REAL TIME VASCULAR IMAGING DURING SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANT

1 . A method of intra-operatively determining the patency of at least one vessel which is surgically joined to a transplanted organ in a recipient subject comprising:

a. administering a fluorescent dye to the recipient subject;

b. applying a sufficient amount of energy to the vessel such that the fluorescent dye fluoresces;

c. obtaining a fluorescent image of the vessel surgically joined to a transplanted organ; and

d. observing the image to determine if a fluorescent signal is continuous through the vessel, wherein a continuous fluorescent signal in the vessel indicates the vessel is patent.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the recipient subject is a human.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluorescent dye is a tricarbocyanine dye or an analog thereof.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the tricarbocyanine dye is indocyanine green.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dye is administered intravenously.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dye is administered as a bolus injection.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dye is administered less than an hour before determining patency.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dye is administered more than 30 seconds before determining patency.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy is light energy.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the light energy is provided by a laser.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the light energy is provided by an incandescent light and a filter.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wavelength of the light energy is in the infra-red spectrum.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the wavelength of the light energy is about 805 nanometers.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the image is obtained by a camera.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the camera is a charge coupled device.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the camera is a video recorder.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the laser power output is about 2.5 watts.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the laser power output lasts for about 30 seconds.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the output is a continuous wave.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a blood vessel.

21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is an artery.

22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a vein.

23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a ureter.

24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is comprised of a duct.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the organ is chosen from a heart, a liver, a pancreas, a kidney and a lung.

26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the organ is a heart and a lung.

27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the organ is a pancreas and a kidney.

28 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is chosen from an inferior vena cava, superior vena cava, an atrial cuff, an aortic root, an aorta, a pulmonary trunk, a pulmonary vein, a pulmonary artery, a hepatic artery, a hepatic vein, a portal vein, a bile duct, a renal artery, a renal vein, a pancreatic duct, a pancreatic artery, a pancreatic vein, an arterial graft, a venous graft.

29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel comprises an anastomosis.

30 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a method of determining the patency of at least one vessel which is attached to a donor organ in a donor subject comprising:

a. administering a fluorescent dye to the donor subject;

b. applying a sufficient amount of energy to the vessel such that the fluorescent dye fluoresces;

c. obtaining a fluorescent image of the vessel attached to a donor organ; and

d. observing the image to determine if a fluorescent signal is continuous through the vessel,

wherein a continuous fluorescent signal in the vessel indicates the vessel is patent.

31 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a method of determining the patency of at least one vessel which is attached to a donor organ comprising:

a. administering a fluorescent dye to the vessel attached to the donor organ;

b. applying a sufficient amount of energy to the vessel such that the fluorescent dye fluoresces;

c. obtaining a fluorescent image of the vessel attached to a donor organ; and

d. observing the image to determine if a fluorescent signal is continuous through the vessel,

wherein a continuous fluorescent signal in the vessel indicates the vessel is patent .

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the method is performed ex vivo.

33 . A portable system useful for imaging at least one vessel which is surgically joined to a transplanted organ in a recipient subject comprising : a) a fluorescent dye; b) an energy source capable of emitting sufficient energy such that the fluorescent dye fluoresces; c) an imaging head.

34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the fluorescent dye is a tricarbocyanine dye or an analog thereof.

35 . The system of claim 34 , wherein the tricarbocyanine dye is indocyanine green.

36 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the energy source is a laser.

37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the laser emits infra red light.

38 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the imaging head comprises a camera.

39 . The system of 38 , wherein the camera is a charge coupled device.

40 . A portable system useful for imaging at least one vessel which is surgically joined to a transplanted organ in a recipient subject comprising:

a. a fluorescent dye;

b. an energy source capable of emitting sufficient energy such that the fluorescent dye fluoresces;

c. an imaging head;

d. an articulating arm;

e. a computer and monitor;

f. image processing software;

g. an electrical power source; and

h. a housing for containing a-g, wherein the housing comprises at least 2 wheels.

41 . The system of claim 40 further comprising a motion sensor.

42 . The system of claim 40 further comprising a distance sensor.

43 . The system of claim 40 further comprising a sterile drape.

44 . The system of claim 40 further comprising a printer.

45 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the articulating arm comprises a horizontal section.

46 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the housing is a mobile cart.

47 . The system of claim 46 , wherein the mobile cart comprises four wheels.

48 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the imaging head comprises a camera.

49 . The system of claim 48 , wherein the camera is a charge coupled device.

50 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the imaging head, the motion sensor, and the distance sensor are attached to the articulating arm.

51 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the mobile cart houses the electrical power source, the printer, the computer, and the energy source.

52 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the energy source is a laser.

53 . The system of claim 40 , further comprising a syringe to administer the fluorescent dye to a subject.

54 . The system of claim 45 , wherein the articulating arm provides six degrees of freedom for the imaging head.

55 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the energy is light energy.

56 . The system of claim 55 , wherein the light energy has a wavelength in the infra-red spectrum.

57 . The system of claim 56 , wherein the light energy has a wavelength of about 805 nanometers.

58 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the sterile drape is comprised of a transparent aperture such that the energy passes through the sterile drape.

59 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the fluorescent dye is a tricarbocyanine dye or an analog thereof.

60 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the tricarbocyanine dye is indocyanine green.

61 . The system of claim 40 further comprising an instruction booklet.

62 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the system is free standing.

63 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the system is not required to be hand held.

64 . The system of claim 40 , wherein the imaging head is contained in an endoscope.

65 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is from a biological source.

66 . The method of claim 65 , wherein the graft is chosen from an allograft, an autograft and a xenograft.

67 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vessel is from a synthetic source.