Microminiature illuminator for administering photodynamic therapy
First Claim
1. A microminiature light source for providing light to an internal treatment site to effect a photodynamic therapy at said site, comprising:
- (a) a light emitting device that produces light of a desired wavelength or waveband when energized by an electrical current, said light emitting device including a supporting substrate;
(b) a plurality of electromagnetic receivers electrically connected to the light emitting device, each one of the plurality of electromagnetic receivers comprising a core and a plurality of turns of an electrical conductor wrapped around the core, said plurality of electromagnetic receivers being thus adapted to electromagnetically couple with an external electromagnetic transmitter that produces an electromagnetic field to induce an electrical current to flow in the electromagnetic receivers, said electrical current being applied to the light emitting device to energize it; and
(c) a biocompatible, light transmitting material that encloses the light emitting device and the plurality of electromagnetic receivers to form a bead, said bead being thus adapted for insertion into the internal treatment site to effect the photodynamic therapy by providing light to the treatment site.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A plurality of microminiature light sources (10, 10'"'"') are injected at a treatment site to effect photodynamic therapy (PDT). Each of the microminiature light source beads includes an LED chip (12), a rectifier chip (14), and a plurality of electromagnetic receivers (18, 18'"'"') encapsulated within a biocompatible, light transmitting material such as silicone, forming a spherical bead that is only a few millimeters in diameter. The light source beads are sufficiently small so that they can be injected into a treatment site such as a tumor (46) from a syringe (58) through a needle (60). A photoreactive agent, which can serve as a carrier fluid for the microminiature light source beads, sensitizes the tissue at the treatment site so that light emitted by the LED chip when energized with an external electromagnetic transmitter (34) kills the tissue or other pathogens at the treatment site that have absorbed the photoreactive agent. Alternatively, a catheter (66) can be used for emplacing the microminiature light source beads at the treatment site.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A microminiature light source for providing light to an internal treatment site to effect a photodynamic therapy at said site, comprising:
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(a) a light emitting device that produces light of a desired wavelength or waveband when energized by an electrical current, said light emitting device including a supporting substrate; (b) a plurality of electromagnetic receivers electrically connected to the light emitting device, each one of the plurality of electromagnetic receivers comprising a core and a plurality of turns of an electrical conductor wrapped around the core, said plurality of electromagnetic receivers being thus adapted to electromagnetically couple with an external electromagnetic transmitter that produces an electromagnetic field to induce an electrical current to flow in the electromagnetic receivers, said electrical current being applied to the light emitting device to energize it; and (c) a biocompatible, light transmitting material that encloses the light emitting device and the plurality of electromagnetic receivers to form a bead, said bead being thus adapted for insertion into the internal treatment site to effect the photodynamic therapy by providing light to the treatment site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for providing light of a desired wavelength or waveband to a treatment site disposed internally within a patient'"'"'s body, to effect a photodynamic therapy of the treatment site, comprising:
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(a) a light source that emits light of the desired wavelength or waveband when energized with an electrical current; (b) an electromagnetic receiver that includes a core around which is wrapped a plurality of turns of an electrical conductor, said electrical conductor being connected to the light source; (c) a biocompatible, light transmitting sheath enveloping the light source and the electromagnetic receiver, forming a bead sized to pass through a tube, said tube being adapted to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s body, for delivery of the bead and the light source contained therein to the treatment site; (d) a power supply that produces an alternating current voltage; and (e) an electromagnetic transmitter that is connected to the power supply and when energized by the power supply, is electromagnetically coupled to the electromagnetic receiver, thereby inducing an alternating current to flow in the electrical conductor wrapped around the core, said alternating current being used to energize the light source to provide light that effects the photodynamic therapy at the treatment site. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for providing light of a desired wavelength or waveband to an internal treatment site to effect a photodynamic therapy, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a microminiature light source that emits light of the desired wavelength or waveband, said microminiature light source being encapsulated within a bead of a light transmissive, biocompatible material, said bead encompassing an electromagnetic receiver; (b) injecting the bead within the internal treatment site; and (c) energizing the light source by electromagnetically coupling power to the electromagnetic receiver from an external power source to induce an electrical current to flow in the electromagnetic receiver. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification