ABSTRACT
A device and method of using the device to detect the presence and composition of clots and other target objects in a circulatory vessel of a living subject is described. In particular, devices and methods of detecting the presence and composition of clots and other target objects in a circulatory vessel of a living subject using in vivo photoacoustic flow cytometry techniques is described.
CLAIMS
1. A method for continuous monitoring of a circulatory vessel of a living organism, the method comprising: pulsing circulating target objects comprising red blood cells and at least one clot within the circulatory vessel with at least one pulse of laser energy at a first pulse wavelength ranging between 400 nm and 2500 nm, wherein the first pulse wavelength induces a photoacoustic signal from the circulating target objects, wherein the at least one clot is a red blood cell-rich red clot, a platelet-rich white clot, or a combination thereof and wherein the blood cell-rich clot is light absorbing and the platelet-rich white clot is non-absorbing; obtaining a photoacoustic pattern induced by the at least one pulse of laser energy, wherein the photoacoustic pattern comprises at least one photoacoustic signal comprising a blood background signal produced by the red blood cells; simultaneously obtaining fluorescence, scattering, and photothermal signals from the target objects, via a photodetector; analyzing a combination of the photoacoustic pattern and the fluorescence, scattering, and/or photothermal signals to determine the presence of the at least one clot; and producing a detection signal when the photoacoustic pattern and the fluorescence signal, scattering signal, photothermal signal, or combinations thereof indicates a clot.