Hygienic treatments of structures in body cavities

• US 20030232303A1
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oralum LLC
• Original Assignee: Oralum LLC
• Inventors: Black, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,144,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0607 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0608 Rectum
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0611 Vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities

Abstract

Multiple hygienic effects are concurrently applied to structures of body cavities. This is established by two or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam to the structures using an optical means whereby each light beam provides a unique hygienic effect to the structures. The device could be a handheld device with detachable components. The device could include a massaging means and/or a vibrating means. An agent could be used to the body cavity to assist in the hygienic treatment plan. A cradle could be included to store the device, reload the power supply of the device, as well as a means to communicate with a hygienic service provider. The cradle could also host a displaying means and a selecting means. A testing means could be included to test a performance of the device or to calibrate components of the device.

Claims

1. A device to concurrently apply two or more hygienic effects to structures in a body cavity, comprising:

(a) two or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam to said structures in said body cavity, wherein said light beam provides a unique hygienic effect to said structures in said body cavity; and

(b) an optical means to concurrently apply said light beam to said structures in said body cavity, after which said structures in said body cavity concurrently receive said unique hygienic effects.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said application of each of said light beams is varied at different locations in said body cavity through movement to achieve blending of said unique hygienic effects at said different locations in said body cavity.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light sources are low power lasers, light emitting diodes or semiconductor lasers.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hygienic effect is selected from the group consisting of an anti-inflammatory effect, a preventative effect, a caries-protective effect, an anti-bacterial effect, a sterilizing effect, a cleaning effect, a cosmetic effect, a therapeutic effect, a healing effect, a bio-stimulative effect, a bio-altering effect, a pain-releaving effect, an agent penetrating effect, a photo-rejuvinating effect and a photo-dynamic treatment effect.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light beam comprises light from the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectrum.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body cavity comprises an oral system, a nasal system, an ear, a rectal system, a vaginal system, a uterus, an open wound, or a surgically created body cavity.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light beam is applied in a manner selected from the group consisting of a pulsed manner and a continuous manner.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical means comprises one or more optical components wherein said one or more optical components are selected from the group consisting of optical fibers, lenses, spectral filters, mirrors, transparent materials, semi-transparent materials, prisms, reflective coatings, reflecting grooves, beam splitters, collimators, light channels and gratings.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an agent that is applied to said body cavity.

10. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a massaging means to massage said structures in said body cavity.

11. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a vibrating means to vibrate said structures in said body cavity, wherein said vibrating means comprises an ultrasonic means, a piezoelectric means or a mechanical means.

12. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a communication means to communicate data with a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a Pocket PC, a computer, an Internet website, a professional or a service.

13. The device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said data comprises data related to said unique hygienic effects or data related to said device.

14. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a testing means to test a performance of said device.

15. The device as set forth in claim 14, further comprising an adjusting means to adjust one or more components based on said test.

16. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a feedback means to provide feedback to a user, wherein said feedback is selected from the group consisting of sound, display and vibration.

17. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a selection means for a user to select parameters related to said unique hygienic effects or related to said light beams to a user.

18. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a displaying means to display data related to said unique hygienic effects or related to said light beams to a user.

19. A method to concurrently apply two or more hygienic effects to structures in a body cavity, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing two or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam to said structures in said body cavity, wherein said light beam provides a unique hygienic effect to said structures in said body cavity; and

(b) providing an optical means to concurrently apply said light beams to said structures in said body cavity, after which said structures in said body cavity concurrently receive said unique hygienic effects.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing movement to vary said application of each of said light beams at different locations in said body cavity to achieve blending of said unique hygienic effects at said different location in said body cavity.

21. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said light sources are low power lasers, light emitting diodes or semiconductor lasers.

22. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said hygienic effect is selected from the group consisting of an anti-inflammatory effect, a preventative effect, a caries-protective effect, an anti-bacterial effect, a sterilizing effect, a cleaning effect, a cosmetic effect, a therapeutic effect, a healing effect, a bio-stimulative effect, a bio-altering effect, a pain-releaving effect, an agent penetrating effect, a photo-rejuvinating effect and a photo-dynamic treatment effect.

23. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said light beam comprises light from the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectrum.

24. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said body cavity comprises an oral system, a nasal system, an ear, a rectal system, a vaginal system, a uterus, an open wound, or a surgically created body cavity.

25. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said light beam is applied in a manner selected from the group consisting of a pulsed manner and a continuous manner.

26. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein said optical means comprises one or more optical components wherein said one or more optical components are selected from the group consisting of optical fibers, lenses, spectral filters, mirrors, transparent materials, semi-transparent materials, prisms, reflective coatings, reflecting grooves, beam splitters, collimators, light channels and gratings.

27. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of adding an agent to said body cavity.

28. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a massaging means to massage said structures in said body cavity.

29. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a vibrating means to vibrate said structures in said body cavity, wherein said vibrating means comprises a ultrasonic means, piezoelectric means or mechanical means.

30. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a communication means to communicate data with a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a Pocket PC, a computer, an Internet website, a professional or a service.

31. The method as set forth in claim 30, wherein said data comprises data related to said unique hygienic effects or data related to said device.

32. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a testing means to test a performance of said device.

33. The method as set forth in claim 32, further comprising the step of providing an adjusting means to adjust one or more components based on said test.

34. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a feedback means to provide feedback to a user, wherein said feedback is selected from the group consisting of sound, display and vibration.

35. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a selection means for a user to select parameters related to said unique hygienic effects or related to said light beams to a user.

36. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a displaying means to display data related to said unique hygienic effects or related to said light beams to a user.

37. A handheld device to concurrently apply two or more hygienic effects to structures in a body cavity, comprising two or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam to said structures in said body cavity, wherein said light beam provides a unique hygienic effect based on a uniqueness in wavelength to said structures in said body cavity.

38. A handheld device to concurrently apply two or more hygienic effects to structures in a body cavity, comprising two or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam to said structures in said body cavity, wherein said light beam provides a unique hygienic effect based on a uniqueness in fluence to said structures in said body cavity.

39. A handheld hygienic device to concurrently apply two or more hygienic effects to structures in a body cavity, comprising:

(a) a detachable handle; and

(b) a detachable head, wherein said detachable head comprises an optical means to generate and deliver light beams to said structures and wherein said light beams provide said two or more unique hygienic effects to said structures.

40. The handheld device as set forth in claim 39, wherein said detachable head comprises at least two detachable components, wherein a first component comprises light sources that generate said light beams and wherein a second component comprises means to guide and output said light beams to said structures.

41. The handheld device as set forth in claim 40, wherein said at least two detachable components are disposable components.

42. The handheld device as set forth in claim 39, wherein said detachable handle is a disposable handle.

43. The handheld device as set forth in claim 39, wherein said detachable head is a disposable head.

44. A hygienic device, comprising:

(a) a hygienic application means to apply two or more hygienic effects;

(b) a cradle, wherein said cradle provides means for said hygienic application means, wherein said means is selected from the group consisting of communication means, power recharging means, selecting means, displaying means, and storage means.

45. The device as set forth in claim 44, further comprising a testing means to test said hygienic application means.

46. A method to provide a hygienic treatment service, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a list of a plurality of hygienic effects, wherein said hygienic effects are to be applied to structures in a body cavity; and

(b) selecting from said list two more or more unique hygienic effects.

47. The method as set forth in claim 46, wherein said list is provided by a hygienic service provider.

48. The method as set forth in claim 46, wherein said selection is made through a hygienic application device, a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a Pocket PC, a computer, an Internet website, a professional or a service.

49. A system to provide a hygienic service to structures in a body cavity, comprising:

(a) a hygienic service provider to provide parameters for a hygienic treatment;

(b) a hygienic application device to apply said hygienic treatment to said structures in said body cavity; and

(c) a communicate means to communicate said parameters between said hygienic service provider and said hygienic application device.

50. The system as set forth in claim 49, wherein said hygienic service provider comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a Pocket PC, a computer, an Internet website, a professional or a service.

51. The system as set forth in claim 49, said hygienic service provider comprises an evaluation means to evaluate said parameters.

52. The system as set forth in claim 49, said hygienic service provider comprises a recommendation means to recommend said parameters.