The MPTflex™ is a novel multiphoton tomograph for in vivo marker-free tissue imaging. It has the best resolution compared to any other clinical imaging tool such as ultrasound, X-rays, optical coherence tomographs, and confocal microscopes. Single intratissue cancer cells and cell organelles can be imaged. MPTflex™ revolutionizes conventional invasive and time consuming diagnostic procedures. The CE- marked medical product is based on near infrared femtosecond laser technology. Optical biopsies with subcelluar resolution can be obtained without the removal of tissue and without any staining. The images are based on the sensitive detection of fluorescent endogenous biomolecules like NAD(P)H, flavins, keratin, porphyrins, elastin, and melanin. Collagen can be identified by its second harmonic generation (SHG). Autofluorescence and SHG are imaged with fast PMT detectors with single photon sensitivity.
The tomograph consists of a tunable femtosecond 80 MHz laser, an articulated arm with beam stabilization, a beam- scanning module, piezo -driven optics, a fast dual-PMT detector and a control unit including JenLab Image software for image processing. Optical sections from the tissue can be generated within seconds with low picojoule pulse energies.
Applications
Major applications are the diagnosis of pathological skin such as malignant melanoma and the testing of anti-ageing products. The skin age can be determined based on the ratio of elastin to collagen. Furthermore, the biosafety of sunscreen nanoparticles can be evaluated under physiological conditions. Long-term investigations of the skin are possible in order to monitor treatment effects and the stimulated biosynthesis of collagen. The system can be used in tissue engineering, pharmaceutical research, and small animal investigations.
