Folate targeted enhanced tumor and folate receptor positive tissue optical imaging technology

1. A method of differentiating a tumor from healthy cells in tissue of a patient including the steps of:

administering to the patient an optical marker-folate conjugate wherein the conjugate contacts the tumor, and imaging the tumor in vivo during surgery, wherein the tumor is smaller than 1 mm in size.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the differentiation provided by the optical marker-folate conjugate is a contrast of fluorescent intensity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical marker is fluorescein.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical marker is a near infrared marker.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical marker is carbocyanine.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tissue is illuminated.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the tissue is illuminated using a laser.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the differentiation is provided by a contrast of the brightness of the tumor relative to the brightness of the healthy cells.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor is subcutaneous, and the differentiation is provided by a fluorescent emission capable of being transmitted through skin.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor is as small as 0.5 mm.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the tumor is smaller than 0.5 mm in size.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tumor is imaged using an endoscopic device.

13. A method of differentiating a tumor from healthy cells in tissue of a patient including the steps of:

administering to the patient a near infrared optical marker-folate conjugate wherein the conjugate contacts the tumor, and imaging the tumor in vivo, wherein the tumor is smaller than 1 mm in size.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the differentiation provided by the near infrared optical marker-folate conjugate is a contrast of fluorescent intensity.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the near infrared optical marker is carbocyanine.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the near infrared optical marker is indocyanine.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tissue is illuminated.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the tissue is illuminated using a laser.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the differentiation is provided by a contrast of the brightness of the tumor relative to the brightness of the healthy cells.

20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tumor is subcutaneous, and the differentiation is provided by a fluorescent emission capable of being transmitted through skin.

21. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tumor is as small as 0.5 mm.

22. The method of claim 13 , wherein the tumor is smaller than 0.5 mm in size.

23. A method of differentiating a tumor from healthy cells in tissue of a patient including the steps of:

administering to the patient an optical marker-folate conjugate wherein the conjugate contacts the tumor, and imaging the tumor in vivo, wherein the tumor is smaller than 1 mm in size, and wherein the tumor is subcutaneous and the differentiation is provided by a fluorescent emission capable of being transmitted through skin.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optical marker is fluorescein.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the optical marker is a near infrared marker.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the optical marker is carbocyanine.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the optical marker is indocyanine.

28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the tissue is illuminated.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the tissue is illuminated using a laser.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the differentiation is provided by a contrast of the brightness of the tumor relative to the brightness of the healthy cells.

31. The method of claim 23 , wherein the tumor is as small as 0.5 mm.

32. The method of claim 23 , wherein the tumor is smaller than 0.5 mm in size.