Irradiation device

• US 20020161418A1
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spectrometrix Optoelectronic Systems, GmbH
• Original Assignee: Optomed Optomedical Systems GmbH, Spectrometrix Optoelectronic Systems, GmbH
• Inventors: Stirner, Rolf, Wilkens, Jan Hennrik
• Granted Patent: US 6,902,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0642 Irradiating part of the body at a certain distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/125 having an halogenide as principal component

Abstract

The invention relates to an irradiation device and method for the treatment of totally or partially cell-mediated inflammations of the skin, the connective tissue and the viscera, viral and other infectious diseases such as HIV and prionic infections, fungal infections of th skin and the mucous membranes, bacterial diseases of the skin and the mucous membranes as well hand eczema and anal eczema which comprises at least one irradiation device to irradiate a surface treatment area where the wavelength of the emitted radiation to a treatment area is longer than 400 nm and comprises at least one spectral band between 400-500 nm while the radiation device contains means for the generation of optical pulses towards a treatment area with a power density of the optical pulse peaks larger than 0,5 W/cm² and smaller than 100 kW/cm² The energy of one pulse relates to 0,05-10 J/cm².

Claims

1. An irradiation device particularly for the treatment of totally or partially cell mediated inflammations of the skin and the viscera, comprising at least one radiation source for the irradiation of larger areas to be treated, the emitted wavelength on the treatment area being at least 400 nm and comprising a wavelength range of 400-500 nm,

wherein

the irraditation device comprises means for the generation of optical pulses on the area to be treated, the peak irradiation intensity being higher than 0,5 W/cm² and lower than 100 kW/cm², the energy density of one emitted optical pulse being between 0,05 and 10 J/cm².

2. Irradiation device according to claim 1 wherein the energy density of one emitted optical pulse is between 0,3-0,8 J/cm².

3. Irradiation device according to any of claim 1 or 2, wherein the average cw-inadiation intensity of one optical pulse is between 1 mW/cm²-10 W/cm².

4. Irradiation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the radiation source is pulse operable and/or movable in relation to the area to be irradiated.

5. Irradiation device according to claim 4 wherein the effective pulse length is between 1 μ

s-500 ms.

6. Irradiation device according to claim 5 wherein said radiation source has a frequency of 0,01-100 Hz.

7. Irradiation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said irradiation source is a xenon- or deuterium flashlamp or an overload-pulse operated galliumiodide-doped mercury lamp with a device for the cutting off and/or transformation of the UV parts and other undesired parts of the spectrum within the desired area of the spectrum.

8. Irradiation device according to claim 7 comprising a phosphor material with UVC-transparent carrier material arranged in front of the radiation source.

9. irradiation device according to claim 8 wherein the transparent carrier material is a fluorescent foil made of silicone elastomere or fluorpolymer doped with anorganic phosphor particles.

10. Irradiation device according to any of claim 8 or 9 wherein said carrier ;

maternal or the luminescent foil is doped with at least one of the following phosphors fluorescent in the spectral range of 410-490 nm

[Sr₂P₂O₇;

Eu, Sr₅(PO₄)₃Cl;

Eu, BaMg₂Al₁₆O₂₇;

Eu, CaWO₄;

Pb;

(Sr, Ca,Ba)₅(PO₄)₃Cl;

Eu;

Sr₂P₂O₇;

Snr,(Ba,Ca)₅(PO₄)₃Cl;

Eu)] and/or 510-560 nm

[ZnSiO₄;

Mn;

MgAl₁₁O₁₉;

Ce,Tb,Mn;

YBO₃;

Tb;

LaPO₄;

Ce,Tb] and/or 610-670 nm

[Y₂O₃;

Eu;

Y(P,V)O₄;

Eu;

CaSiO₃;

Pb,Mn;

(Sr,Mg)₃PO₄)₂;

Sn;

3.5 MgO*0.5 MgF_2*GeO2;

Mn]

11. Irradiation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the pulsed irradiation source has means with wihich it can be made operable in simmer mode.

12. Irradiation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said irradiation source is equipped with a cooling device for the area to be irradiated which belongs to the irradiation source and/or the fluorescent foil.

13. Irradiation device according to claim 12 wherein said cooling device is designed as an air cooling.

14. Irradiation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said irradiation device has means assigned for the topical or inhalative admission of oxygen.

15. Irradiation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the irradiation source has additional emission in the range of 520-550 nm and/or 610-670 nm.

16. Irraditation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein said irradiation source is enclosed by a paraboloid or ellipsoid reflector.

17. Irradiation device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the beam diameter of the emitted light is at least in one dimension wider than 10 mm and narrower than 100 mm.

20. Method according to claim 18 wherein the energy density of one emitted optical pulse is between 0,3-0,8 J/cm².

18. Irradiation device characterised by individual or all new features or combination of the disclosed features.

21. Method according to any of claims 18 or 19 wherein the average cw-irradiation intensity of one optical pulse is between 1 mW/cm²-10 W/cm².

19. Method particularly for the treatment of totally or partially cell mediated inflammations of the skin, connective tissue and the viscera, in particular atopic dermatitis cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, lichen ruber, alopecia areata, systemic lupus erythematodes, psoriasis and scleroderma, including other connective tissue diseases, multiple sclerosis, uveitis, Morbus Crohn and other diseases with an immunological background, including the treatment of infectious diseases such as herpes,papilloma virus, fungus, HIV, prions and burn wounds and disturbed wound healing through bacterial infection comprising at least one radiation source for the irradiation of larger areas to be treated, the emitted wavelength on the treatment area being at least 400 nm and comprising a wavelength range of 400-500 nm,

wherein

the irraditation device comprises means for the generation of optical pulses on the area to be treated, the peak irradiation intensity being higher than 0,5 W/cm² and lower than 100 kW/cm², the energy density of one emitted optical pulse being between 0,05 and 10 J/cm².

22. Method characterised by individual or all new features or combination of the disclosed features.