Optical therapies and devices

• US 8,109,981 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valent Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Valam Corp
• Inventors: Gertner, Michael, Rogers, Erica
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAH, AHMED M
• Application Number:
  US11/152,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20060167531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,429 Days
• Field of Search: 606/3, 606 13- 17, 607 88- 92, 607/135, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0607 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0608 Rectum
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0609 Stomach and/or esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0611 Vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body

Abstract

An optical therapy device for providing therapeutic light to a person'"'"'s nasal cavity includes a body and at least one UV light source in or on the body. A distal end of the body is configured to be inserted into the person'"'"'s nasal cavity. The body can be configured to be hand-held. The optical therapy device is configured such that the UV light source emits a dose of UV light toward tissue in the patient'"'"'s nasal cavity.

Claims

1. An optical therapy device for providing therapeutic light to a nasal cavity of a person, the optical therapy device comprising:

a body, wherein at least a distal end of the body is configured to be inserted into the nasal cavity and wherein the body is further configured to be hand-held; and

multiple light sources positioned in or on said body, wherein the multiple light sources comprise;

a first light source capable of emitting optical energy comprising between about 15 percent and about 35 percent of the optical energy provided by the optical therapy device as light in the UVA region of the UV spectrum;

a second light source capable of emitting between about 1 percent and about 11 percent of the optical energy provided by the optical therapy device as light in the UVB region of the UV spectrum; and

a third light source capable of emitting between about 60 percent and about 90 percent of the optical energy provided by the optical therapy device as light in the visible region of the optical spectrum;

wherein said device is configured for the at least multiple light sources to be able to emit a dose of UV light toward tissue in the nasal cavity when the distal end of the body is positioned in the nasal cavity.

2. The optical therapy device of claim 1, wherein the multiple light sources comprise a solid-state light source.

3. The optical therapy device of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a microcontroller electrically coupled to the multiple light sources.

4. The optical therapy device of claim 1, wherein the multiple light sources each comprise a light emitting diode.

5. The optical therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a light conditioner.

6. The optical therapy device of claim 5, wherein the light conditioner comprises a light scattering medium.

7. The optical therapy device of claim 5, wherein said light conditioner comprises a light focusing element.

8. The optical therapy device of claim 5, wherein said light conditioner comprises a lens.

9. The optical therapy device of claim 5, wherein said light conditioner comprises a light reflecting element.

10. The optical therapy device of claim 5, wherein said light conditioner comprises a mirror.

11. The optical therapy device of claim 5, wherein said light conditioner comprises a filter.

12. The optical therapy device of claim 11, wherein said filter comprises an optical filter.

13. The optical therapy device of claim 5, wherein said light conditioner comprises a sheath.

14. The optical therapy device of claim 1, wherein the multiple light sources are located at the distal end of the body.

15. The optical therapy device of claim 14, wherein the body is elongate and has a length extending from a proximal end of the body to the distal end, and the length is less than or equal to about 30 cm.

16. The optical therapy device of claim 14, further comprising a cooling module to dissipate heat generated by said multiple light sources.

17. The optical therapy device of claim 16, wherein said cooling module comprises a heat pipe.

18. The optical therapy device of claim 16, wherein said cooling module comprises an active cooling device.

19. The optical therapy device of claim 1, wherein said body further comprises a body proximal portion and a body distal portion, the body distal portion comprising the distal end of the body, and wherein the multiple light sources are located at the body proximal portion.

20. The optical therapy device of claim 1, wherein said body further comprises a body proximal portion and a body distal portion, the body distal portion comprising the distal end of the body, and wherein said optical therapy device further comprises a window, wherein the window is located at or near the body distal portion.

21. The optical therapy device of claim 20, wherein the window is at least partially transmissive of UV light generated by the UV light source.

22. The optical therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a sheath, wherein the sheath is configured to at least partially cover the body.

23. The optical therapy device of claim 22, wherein said sheath comprises at least one material that is at least partially transmissive of UV light.

24. The optical therapy device of claim 23, wherein said at least one material conditions said light.

25. The optical therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a controller, wherein said controller controls a parameter of the dose.

26. The optical therapy device of claim 25, wherein said controller is in or on said body.

27. The optical therapy device of claim 25, wherein the controller is programmed and comprises a timer so that only a pre-specified amount of light can be provided by the optical therapy device at any given time.

28. The optical therapy device of claim 27, wherein the parameter comprises a sequence for activating said multiple light sources.

29. The optical therapy device of claim 27, wherein said controller can record a total number of doses, and wherein said controller can prevent the emission of the dose after the total number of doses reaches a predetermined level.

30. The optical therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply for powering said multiple light sources, wherein said power supply is positioned in or on the body.