Tissue penetrating oral phototherapy applicator

• US 7,329,273 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Altshuler, Gregory B., Tuchin, Valery V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III; Henry M
• Application Number:
  US10/776,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 607 88- 94
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/081 Pain-alleviating features
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3481 Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/06 Implements for therapeutic treatment radiation therapy A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0087 Hand-held applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0089 Chemotherapy developing heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0292 using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/108 Cold packs, i.e. devices to be cooled or frozen in refrigerator or freezing compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/438 Thermochromatic; Photochromic; Phototropic
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/81 : Preparation or application process involves irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/02 : characterised by special physical form
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/005 : for cooling the radiator
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 : Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 : Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 : Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 : Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0617 : Hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 : for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 11/00 : Preparations for care of the teeth, of the oral cavity or of dentures; Dentifrices, e.g. toothpastes; Mouth rinses

Abstract

Oral phototherapy applicators are disclosed that are sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth and have at least one radiation emitter coupled to an apparatus body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation, the emitter being capable of delivering radiation to a region of facial tissue. The apparatus can be configured to direct radiation to at least one portion of the oral cavity, e.g., a tooth, cheek, tongue, palate, throat, lymphatic tissue, blood, gland, follicle, collagen and pigmentation. In one embodiment, radiation from the emitter can penetrate the muscosal lining of the oral cavity and deliver phototherapeutic energy to a region of facial tissue. The apparatus can further include bristles to provide a phototherapeutic toothbrush. Alternatively, the apparatus body can be adapted for placement in a fixed position relative to the oral cavity during phototherapy.

Claims

1. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

a body sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth; and

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body, the radiation emitter being configured to irradiate phototherapeutic radiation from within the oral cavity and in the direction of a region of tissue other than oral tissue; and

a plurality of bristles having at least one shape, relative to an elongated direction of the bristles, selected from the group consisting of conical, tapered, curved and spiral shapes;

wherein the radiation emitter is configured to emit phototherapeutic radiation having at least one wavelength at a power density sufficient to irradiate the region of tissue from within the oral cavity.

2. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

a body sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth; and

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body, the radiation emitter being configured to irradiate phototherapeutic radiation from within the oral cavity and in the direction of a region of tissue other than oral tissue; and

a plurality of bristles having at least one element selected from the group consisting of fluorescent, luminescent or lasing elements;

wherein the radiation emitter is configured to emit phototherapeutic radiation having at least one wavelength at a power density sufficient to irradiate the region of tissue from within the oral cavity.

3. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

a body sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth; and

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body, the radiation emitter being configured to irradiate phototherapeutic radiation from within the oral cavity and in the direction of a region of tissue other than oral tissue; and

a motion sensor and controller which controls the radiation emitter based on signals from the motion sensor;

wherein the radiation emitter is configured to emit phototherapeutic radiation having at least one wavelength at a power density sufficient to irradiate the region of tissue from within the oral cavity.

4. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

a body sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth; and

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body, the radiation emitter being configured to irradiate phototherapeutic radiation from within the oral cavity and in the direction of a region of tissue other than oral tissue;

at least one thermally conductive element for extracting heat from the radiation emitter,

wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a fluid heat transfer medium; and

wherein the radiation emitter is configured to emit phototherapeutic radiation having at least one wavelength at a power density sufficient to irradiate the region of tissue from within the oral cavity.

5. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

a body sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth; and

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body, the radiation emitter being configured to irradiate phototherapeutic radiation from within the oral cavity and in the direction of a region of tissue other than oral tissue;

at least one thermally conductive element for extracting heat from the radiation emitter, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a phase change material; and

wherein the radiation emitter is configured to emit phototherapeutic radiation having at least one wavelength at a power density sufficient to irradiate the region of tissue from within the oral cavity.