ABSTRACT
A method of non-invasively detecting and purging bacterial cells using a modified photoacoustic in vivo flow cytometer device is described herein. In particular, a method of detecting bacterial cells by analyzing photoacoustic pulses emitted in response to laser pulses from a pulsed laser source and/or selectively destroying the detected bacterial cells using a non-linear photothermal response induced by a high-energy laser pulse is described herein.
CLAIMS
1. A method for theranostics of a plurality of circulating target objects in blood, lymph, and other vessels of a living organism, comprising: generating at least one series of consecutive diagnostic laser pulses with low energy and a wavelength; delivering the laser pulses having a laser beam of elliptical shape to the circulating target objects using a lens or optical fiber; detecting laser-induced photoacoustic, fluorescence, or scattering light signals from the circulating target objects using focused ultrasound transducers or photodiodes; triggering, using the detected signals, a therapeutic destruction pulse of high laser energy at the same or a different wavelength to produce laser-induced nanobubbles destroying a plurality of the circulating target objects irrespective of their antibiotic resistance status; and monitoring a frequency of detection of the photoacoustic, fluorescence or scattering signals, wherein the low energy diagnostic laser pulses are used to control the efficacy of the photothermal destruction of the circulating target objects using the frequency of detection, wherein the circulating target objects are related to infection.