Method and apparatus for acne treatment using low intensity light therapy
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- exposing tissue containing acne bacteria to at least one source of narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength of from about 300 nm to about 1400 nm, wherein the dominant emissive wavelength approximately corresponds with an absorption maxima of the tissue;
operating the at least one source of narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation at a power output of about 20 mW or lower and at an energy fluence in the range of about 0.01 J/cm2 to about 4 J/cm2; and
observing a reduction in acne bacteria present on or in the tissue,wherein the narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation has a bandwidth less than or equal to about +/100 nm around the at least one dominant emissive wavelength.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a system and method for treatment of skin disorders. More particularly, the disclosed invention is directed toward the reduction of acne and acne related bacteria using low-intensity light therapy. In an illustrative embodiment, skin containing acne bacteria is treated with a series of pulses of light from a light emitting diode. The LED has a dominant emissive wavelength of about 660 nm and an energy output of about 4 m W. The acne bacteria-containing tissue is exposed to pulses from the light source about 100 times for about 250 milliseconds per pulse, with an interpulse interval of about 100 milliseconds.
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38 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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exposing tissue containing acne bacteria to at least one source of narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation having at least one dominant emissive wavelength of from about 300 nm to about 1400 nm, wherein the dominant emissive wavelength approximately corresponds with an absorption maxima of the tissue; operating the at least one source of narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation at a power output of about 20 mW or lower and at an energy fluence in the range of about 0.01 J/cm2 to about 4 J/cm2; and observing a reduction in acne bacteria present on or in the tissue, wherein the narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation has a bandwidth less than or equal to about +/100 nm around the at least one dominant emissive wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method, comprising:
exposing acne bacteria to at least one source of narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation having a power output of from about 0.5 mW to about 20 mW, wherein the narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation has at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 300 nm and about 1400 nm, which approximately corresponds with an absorption maxima of the tissue, and wherein the exposure is continuous for a duration of from about 0.5 minutes to about 60 minutes, wherein the narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation has a bandwidth less than or equal to about +/100 nm around the at least one dominant emissive wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method, comprising:
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exposing acne bacteria to at least one source of narrowband, multi chromatic electromagnetic radiation having a power output of from about 0.5 mW to about 20 mW, wherein the narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation has at least one dominant emissive wavelength between about 300 nm and about 1400 nm, which approximately corresponds with an absorption maxima of the tissue, and wherein the exposing step comprises pulsing the source of narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation at least 2 times, wherein the narrowband, multichromatic electromagnetic radiation has a bandwidth less than or equal to about +/100 nm around the at least one dominant emissive wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification