessing the extent of perfusion in the portion of tissue allows assessment of the success of the invasive procedure.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fluorescent dye is selected from the group consisting of tricarbocyanine dyes, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fluorescent dye is indocyanine green. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying the at least one image on a video monitor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising analyzing the at least one image with software installed on a computer terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising storing the at least one image on a recordable medium.