Systems and methods for interior energy-activation from an exterior source

• US 9,005,406 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immunolight, LLC
• Original Assignee: Immunolight, LLC
• Inventors: Bourke, Frederic A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCLENDON, SANZA L
• Application Number:
  US14/157,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20140134307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 204/157.15, 204/157.6, 204/157.63, 204/157.74, 522/71, 522/81, 522/4, 156/60, 156/272.2, 156/273.3, 156/273.5, 156/275.5, 426/237, 426/238, 426/240, 426/248, 210/748.01, 523/105, 523/111
• US Class Current: 204/157.63
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/50 by irradiation or electric treatment without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/26 by irradiation without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/263 with corpuscular or ionising radiation, i.e. X, alpha, beta or omega radiation laser plasma radiation A23L3/26
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/32 using phonon wave energy, e.g. sound or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0057 Photodynamic therapy with a photosensitizer, i.e. agent able to produce reactive oxygen species upon exposure to light or radiation, e.g. UV or visible light; photocleavage of nucleic acids with an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0066 Psoralene-activated UV-A photochemotherapy (PUVA-therapy), e.g. for treatment of psoriasis or eczema, extracorporeal photopheresis with psoralens or fucocoumarins
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0047 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0076 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/088 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/21 Pharmaceuticals, e.g. medicaments, artificial body parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/22 Blood or products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3683 using photoactive agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 : Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1089 : Electrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1098 : Enhancing the effect of the particle by an injected agent or implanted device
• 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: A61N 5/10 : X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 : Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 : for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 : Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/08 : Plasma substitutes; Perfusion solutions; Dialytics or haemodialytics; Drugs for electrolytic or acid-base disorders, e.g. hypovolemic shock artificial tears A61P27/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/082 : Gamma-radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/085 : Electron beams only
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/12 : employing electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 : Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/125 : X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/127 : Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/128 : Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 : Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0879 : Solid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 : involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1203 : Incoherent waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2231/005 : General concepts, e.g. reviews, relating to methods of using catalyst systems, the concept being defined by a common method or theory, e.g. microwave heating or multiple stereoselectivity
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/50 : Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/52 : Gold
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/005 : Catalytic metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/008 : Methods or theories
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/0275 : also containing elements or functional groups covered by B01J31/0201 - B01J31/0269
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/2295 : Cyclic compounds, e.g. cyclopentadienyls
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/19 : Catalysts containing parts with different compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/23 : in a colloidal state
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 : Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0072 : Preparation of particles, e.g. dispersion of droplets in an oil bath
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0221 : of particles
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 : Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 : Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/30 : by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/302 : with microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/305 : with electrons
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/307 : with X-rays or gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 : with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 : by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/10 : Photocatalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/00 : Characterised by the use of unspecified polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/24 : Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules mechanical aspects B29C35/00; crosslinking agents C08K
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/28 : Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/18 : using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 201/00 : Coating compositions based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 201/00 : Adhesives based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/416 : use of irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 : Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: C12H 1/06 : Precipitation by physical means, e.g. by irradiation, vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/008 : Surface plasmon devices diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/00 : Irradiation devices discharge tubes for irradiating H01J37/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/774 : Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/777 : Metallic powder or flake
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/896 : Chemical synthesis, e.g. chemical bonding or breaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/915 : Therapeutic or pharmaceutical composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.

Claims

1. A method for producing a photoreactive change in a medium to be treated, comprising:

(1) placing an energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated;

(2) delivering a beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to at least one preselected coordinate in the medium in order to emit from said energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated at least one of ultraviolet and visible light; and

(3) inducing, from said at least one of ultraviolet and visible light emitted into the medium to be treated, said photoreactive change to the medium,

wherein said inducing said photoreactive change to the medium comprises;

delivering said beam to a joint region connecting one region of a utensil to another region of the utensil; and

sterilizing the joint region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering comprises providing a control dose of said beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering comprises delivering, for said beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons, a calibrated beam of radiation to said at least one pre-selected coordinate in the medium.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering comprises delivering, for said beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons, an intensity-modulated source of said x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering comprises delivering x-rays having an energy range from 10 to 150 keV.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises at least one of a telluride, a selenide, and an oxide semiconductor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises at least one of Y₂O₃;

ZnSe;

MgS;

CaS;

Mn, Er ZnSe;

Mn, Er MgS;

Mn, Er CaS;

Mn, Er ZnS;

Mn, Yb ZnSe;

Mn, Yb MgS;

Mn, Yb CaS;

Mn, Yb ZnS;

Tb³⁺, Er³⁺;

ZnS;

Tb³⁺;

Y₂O;

Tb³⁺;

Y₂O₃;

Tb³⁺, Er³⁺;

ZnS;

Mn²⁺;

ZnS;

Mn, Er³⁺.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises an energy modulation agent doped with at least one of Er, Yb, Tb, and Mn.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy modulation agent emits light in the UV-B band.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy modulation agent emits light in the UV-C band.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint region sterilized is a component of an adhesively constructed device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the joint region sterilized is a component of one or more of a surgical bandage, a surgical blade, a medical implant or a contraceptive device.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the medical implant comprises a medical shunt valve.

11. A method for producing a photoreactive change in a medium to be treated, comprising:

(1) placing an energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated;

(2) delivering a beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to at least one preselected coordinate in the medium in order to emit from said energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated at least one of ultraviolet and visible light; and

(3) inducing, from said at least one of ultraviolet and visible light emitted into the medium to be treated, said photoreactive change to the medium,

wherein said inducing said photoreactive change to the medium comprises;

delivering said beam to an adhesive as the medium to be treated; and

sterilizing the adhesive.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said sterilizing the adhesive comprises sterilizing joints adhering two parts together.

13. A method for producing a photoreactive change in a medium to be treated, comprising:

(1) placing an energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated;

(2) delivering a beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to at least one preselected coordinate in the medium in order to emit from said energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated at least one of ultraviolet and visible light; and

(3) inducing, from said at least one of ultraviolet and visible light emitted into the medium to be treated, said photoreactive change to the medium,

wherein said inducing said photoreactive change to the medium comprises;

delivering said beam to an uncured adhesive as the medium to be treated; and

curing and sterilizing the adhesive.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said curing and sterilizing the adhesive comprises curing and sterilizing joints adhering two parts together.

15. A method for producing a photoreactive change in a medium to be treated, comprising:

(1) placing an energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated;

(2) delivering a beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to at least one preselected coordinate in the medium in order to emit from said energy modulation agent into the medium to be treated at least one of ultraviolet and visible light; and

(3) inducing, from said at least one of ultraviolet and visible light emitted into the medium to be treated, said photoreactive change to the medium,

wherein said inducing said photoreactive change to the medium comprises;

delivering said beam to an uncured adhesive deep inside a body of an assembly; and

curing said adhesive to form an adhesive-solidified assembly,

wherein the curing said adhesive comprises sterilizing the adhesive.

18. A method for sterilizing an object, comprising:

(1) providing an energy modulation agent inside or on a surface of the object;

(2) delivering a beam of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to at least one preselected coordinate inside the object in order to emit from said energy modulation agent at least one of ultraviolet and visible light; and

(3) inducing, from said at least one of ultraviolet and visible light generated by the energy modulation agent, a sterilization of said object.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said object is a joint region and said joint region sterilized is a component of an adhesively constructed device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said object is a joint region and said joint region sterilized is a component of one or more of a surgical bandage, a surgical blade, a medical implant, a medical shunt valve, or contraceptive device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the medical implant comprises a medical shunt valve.