Image guided mechanically scanned and co-registered localized optical and MR spectroscopies

Interrogation of tissue with combined molecular methods, such as light-induced fluorescence (LIF) and MR spectroscopy (MRS), may lead to new paradigms in assessing tissue malignancy in situ. The limited tissue penetration (LIF) or low sensitivity (MRS) of those modalities is usually addressed by local placement of the sensor via trans-needle or trans-catheter access. This work introduces a system and methodological approaches for mechanically scanning an area of interest with an MR-compatible manipulator that carries two sensors: an optical fiber for LIF and a miniature RF coil for MRS. Experimental studies on multi-compartment phantoms demonstrated dual-modality scanning and the generation of one-dimensional MRS/LIF scans inherently registered to MRI that was used to guide the scanning.