Method and apparatus to prevent infections

• US 20010047195A1
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Champion ENT Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kent Crossley
• Inventors: Crossley, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 6,551,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0607 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/061 Bladder and/or urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

A photosensitizer together with complementary light energy are used to prevent the development of infection associated with an indwelling medical catheter or device. Light of a selected wavelength or wavelength band is coupled to the catheter or device and transmitted by a wall or walls thereof to one or both of the external and internal surfaces thereof. The catheter or device also incorporates at least one photosensitizer which releases a toxic substance when activated by the light energy which destroys bacteria on or around the catheter or device. A method of preventing infection using photosensitizers and complementary light energy is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Medical apparatus comprising

a wall with interior and exterior surfaces;

light energy conducting means extending along at least an implantable segment of said wall, said conducting means having an input at a proximal location along said wall and an output at a distal location along said wall;

at least one photosensitizer on or in said wall segment, said at least one photosensitizer, when illuminated by complementary light energy, releasing activated oxygen which destroys microorganisms, and

a light source for delivering complementary light energy to said input so that said light energy is conveyed along said wall segment and is emitted at said output thereby illuminating at least one of said surfaces, the light energy being in a wavelength range to release said oxygen and kill microorganisms on and opposite at least one of said surfaces.

2. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said conducting means comprise a plurality of optical fibers extending along said wall, said fibers having output ends directed to at least one of said surfaces.

3. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein said fibers extend along the wall between said surfaces thereof.

4. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein said fibers extend along the wall at a surface thereof.

5. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein said fibers extend along the wall at both surfaces thereof.

6. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein said fibers have output ends which are cut on a bias and face said at least one of said surfaces.

7. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein said fibers have output ends which are square cut.

8. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein the plurality of optical fibers have various lengths.

9. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein said optical fibers have one or more light taps along their lengths which face said at least one of said surfaces.

10. The apparatus defined in

claim 2

wherein the output ends of said fibers are distributed over substantially the entire surface area of the wall.

11. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said light source is selected from the group consisting of laser, incandescent, fluorescent or halogen bulb and light emitting diode.

12. The apparatus defined in

claim 11

wherein the light source is mounted to said wall and connected directly to the input of said conducting means.

13. The apparatus defined in

claim 11

wherein the light includes an illuminator and light pipes extending from said illuminator to the input of said conducting means.

14. The apparatus defined in

claim 11

wherein said light source delivers said light energy as pulses.

15. The apparatus defined in

claim 11

wherein said light source transmits constant light energy.

18. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said wavelength range is 200 nm to 1400 nm.

19. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said at least one photosensitizer is coated on at least one surface of the wall.

20. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said at least one photosensitizer is coated on both surfaces of the wall.

21. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said at least on photosensitizer is located in said wall.

22. The catheter defined in

claim 1

wherein said at least one photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl-methylene blue, toluidine blue O, crystal violet, gentian violet, phenothiazinium, phthalocyanines and perylenequinonoids.

23. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said wall defines a catheter.

24. The apparatus defined in

claim 1

wherein said wall defines a cannula insertable into a nasal passage.

16. The apparatus defined in claim I and further including light scattering means incorporated into said wall for scattering light emitted at the output of said conducting means.

17. The apparatus defined in

claim 16

wherein said light scattering means comprise a multiplicity of tiny fibers selected from the group consisting of plastic, quartz and glass fibers.

25. Medical apparatus comprising

a member having an exterior surface adapted for physiological contact;

at least one photosenisitizer at or in said exterior surface;

at least one light conductor extending along said member, each light conductor having an input at a proximal location along said member and an output at a distal location along said member, and

transmitting means for transmitting light energy to said input of the light conductor so that said light energy is conveyed along said member and is emitted at said output so as to illuminate said surface and said photosensitizer(s), the light energy being in a wavelength range to release the photosensitizer(s) from said surface and kill microorganisms on or opposite said surface.

26. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein said wavelength range is 200 nm to 1400 nm.

27. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein said at least one photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl-methylene blue, toluidine blue O, crystal violet, gentian violet, phenothiazinium, phthalocyanines and perylenequinonoids.

28. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein the photosensitizer is coated on said surface.

29. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein the photosensitizer is imbedded in said member.

30. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein the photosensitizer is incorporated in a removable sheath covering said member at said surface.

31. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein the apparatus is a nasal applicator and the member comprises a cannula insertable into a nasal passage.

32. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein the member comprises a probe.

33. The apparatus defined in

claim 25

wherein the member is tubular and at least one light conductor is a spiral light pipe extending along said member and having a plurality of light taps along its length which direct light to said surface.

34. A method of preventing infections comprising the steps of

forming a member with light energy conducting means extending along at least an indwelling segment of the member, the conducting means having an input at a proximal location along the member and an output at a distal location along the member;

incorporating at least one photosensitizer on or in said segment, and

transmitting light energy to the conducting means input so that the light energy is conveyed along the segment and is emitted at the output so as to illuminate a surface of the member, the light energy being in a wavelength range to release the photosensitizer and kill microorganisms on and opposite the surface.

35. The method defined in

claim 34

including the step of selecting the photosensitizers from the group consisting of dimethyl-methylene blue, toluidine blue O, crystal violet, gentian violet, phenothiazinium, phthalocyanines and perylenequinonoids.

36. The method defined in

claim 35

including the step of selecting said range between 200 nm and 1400 nm.