Photomatrix device

• US 6,443,978 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bioventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Inventors: Zharov, Vladimir Pavlovich
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARAH, AHMED M
• Application Number:
  US09/646,824
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 607/88-91, 607/93-95, 606/3, 606/9-11, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/91
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36 for stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/065 Light sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0619 Acupuncture

Abstract

A device for the physiotherapeutic irradiation of spatially extensive pathologies by light with the help of a matrix of the sources of optical radiation such as lasers or light diodes placed on the surface of a substrate whose shape is adequate to the shape of the zone of pathology is disclosed. In addition, the device contains stops and a holder to fix the substrate against the bioobject. Additional modules are provided to adjust the temperature, pressure, gas composition over the pathological area. As a source of radiation, chemical reactions accompanied by the luminescence of the products of reaction are suggested. The power supply unit can be autonomous with remote feeding through pulse magnetic field. A supplementary hood optically transparent is provided to localize the pathology as well as the strips that scatter the radiation to get a more uniform bioobject'"'"'s exposure. Application: light-therapy to treat various extensive pathologies on the bioobject'"'"'s surface including dermatology, cosmetology; the treatment of traumas, bruises, oedemas, varicose veins, blood therapy, treatment of infectious processes.

Claims

1. A photomatrix device for the combined therapeutic treatment of a pathological zone of a patient'"'"'s body, said pathological zone having an extended complex geometric shape, comprising:

a plurality of radiation sources emitting radiation of one or more wavelengths in the range from ultraviolet to radio and fixed on a substrate to envelope said pathological zone, wherein said substrate has a shape conforming to said extended complex geometric shape of said pathological zone,

a plurality of stops between said pathological zone and said substrate to establish the distance between said pathological zone and said substrate,

a plurality of physiotherapeutic modules,

a control unit and a power supply unit operatively connected to said radiation sources and said physiotherapeutic modules, and

a commutation unit operatively connected to said control unit to provide modes of operation in accordance with a given program of operation,

wherein the indicatrixes of radiation from said radiation sources and the positions on said substrate of said radiation sources provide a required distribution of radiation intensity on said pathological zone and further wherein said wavelengths of said radiation sources are selected to concur with the maximums of the bioaction spectrum or the bands of absorption of biomolecules of both exogenous and endogenous origin including drug compounds and photosensitizers; and

wherein said radiation sources are placed uniformly over said substrate and wherein the number N, power P and the distance d between said radiation sources are approximately determined by the following system of interconnected expressions;

$\begin{array}{cc}P\approx <br><br>\frac{I<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>R^2}{k};<br><br><br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}& \left(1\right)\\ d\le <br><br>\frac{2<br><br>R}{k};<br><br>& \left(2\right)\\ N\ge <br><br>\frac{I<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>S}{P<br><br>\text{\hspace{1em}<br><br>}<br><br>\mathrm{\tau <br><br>}},& \left(3\right)\end{array}$

where I is the light intensity on the surface of said pathological zone;

S is the overall area of the exposed pathological zone;

R is the mean radius of the light spot produced by a single radiation source as determined by the equation R=h·

tgα

, where h is the average distance between the surfaces of said substrate and said pathological zone;

α

is the half-angle of radiation divergence;

τ

is the radiation loss from said radiation sources to said pathological zone (0≦

τ

≦

1); and

k is the ratio taking into account the degree of light beams'"'"' overlapping on the surface of said pathological zone (1≦

k≦

N).

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises separate rigid segments, wherein said separate segments are fixed in space independently as anglepoise hands.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises separate semi-rigid segments, wherein said separate segments are fixed in space independently as anglepoise hands.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises separate rigid segments and further wherein said separate rigid segments are connected with each other by bonding means so that said substrate may be adapted to conform to said pathological zone by changing the size of said separate rigid segments or the angle or distance between said separate rigid segments.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources are placed on an external side of said substrate and further wherein said radiation is emitted through holes in said substrate.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said holes further comprise lenses.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said holes further comprise output windows.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources further comprise light guides fixed in said substrate and coupled to one or more radiation emitters.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources further comprise a plurality of optical beam splitters coupled to one or more radiation emitters.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising optical elements between said radiation sources and said pathological zone.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said optical elements comprise a protective transparent plate.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said optical elements comprise a low absorption diffuse screen.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein said optical elements comprise a positive lens associated with each of said radiation source.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein said optical elements comprise a negative lens associated with each of said radiation sources.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a mirror-like surface between said radiation sources.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise semiconductor hybrid lasers operating in a continuous mode.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise semiconductor hybrid lasers operating in a pulse mode at a repetition frequency of 1 to 10⁴ Hz and a pulse duration of 0.1 to 10⁻

9 s.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise wide-band hybrid light emitting diodes having a spectrum width up to 0.3 μ

m and narrow-band hybrid light emitting diodes emitting in the range of 200 to 2,000 nm with a width of the radiation line from 5 to 40 nm, a power of radiation from 0.1 mW to 1 W and a radiation indicatrix from 10°

to 180°

.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise chemical substances placed into confined optically transparent concavities on said substrate wherein radiation is emitted as a result of chemical reactions in said chemical substances.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise optical elements generating secondary emitted radiation from primary sources as a result of non-linear effects in said optical elements.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise optical elements generating secondary emitted radiation from primary sources as a result of fluorescence.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate extends beyond said pathological zone to adjacent areas of the patient'"'"'s body.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources are selected to emit radiation of a wavelength which activates a mixture of photosensitizers.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise high-power radiation sources emitting in the visible and infrared ranges for simultaneous phototherapy and thermal therapy.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiotherapeutic modules comprise at least one magnetotherapy module.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein said magnetotherapy module comprises a built-in optical source.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein said magnetotherapy module comprises a matrix grasping said pathological zone, said matrix comprising flat sources of a magnetic field having a magnetic field strength from 10⁻

4 to 10 Tesla.

28. The device of claim 25, wherein said magnetotherapy module comprises a plurality of solenoids having axes placed parallel to a surface of said pathological zone and a plurality of optical sources placed between said solenoids, said solenoids producing a magnetic field having a magnetic field strength of 10⁻

4 to 10 Tesla.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiotherapeutic modules comprise an electrostimulator having two or more electrodes contacting the pathological zone.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiotherapeutic modules comprise sources of acoustic vibrations.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein a physiological solution is interposed between said sources of acoustic vibration and said pathological zone and further wherein said solution comprises a drug and a photosensitizer for combined photosonodynamic therapy.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate further comprises side flanges with resilient air-tight edges bordering the pathological zone.

33. The device of claim 32 further comprising means for adjusting the temperature, pressure and composition in the environment over said pathological zone.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiotherapeutic modules comprise a plurality of cryotherapy modules.

35. The device of claim 34, further comprising at least one module for introducing drugs, chemicals or biological molecules to said pathological zone.

36. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transparent hood between said substrate and said pathological area, said transparent hood having edges adjoining said pathological zone and further comprising a matrix of radiation sources positioned on said transparent hood.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein said transparent hood is connected through a hose with a module adjusting the pressure in the space under said transparent hood.

38. The device of claim 32 wherein said transparent hood comprises a cylinder having a closed end.

39. The device of claim 32, wherein said transparent hood comprises a semi-sphere.

40. The device of claim 32, wherein said transparent hood comprises a truncated cone.

41. The device of claim 1, further comprising a flexible elastic strip between said substrate and said pathological zone, said flexible elastic strip tightly grasping said pathological zone and said flexible elastic strip further being at least partially transparent to said radiation.

42. The device of claim 41, wherein said flexible elastic strip further comprises a drug preparation, including photosensitizers.

43. The device of claim 1, further comprising a closed capsule having walls transparent to said radiation and enclosing said control unit, said power supply unit, said commutation unit, said therapeutic modules and said radiation sources.

44. The device of claim 43, further comprising a microstimulator with electrodes fixed on an external surface of said closed capsule, said closed capsule having means for affixing said closed capsule to the patient'"'"'s body and means for regulating the position of said closed capsule.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein said means for regulating the position of said closed capsule comprises a thread having means for supplying electrical power to said capsule and means for disconnection from said closed capsule.

46. The device of claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises one or more inductor coils electrically connected to said radiation sources and said therapeutic modules and an external pulse electromagnetic magnetic device for inducing an electrical current in said one or more inductor coils.

