Therapeutic methods using electromagnetic radiation

• US 20030130709A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpha Golf, Inc., Photomed Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Photomed Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: D.C., Constance Haber, Gardiner, Allan
• Granted Patent: US 7,150,710 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0619 Acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/1213 Filters in general, e.g. dichroic, band
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0229 using masks, aperture plates, spatial light modulators or spatial filters, e.g. reflective filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0232 using shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry

Abstract

This invention provides methods for treating a variety of disorders using electromagnetic radiation directed at excitable tissues, including nerves, muscles and blood vessels. By controlling the wavelength, the wavelength bandpass, pulse duration, intensity, pulse frequency, and/or variations of those characteristics over time, and by selecting sites of exposure to electromagnetic radiation, improvements in the function of different tissues and organs can be provided. By monitoring physiological variables such as muscle tone and activity, temperature gradients, surface electromyography, blood flow and others, the practitioner can optimize a therapeutic regimen suited for the individual patient.

Claims

1. A method for treating pain, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a tissue associated with pain to non-coherent electromagnetic radiation having a controlled wavelength in the visible wavelength range; and

(b) monitoring a change characteristic of said tissue associated with said radiation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having at least one of a controlled wavelength bandwidth and a controlled wavelength variation over time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having at least one of a selected pulse frequency and a controlled frequency variation over time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having at least one of a selected pulse duration and a controlled frequency of variation over time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having at least one of a selected intensity and a controlled intensity variation over time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting a variable in step (a) based on the monitoring of step (b).

52. The method of claim 1, wherein said pain is associated with a disorder selected from the group consisting of complex regional pain syndrome, sympathetic dystonia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, post surgical pain, muscle spasm, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, tarsal tunnel syndrome, dental pain, gingivitis, and traumatic injury.

7. A method for treating pain, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a tissue associated with pain to non-coherent electromagnetic radiation having a controlled wavelength in the visible wavelength range;

(b) monitoring a change in characteristic of said tissue associated with said radiation; and

(c) selecting a wavelength in step (a) based on the monitoring of step (b).

8. A method for treating pain, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a tissue associated with pain to non-coherent electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(b) monitoring a change in characteristic of said tissue associated with said radiation; and

(c) selecting a variable in step (a) based on the monitoring of step (b).

9. A method for treating pain, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a first tissue associated with pain to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled wavelength,

(b) exposing a second tissue associated with pain to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled wavelength, and

(c) monitoring a change in a characteristic of a tissue associated with said radiation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having a controlled bandwidth.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having a controlled pulse frequency.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having a controlled pulse duration.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) further comprises using electromagnetic radiation having a controlled intensity.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of selecting a controlled wavelength based on the monitoring of step (c).

15. A method for treating pain, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a first tissue associated with pain to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(b) exposing a second tissue associated with pain to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(c) monitoring a change in a characteristic of a tissue associated with said radiation.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting a variable in at least one of step (a) and step (b) based on the monitoring of step (c).

17. A method for treating pain, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a first tissue associated with pain to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(b) exposing a second tissue associated with pain to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(c) monitoring a change in a characteristic of a tissue associated with said radiation; and

(d). selecting a variable in at least one of step (a) and step (b) based on the monitoring of step (c).

18. A method for treating a nervous system disorder, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a portion of a tissue associated with said nervous system disorder to an effective amount of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled wavelength; and

(b) monitoring a change in a characteristic of said tissue associated with said radiation.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein step (a) further comprises electromagnetic radiation having a controlled bandwidth.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein step (a) further comprises electromagnetic radiation having a controlled pulse frequency.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein step (a) further comprises electromagnetic radiation having a controlled pulse duration.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein step (a) further comprises electromagnetic radiation having a controlled intensity.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of selecting a controlled wavelength based on the monitoring of step (b).

24. A method for treating a nervous system disorder, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a first tissue associated with said disorder to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(b) exposing a second tissue associated with said disorder to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(c) monitoring a change in a characteristic of a tissue associated with said radiation.

25. A method for treating a nervous system disorder, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a first tissue associated with said disorder to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(b) exposing a second tissue associated with said disorder to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(c) monitoring a response of a characteristic of a tissue associated with said radiation; and

(d) selecting a variable in at least one of step (a) and step (b) based on the monitoring of step (c).

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of entraining steps (a) and (b).

28. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of step (a) and step (b) comprises providing electromagnetic radiation to at least one sensory tissue selected from eyes and ears.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein step (a) comprises providing electromagnetic radiation to at least one sensory tissue selected from eyes and ears, and step (b) comprises providing electromagnetic radiation to a peripheral tissue.

