Noninvasive vascular therapy

• US 20050004510A1
• Filed: 07/26/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Light Sciences Oncology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Light Sciences Oncology, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• 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 41/0071 PDT with porphyrins having exactly 20 ring atoms, i.e. based on the non-expanded tetrapyrrolic ring system, e.g. bacteriochlorin, chlorin-e6, or phthalocyanines
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0602 for treatment of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0604 Lungs and/or airways
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0609 Stomach and/or esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to apparatus for transcutaneous photodynamic therapy (“PDT”) of a target tissue or compositions in a mammalian subject, which includes a light source that is external to the subject and is selected from among one or a plurality of laser diodes; light emitting diodes; electroluminescent light source; incandescent light sources; cold cathode fluorescent light sources; organic polymer light sources; or inorganic light sources, where the light source is adapted to direct the light in a direction lengthwise and parallel to a vessel wall comprising the lesion.

Claims

1. An apparatus for photodynamic therapy of a lesion in the vascular system in a mammalian subject, comprising:

a light source that is external to the subject and is selected from among one or a plurality of laser diodes;

light emitting diodes;

electroluminescent light source;

incandescent light sources;

cold cathode fluorescent light sources;

organic polymer light sources;

or inorganic light sources, wherein

the light source is adapted to direct the light in a direction lengthwise and parallel to a vessel wall comprising the lesion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more of an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is adapted to direct the light lengthwise to the vessel wall having the lesion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light source is at least one laser diode coupled- to the optical fiber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode strip.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an optical fiber diffuser.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is adapted to be pulse modulated to maximize depth of tissue penetration and minimize heat generation and power consumption.

7. An apparatus for transcutaneous photodynamic therapy of a lesion in the vascular system in a mammalian subject, comprising:

a patch adapted to be placed over the skin or the tissue overlying the site to be treated; and

a light source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light source is one or a plurality of light emitting diodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light source is a plurality of optical fibers that form a mat of optical fibers.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the patch further comprises a pharmaceutical composition.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for delivery by a method selected from the group consisting of liposomal, transdermal and iontophoretic techniques.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a photosensitizing agent.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the photosensitizing agent is selected from the group consisting of chlorins, bacteriochlorins, phthalocyanines, porphyrins, purpurins, merocyanines and psoralens.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the photosensitizing agent is selected from the group consisting of indocyanine green, methylene blue, lutetium texaphyrin, toludine blue and aminolevulinic acid.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the photosensitizing agent is indocyanine green.