47. The device of claim 46, further comprising at least one electrostimulator and wherein said radiation sources comprise super-miniature radiation sources whereby said super-miniature radiation sources, said at least one electrostimulator and said inductor coils may be placed into an inner zone of the patient'"'"'s body.

48. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources comprise a chemical substance, uniformly spread over the pathological zone, said chemical substance being capable of fluorescence under the action of external physical factors.

49. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a hollow cylinder.

50. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a hollow semi-cylinder.

51. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a hollow semi-sphere.

52. The device of claim 51 wherein said substrate is transparent and said radiation sources are located on an exterior surface of said substrate.

53. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a flexible glove.

54. The device of claim 53 further comprising at least one electrostimulator having electrodes in contact with the skin of the patient'"'"'s fingers.

55. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cooling system for cooling said radiation sources.

56. The device of claim 1, further comprising a feedback channel comprising one or more biosensors adapted to be attached to the pathological zone and operatively connected to said control unit.

57. The device of claim 1 further comprising artificial teeth wherein said radiation sources are built into said artificial teeth.

58. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a mask that is adapted to grasp the face of the patient.

59. The device of claim 58 further comprising at least one magnet and at least one electrostimulator.

60. The device of claim 1, wherein said pathological zone is a zone of adipose tissue accumulation with said wavelength of said radiation being chosen to maximize activation of photochemical, photothermal, photoacoustic, or photo-dynamic processes to remove adipose tissue and to activate the production of biologically active substances responsible for weight regulation and further comprising at least one photosensitizer introduced to said pathological zone.

61. The device of claim 60, wherein said physiotherapy modules further comprise electrostimulation, ultrasonic and vacuum therapy modules.

62. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a bracelet grasping the wrist of the patient.

63. The device of claim 1, further comprising a timer operatively connected to said control unit for switching said radiation sources in accordance with the patient'"'"'s biological rhythms.

64. The device of claim 1, wherein said radiation sources are adapted to uniformly grasp the zones of the patient'"'"'s body responsible for immune system function and said wavelength of said radiation sources is selected from the red or infrared spectra at a flux of 2 to 200 mW/cm² and a time of exposure of 10 to 50 min. so as to alter the patient'"'"'s immune activity through converting antibodies from the non-active into the active form.

65. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a flexible fillet adapted to uniformly grasping the patient'"'"'s body in the area of the lungs and further wherein said wavelength of said radiation is in the range of the greatest transparency of biotissue.

66. The device of claim 65 further comprising means for administration of drugs or photosensitizers.

67. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises transparent walls of an incubator for new-born children and further wherein said radiation sources comprise blue light diodes.

68. The device of claim 1, further comprising mechanical needles from 5 to 10 μ

m in length uniformly strewn over the substrate, said needles being in contact with said pathological zone, said substrate further comprising means for pressing said needles into said pathological zone.

69. The device of claim 68, wherein said physiotherapy modules comprise at least one ultrasound module.

70. The device of claim 1, wherein said physiotherapy modules comprise at least one electrophoresis module.

71. The device of claim 1, wherein said required distribution of radiation intensity is further provided by means of a special distribution of the power applied to said radiation sources.

72. The device of claim 1, wherein said required distribution of radiation intensity is further provided by means of a special distribution of masks positioned between said radiation sources and said pathological zone.

73. The device of claim 1, wherein said required distribution of radiation intensity is further provided by means of a special distribution of filters positioned between said radiation sources and said pathological zone.

74. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate is affixed to objects adjoining the patient'"'"'s body, and further wherein said objects are selected from the group consisting of the patient'"'"'s clothing, a pillow, a blanket, a bedsheet, a veil, the back of a chair, the back of an armchair, a bed, a mattress, and a sofa.

75. The device of claim 74, wherein said substrate further comprises biologically active agents.

76. The device of claim 75, wherein a volume is defined between said substrate and said pathological zone and said volume is transparent to said radiation.

77. The device of claim 1, wherein said pathological zone is located in an internal cavity of the patient'"'"'s body and said substrate conforms to said internal cavity.

78. The device of claim 1 wherein said radiation sources comprise compact lamps with light filters.

79. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate further comprises a plurality of cooling systems.

80. The device of claim 79, wherein said cooling systems are in contact with the skin of the patient.