30. A method for treating a peripheral disorder, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a proximal site associated with said disorder to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(b) exposing a distal site associated with said disorder to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time;

(c) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with said disorder; and

(d). selecting a variable in at least one of step (a) and step (b) based on the monitoring of step (c).

31. A method for treating myofascial syndrome, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a proximal portion of a nerve associated with said myofascial syndrome to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with said myofascial syndrome.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of selecting a variable in step (a) based on the monitoring of step (b).

34. A method for treating symptoms associated with muscle spasm, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a proximal portion of a nerve associated with said muscle spasm to a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with said myofascial syndrome.

35. A method for treating headache in a subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a portion of the occipital nerve with a beam of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with said headache.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said step of exposing includes exposing said portion of the occipital nerve to a beam of electromagnetic radiation at an angle of about 45°

to the cephalad.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising stimulating said subject with a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a site near the inner canthus of the eye, said radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of:

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the wavelength of radiation is in the range of about 597 nm to about 622 nm.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the wavelength of radiation is in the range of about 577 nm to about 597 nm.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the wavelength of radiation is in the range of about 577 nm to about 622 nm.

41. A method for treating neuronal pain in a subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing an affected tissue associated with said nerve to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 400 to about 700 nm, and a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of said affected tissue.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of exposing a contralateral nerve associated with said pain.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of exposing said subject to radiation at a site proximal to the site in step (a).

44. A method for treating neuronal pain in a subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a site near C1 to electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with said neuronal pain

45. A method for treating sympathetic hyperactivity in a subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a blood vessel associated with said sympathetic hyperactivity to electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with said blood vessel.

46. The method of claim 46, wherein said blood vessel is selected from the group consisting of the abdominal aorta, the femoral artery, the brachial artery and the popliteal artery

47. A method for treating temporomandibular joint syndrome in a subject, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a tissue associated with said temporomandibular joint syndrome to electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with said syndrome.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said wavelength is in the range of about 577 nm to about 622 nm.

49. The method of claim 47, additionally comprising the step of subsequently exposing said tissue to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the range of about 455 nm to about 492 nm.

50. A method for treating trigeminal neuralgia, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a tissue associated with trigeminal neuralgia to electromagnetic radiation having a controlled variable selected from the group consisting of;

(i) wavelength;

(ii) bandwidth;

(iii) pulse duration;

(iv) pulse frequency;

(v) intensity; and

(vi) wavelength variation over time; and

(b) monitoring a response of a tissue associated with trigeminal neuralgia.

51. A method for treating a abnormalities of vascular perfusion, comprising the steps of:

(a) exposing a portion of a tissue associated with said abnormality of vascular perfusion to an effective amount of electromagnetic radiation having a controlled wavelength; and

(b) monitoring a change in a characteristic of said tissue associated with said radiation.

53. A method for treating a subject having a neuromuscular abnormality, comprising the steps of:

(a) identifying a site of a neuromuscular abnormality;

(b) selecting at least one site on said subject'"'"'s body for electromagnetic radiation therapy (ERT); and

(c) exposing said at least one site for ERT to a beam comprising an effective amount of electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the visible range.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein said wavelength of electromagnetic radiation comprises a central wavelength and said wherein wavelength changes with time by a pre-determined wavelength variation around said central wavelength.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said wavelength variation is in the range of about 1 nm to about 100 nm.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein said wavelength variation occurs with a cycle time in the range of about 1 sec to about 100 sec.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein said wavelength variation occurs in a linear fashion.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein said wavelength variation occurs in a pattern selected from the group consisting of v-waves, sine waves and trapezoidal waves.

59. The method of claim 53, wherein said neuromuscular abnormality is trapezium spasm.

60. The method of claim 53, wherein said neuromuscular abnormality is carpal tunnel syndrome.

61. The method of claim 53, wherein said neuromuscular abnormality is lower extremity neuropathy.

62. The method of claim 53, wherein said neuromuscular abnormality is myofascial syndrome.

63. The method of claim 53, wherein said site selected in step (b) is an electrodiagnostic point, an acupuncture point, a trigger point, a meridian or is along a nerve distribution to said site of neuromuscular abnormality.

64. The method of claim 53, wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of circular, ellipsoidal, triangular and rectangular.

65. The method of claim 53, wherein said step (c) includes moving said beam of electromagnetic radiation between locations selected in step (b).

66. The method of claim 53, wherein two sites are selected in step (b) and a first beam of electromagnetic radiation is directed to a first site and wherein a second beam of electromagnetic radiation is directed at a second site.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said fist beam has at least one property selected from the group consisting of central wavelength, wavelength variation, frequency, change in frequency, intensity, change in intensity or duration of application that is different from the corresponding property of said second beam.