Ultra violet therapies for spine-related pain
OwnerThomas DiMauro, Mohamed Attawia +1inventors
InventorsThomas DiMauro, Mohamed Attawia, Richard Toselli
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Abstract
A UV probe capable of providing a Th2 immune environment for the treatment of back pain.
Claims27
A method of treating degenerative disc disease in an intervertebral disc of a patient having a nucleus pulposus and an annulus fibrosus, comprising the steps of:
- a) intradiscally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising interleukin-10 (IL-10) into the intervertebral disc.
A method of treating sciatica, comprising the steps of:
- a) epidurally administering an effective amount of a formulation comprising interleukin-10 (IL-10) into the vicinity of a nerve root.
A method of administering interleukin-10 (IL-10) to a patient, comprising:
- c) obtaining from the patient cells viable capable of producing IL-10;
- d) exposing the viable cells to UV-B light for a period sufficient to produce induced cells, and
- e) administering the induced cells to a location in the patient, whereby the induced cells in vivo produce IL-10 at the location.
An intervertebral implant comprising:
- a) an ultraviolet light LED, and
- b) an antenna in electrical connection with the LED.
A method of treating DDD in an intervertebral disc, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a probe having a distal end portion having a UV light source,
- b) positioning the UV light source within the disc, and
- c) activating the light source to irradiate the disc in an amount of UV light sufficient to activate macrophages therein.
A method of treating DDD in an intervertebral disc having a tear in an annulus fibrosus, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a probe having a distal end portion having a UV light source,
- b) positioning the UV light source adjacent the tear, and
- c) activating the light source to irradiate the disc in an amount of UV light sufficient to activate macrophages present in the vicinity.
A method of treating sciatica, comprising:
- a) providing a probe having a distal end portion having a UV light source,
- b) positioning the UV light source in the vicinity of the exuded nucleus pulposus, and
- c) activating the light source to irradiate the exuded nucleus pulposus in an amount of UV light sufficient to activate macrophages present in the vicinity.
A method of treating a facet joint, comprising:
- a) providing a probe having a distal end portion having a UV light source,
- b) positioning the UV light source within a synovium of the facet joint, and
- c) activating the light source to irradiate the synovium in an amount of UV light sufficient to activate macrophages and lympocytes present in the synovium.
A probe for treating spine-related pain, comprising:
- a) a fiber optic cable, and
- b) an inducing coating upon the fiber optic cable,
- wherein the inducing coating is capable of inducing a macrophage to emit an anti-inflammatory cytokine.
A method of treating facet joint pain, wherein IL-10 and TGF-B are intrasynovially admininstered in amounts effective to produce a synergistic reduction in lymphocyte activity in the synovium.
A method of treating degenerative disc disease, wherein IL-10 and TGF-B are intradiscally admininstered in amounts effective to produce a synergistic reduction in lymphocyte activity in the disc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.