Methods and apparatus to deliver therapeutic non-ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation for an endotracheal tube

A therapeutic, retrofittable delivery assembly to deliver therapeutic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) into an existing endotracheal tube while intubated within a patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube having length, a longitudinal axis, a lumen defined by a tube wall, a ventilator collar with an engagement cylinder for connection to a ventilator, an upper tube portion having a proximate end coupled to the ventilator collar, and a lower tube portion having a forward end inserted into the patient's trachea for the delivery of ventilation gas, the therapeutic retrofittable delivery assembly comprising:

• an EMR delivery system comprising:
• an EMR source disposed external to the endotracheal tube for emitting non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having an intensity comprising fluency of at least 0.2 kJ/cm2 up to 1.0 kJ/cm2, power of at least 0.005 mW to 1.0 W, and power density of 1.0 mW/cm2 up to 1.0 W/cm2, whereby such intensity is sufficient to activate desired therapeutic properties within the patient, the EMR source being configured to deliver sterilizing EMR and healing EMR in a treatment pattern selected from the group of treatment patterns consisting of emitting the sterilizing EMR and the healing EMR alternatively, alternatingly, and simultaneously;
• a removably insertable EMR conduction line conducive to the axial propagation of EMR from the EMR source along the length of the EMR conduction line into the lumen of the endotracheal tube, the EMR conduction line having a coupling end, an emission portion, and a distal end, the emission portion being disposed within the endotracheal tube upstream of the distal end such that EMR is emittable from the distal end and radially from the emission portion, the EMR conduction line being fully insertable into the lumen of the endotracheal tube such that the EMR conduction line inserted is encapsulated by the endotracheal tube and the distal end of the EMR conduction line is disposed proximate the forward end of the endotracheal tube;
• and
• a coupling to connect the EMR source to the coupling end of the EMR conduction line;
• and
• an endotracheal adapter removably connectable to and disposed intermediate of the ventilator collar and the ventilator, the endotracheal adapter comprising a ventilator fitting end, an adapter body having a body axis alignable with the longitudinal axis of the endotracheal tube, a ventilation channel, an engagement end, and an EMR port protruding from the adapter body at an acute angle from the body axis and providing a conduit through which the EMR conduction line may be inserted into and removed from the endotracheal tube, and a secondary port, the ventilator fitting end having a configuration corresponding to the engagement cylinder of the ventilator collar and a central axis alignable with the longitudinal axis of the endotracheal tube so to be connectable to the ventilator, and the engagement end being configured to engage connectably the engagement cylinder of the ventilator collar and having a central axis alignable with the longitudinal axis of the endotracheal tube so to be connectable to the ventilator collar, wherein, without compromising ventilation operations by obstructing or interfering with the delivery of the ventilation gas, the EMR conduction line is removably insertable through the EMR port into the ventilation channel and into the lumen of the endotracheal tube such that the EMR conduction line is movable freely and axially relative to the endotracheal tube.

An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) delivery system for removable insertion into an existing endotracheal tube while intubated within a patient's trachea to facilitate ventilating and maintaining patency of the patient's airway, the intubated endotracheal tube having length, a longitudinal axis, a lumen defined by a tube wall and a ventilator collar with an engagement cylinder for coupling the endotracheal tube to a ventilator for the delivery of ventilation gas, the EMR delivery system to deliver therapeutic EMR to the patient, the EMR delivery system comprising:

• an EMR source disposed external to the endotracheal tube for emitting non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having an intensity comprising fluency of at least 0.2 kJ/cm′ up to 1.0 kJ/cm2, power of at least 0.005 mW to 1.0 W, and power density of 1.0 mW/cm2 up to 1.0 W/cm2, whereby such intensity is sufficient to activate desired therapeutic properties within the patient, the EMR source being configured to deliver sterilizing EMR and healing EMR in a treatment pattern selected from the group of treatment patterns consisting of emitting the sterilizing EMR and the healing EMR alternatively, alternatingly, and simultaneously;
• an EMR conduction line being removably insertable into the endotracheal tube while intubated and being conducive to the axial propagation of EMR from the EMR source along the length of the endotracheal tube, the EMR conduction line having a coupling end, an emission portion, and a distal end, the emission portion being disposed within the lumen of the endotracheal tube upstream of the distal end such that non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR is emittable from the distal end and radially from the emission portion, the EMR conduction line being fully insertable into the lumen of the endotracheal tube such that the EMR conduction line inserted is encapsulated by the endotracheal tube and the distal end of the EMR conduction line is disposed proximate the forward end of the endotracheal tube;
• an endotracheal adapter removably connectable to and disposed intermediate of the ventilator collar and the ventilator, the endotracheal adapter comprising a ventilator fitting end, an adapter body having a body axis alignable with the longitudinal axis of the endotracheal tube, a ventilation channel, an engagement end, and an EMR port protruding from the adapter body at an acute angle from the body axis and providing a conduit through which the EMR conduction line may be inserted into and removed from the endotracheal tube, the ventilator fitting end having a configuration corresponding to the engagement cylinder of the ventilator collar and a central axis alignable with the longitudinal axis of the endotracheal tube so to be connectable to the ventilator, and the engagement end being configured to engage connectably the engagement cylinder of the ventilator collar and having a central axis alignable with the longitudinal axis of the endotracheal tube so to be connectable to the ventilator collar, wherein, without compromising ventilation operations by obstructing or interfering with the delivery of the ventilation gas, the EMR conduction line is removably insertable through the EMR port into the ventilation channel and into the lumen of the endotracheal tube such that the EMR conduction line is movable freely and axially relative to the endotracheal tube;
• and
• a coupling to connect the EMR source to a coupling end of the EMR conduction line.