Methods for treating muscular dystrophy

• US 20040153130A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Inventors: Oron, Amir, Streeter, Jackson
• Application Number:
  US10/448,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20040153130A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

Therapeutic methods for treating or inhibiting a neuromuscular disease or condition, including muscular dystrophy, in a subject in need thereof are described, the methods including applying to muscle tissue of the subject a muscular dystrophy effective amount of electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in the visible to near-infrared wavelength. In a preferred embodiment, the muscular dystrophy effective amount of energy comprises predetermined power density (mW/cm²) of the electromagnetic energy of at least 1 mW/cm², which is provided from a laser or other light energy source.

Claims

1. A method for treating or inhibiting neuromuscular disease or condition, including muscular dystrophy, in a subject in need of such treatment or inhibition, said method comprising applying to an area of skin overlying a target muscle tissue of the subject a muscular dystrophy effective amount of electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range, wherein the muscular dystrophy effective amount of electromagnetic energy has a power density sufficient to achieve a biostimulatory effect on the target muscle tissue.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein applying the muscular dystrophy effective amount of electromagnetic energy comprises applying a predetermined power density of electromagnetic energy to the skin, wherein the predetermined power density is calculated taking into account attenuation of the energy applied to the skin by tissue lying between the skin and the target muscle tissue.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the muscle is a skeletal muscle of the subject.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined power density is a power density selected to achieve a subsurface power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm².

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined power density is a power density selected from the range of about 1 mW/cm² to about 100 mW/cm².

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the predetermined power density is selected from the range of about 20 mW/cm² to about 50 mW/cm².

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 630 nm to about 904 run.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 830 nm.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein applying the muscular dystrophy effective amount of electromagnetic energy further comprises providing a laser energy source for generating the electromagnetic energy.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein applying the muscular dystrophy effective amount of electromagnetic energy further comprises providing a non-coherent light source for generating the electromagnetic energy.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a continuous light source for generating the electromagnetic energy.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a pulsed light source for generating the electromagnetic energy.

13. A method for treating or inhibiting a muscular dystrophy (MD) condition in a subject in need of such treatment or inhibition, said method comprising:

inserting a cDNA, or a fragment thereof, corresponding to the MD gene into a vector to form genetically altered cells;

applying an amount of electromagnetic energy to the genetically altered cells sufficient to achieve a biostimulatory effect, said electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range; and

introducing the genetically altered cells into the subject.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein applying the biostimulatory effective amount of electromagnetic energy comprises delivering a predetermined power density of electromagnetic energy to the genetically altered cells.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the predetermined power density is a power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm².

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the predetermined power density is a power density selected from the range of about 1 mW/cm² to about 100 mW/cm².

17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 630 nm to about 904 nm.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the electromagnetic energy has a wavelength of about 830 nm.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the applying of electromagnetic energy is performed following introduction of the cells into the subject.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein the applying of electromagnetic energy is performed prior to introduction of the cells into the subject.