Conforming oral phototherapy applicator

• US 7,329,274 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:
  US10/777,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 607 88- 89
• 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 sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth and adapted to conform to the shape of at least a portion of the oral cavity and have at least one radiation emitter coupled to an applicator body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation. The apparatus is configured to direct radiation to at least one portion of the oral cavity, e.g. a tooth, cheek, tongue, palate, throat and facial tissue, lymphatic tissue, blood, gland, follicle, collagen and pigmentation. In one embodiment, the apparatus body is compliant to facilitate conformation to a portion of the oral cavity.

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 adapted to conform to the shape of at least a portion of the oral cavity; and

at least one radiation emitter optically coupled to the body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation;

a handle coupled to the body; and

at least one thermally conductive element configured to extract heat from the emitter, wherein the thermally conductive element is thermally coupled at one location to the radiation emitter and at another location to a portion of the handle so as to transfer heat generated by the emitter to the handle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the emitter further comprises at least one source of radiation having wavelength components in at least two separate spectral bands.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the emitter further comprises at least two sources of radiation emitting different spectral bands of radiation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an optical element for directing radiation in different directions.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor and controller which controls the radiation emitter based on signals from the sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a heat transfer element for heating a portion of the oral cavity with waste heat from the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises a light diffuser optically coupled to the at least one radiation emitter to deliver diffuse radiation to the oral cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an ultrasound generator for delivering acoustic energy to a target tissue site.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus further comprises an energy reflector for redirecting phototherapeutic radiation towards a target tissue site.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a pathway for delivering to or removing substances from the oral cavity.

11. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

a body sized and shaped so as to fit at least partially in a user'"'"'s mouth and adapted to conform to the shape of at least a portion of the oral cavity; and

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation;

at least one thermally conductive element configured to extract heat from the emitter; and

an airway lumen passing through the body to facilitate breathing by the user during a procedure.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the emitter further comprises at least one source of radiation having wavelength components in at least two separate spectral bands.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the emitter further comprises at least two sources of radiation emitting different spectral bands of radiation.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further comprises an optical element for directing radiation in different directions.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor and controller which controls the radiation emitter based on signals from the sensor.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further comprises a heat transfer element for heating a portion of the oral cavity with waste heat from the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further comprises a light diffuser optically coupled to the at least one radiation emitter to deliver diffuse radiation to the oral cavity.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further comprises an ultrasound generator for delivering acoustic energy to a target tissue site.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the apparatus further comprises an energy reflector for redirecting phototherapeutic radiation towards a target tissue site.