Multi-wavelength oral phototherapy applicator

• US 7,422,598 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• 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:
  US10/777,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,673 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 607 88- 94
• US Class Current: 607/93
• 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 in at least two separate spectral bands. In one embodiment, the spectral bands are distinct. In another, the bands overlap but provide different therapeutic effects. 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;

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation in at least two separate spectral bands; and

one or more bristles optically coupled to the at least one radiation emitter to receive and propagate the phototherapeutic radiation therefrom;

wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one thermally conductive element for extracting heat from the emitter; and

wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a fluid heat transfer medium.

2. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

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

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation in at least two separate spectral bands; and

one or more bristles optically coupled to the at least one radiation emitter to receive and propagate the phototherapeutic radiation therefrom;

wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one thermally conductive element for extracting heat from the emitter; and

wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a phase change material.

3. An oral phototherapy apparatus comprising:

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

at least one radiation emitter coupled to the body to irradiate a portion of the oral cavity with phototherapeutic radiation in at least two separate spectral bands; and

one or more bristles optically coupled to the at least one radiation emitter to receive and propagate the phototherapeutic radiation therefrom;

wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one thermally conductive element for extracting heat from the emitter; and

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