Device and method for providing phototherapy to the heart
First Claim
1. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising:
- providing a light source which emits light having an initial power density;
positioning the light source relative to the patient'"'"'s heart with intervening tissue of the patient between the light source and the patient'"'"'s heart; and
directing light onto cardiac tissue of the patient'"'"'s heart from the light source through the intervening tissue without damaging the intervening tissue, the cardiac tissue being irradiated by an efficacious power density of light for an efficacious period of time.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating a patient'"'"'s heart is provided. The method includes providing a light source which emits light having an initial power density. The method further includes positioning the light source relative to the patient'"'"'s heart with intervening tissue of the patient between the light source and the patient'"'"'s heart. The method further includes directing light onto cardiac tissue of the patient'"'"'s heart from the light source through the intervening tissue without damaging the intervening tissue. The cardiac tissue is irradiated by an efficacious power density of light for an efficacious period of time.
196 Citations
77 Claims
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1. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising:
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providing a light source which emits light having an initial power density;
positioning the light source relative to the patient'"'"'s heart with intervening tissue of the patient between the light source and the patient'"'"'s heart; and
directing light onto cardiac tissue of the patient'"'"'s heart from the light source through the intervening tissue without damaging the intervening tissue, the cardiac tissue being irradiated by an efficacious power density of light for an efficacious period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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- 24. A method for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising introducing light of an efficacious power density onto a target area of the heart by directing light having an initial power density through intervening tissue of the patient, wherein the light has a plurality of wavelengths, and the efficacious power density is at least 0.01 mW/cm2 at the target area.
- 27. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s heart following a myocardial infarction, the method comprising applying low-level light therapy to the heart no earlier than about two hours following the myocardial infarction.
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29. A method of providing a cardioprotective effect in a patient having a ischemic event in the heart, the method comprising:
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identifying a patient who has experienced an ischemic event in the heart;
estimating the time of the ischemic event; and
commencing administration of a cardioprotective effective amount of light energy to the heart no less than about two hours following the time of the ischemic event. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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- 32. A method for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising directing an efficacious power density of light through intervening tissue of the patient to a target area of the heart concurrently with applying an electromagnetic field to the heart, the electromagnetic field having an efficacious field strength.
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35. A method for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising directing an efficacious power density of light through intervening tissue of the patient to a target area of the heart concurrently with applying an efficacious amount of ultrasonic energy to the heart.
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36. A therapy apparatus for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the therapy apparatus comprising:
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a light source having an output emission area positioned to irradiate a portion of the heart with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light through intervening tissue; and
an element interposed between the light source and the intervening tissue, the element configured to inhibit temperature increases at the intervening tissue caused by the light. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A therapy apparatus for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the therapy apparatus comprising:
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a light source configured to irradiate at least a portion of the heart with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light;
a biomedical sensor configured to provide real-time feedback information; and
a controller coupled to the light source and the biomedical sensor, the controller configured to adjust said light source in response to the real-time feedback information. - View Dependent Claims (73)
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74. A therapy apparatus for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the therapy apparatus comprising an implantable light source configured to irradiate at least a portion of the heart with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light.
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75. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising:
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implanting a light source within the patient; and
irradiating at least a portion of the heart with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light from the implanted light source.
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76. A therapy apparatus for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the therapy apparatus comprising a light source configured to irradiate at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s blood with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light prior to the blood flowing to the heart.
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77. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising irradiating at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s blood with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light and allowing the irradiated blood to flow to the heart.
Specification