Abstract: A method of imaging described herein comprises (a) disposing ultrasound-switchable fluorophores within an environment; (b) exposing the environment to ultrasound to create a first activation region within the environment; (c) disposing the fluorophores within the first activation region to switch the fluorophores from an off state to an on state; (d) irradiating the environment to excite the fluorophores within the first activation region; (e) detecting photoluminescence from the excited fluorophores at a first optical spot on an exterior surface of the environment; (f) subsequently creating a second activation region within the environment; (g) switching fluorophores within the second activation region to an on state; (h) exciting the fluorophores in the on state within the second activation region; and (i) detecting photoluminescence from the excited fluorophores within the second activation region at a second optical spot on the exterior surface, wherein the first and second optical spots are optically res

Abstract: In one aspect, ultrasound-switchable fluorescence (USF) imaging systems are described herein. In some embodiments, such a system comprises an ultrasound source, a fluorophore excitation source, a contrast agent comprising a fluorophore, and an image recording device. The contrast agent, in some cases, comprises a fluorophore associated with a liposome carrier, wherein the contrast agent has a size of up to 1 ?m. Further, in some implementations of a system described herein, the image recording device is controlled by a software trigger mode.

Abstract: A method of imaging described herein comprises (a) disposing ultrasound-switchable fluorophores within an environment; (b) exposing the environment to ultrasound to create a first activation region within the environment; (c) disposing the fluorophores within the first activation region to switch the fluorophores from an off state to an on state; (d) irradiating the environment to excite the fluorophores within the first activation region; (e) detecting photoluminescence from the excited fluorophores at a first optical spot on an exterior surface of the environment; (f) subsequently creating a second activation region within the environment; (g) switching fluorophores within the second activation region to an on state; (h) exciting the fluorophores in the on state within the second activation region; and (i) detecting photoluminescence from the excited fluorophores within the second activation region at a second optical spot on the exterior surface, wherein the first and second optical spots are optically res

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of measuring the temperature of an environment are described herein. In some embodiments, such a method comprises (a) disposing a population of ultrasound-switchable fluorophores in the environment, the population comprising n differing fluorophores having n differing switching threshold temperatures; (b) exposing the environment to an ultrasound beam to create an activation region having a temperature greater than or equal to one or more of the switching threshold temperatures; (c) disposing the fluorophores within the activation region to switch at least one fluorophore from an off state to an on state; (d) exposing the environment to up to n beams of electromagnetic radiation, thereby exciting at least one fluorophore in the on state; (e) detecting up to n photoluminescence signals emitted by the fluorophores; and (f) correlating the photoluminescence signals with up to n temperatures or temperature ranges.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of measuring the temperature of an environment are described herein. In some embodiments, such a method comprises (a) disposing a population of ultrasound-switchable fluorophores in the environment, the population comprising n differing fluorophores having n differing switching threshold temperatures; (b) exposing the environment to an ultrasound beam to create an activation region having a temperature greater than or equal to one or more of the switching threshold temperatures; (c) disposing the fluorophores within the activation region to switch at least one fluorophore from an off state to an on state; (d) exposing the environment to up to n beams of electromagnetic radiation, thereby exciting at least one fluorophore in the on state; (e) detecting up to n photoluminescence signals emitted by the fluorophores; and (f) correlating the photoluminescence signals with up to n temperatures or temperature ranges.