In vivo fluorescence molecular optical imaging: from small animal towards clinical applications

Fluorescence enhanced diffuse optical tomography is an emergent diagnosis tool for the localization and the quantification of fluorescent probes. This technique can be considered as a complement but sometimes could also replace the classical ionizing radiation imaging techniques, and in particular if a simple, inexpensive, non invasive and accurate instrumentation is sought. The term molecular imaging can be broadly defined as the in vivo characterization and measurement of biological processes at the cellular and molecular level. For 5 years now, the CEA-LETI has built a base of knowledge in markers and instrumentation within the framework of small animal imaging. More recently, for the purpose of a specific approach for deep tissue screening, a dedicated instrumentation has been developed for human being examination.