Method and PDT probe for minimizing CT and MRI image artifacts

A method for providing a medical therapy to a treatment site inside a patient's body, while avoiding artifacts in images made of the treatment site by apparatus used to administer the medical therapy, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an implantable probe that comprises non-metallic components, including a plurality of non-metallic conductors for conveying an electrical current, and a non-metallic electrical component coupled to the non-metallic conductors and energized by the electrical current to provide the medical therapy;
• (b) placing the implantable probe at the treatment site;
• (c) energizing the non-metallic electrical component to administer the medical therapy to the internal treatment site;
• and
• (d) imaging the treatment site while the implantable probe is disposed adjacent thereto, use of said non-metallic components in the implantable probe substantially eliminating artifacts in images produced thereby.

An implantable probe for use in administering light therapy to an internal treatment site within a patient's body, said apparatus minimizing imaging artifacts in images produced to evaluate a condition of the treatment site in response to the light therapy, comprising:

• (a) a non-metallic insulating base;
• (b) a pair of non-metallic conductive traces supported by the base, adapted to couple to a power supply and convey an electrical current provided by said power supply;
• and
• (c) a non-metallic light source supported by the base and coupled to the conductive traces, said non-metallic light source being energized by the electrical current conveyed by the non-metallic conductive traces to produce light employed for the light therapy, said implantable probe being thus configured to remain disposed at the treatment site while the treatment site is imaged without causing an imaging artifact that would obscure the treatment site in images produced thereby.

A method for providing light therapy to a treatment site inside a patient's body, without causing artifacts in images made of the treatment site while apparatus used to administer the light therapy remains at the treatment site, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an implantable probe that comprises non-metallic components, including a plurality of non-metallic conductors for conveying an electrical current, and a non-metallic light source that is energized by the electrical current conveyed by the non-metallic conductors;
• (b) positioning the implantable probe at the treatment site;
• (c) applying a photoreactive agent to the treatment site, said photoreactive agent being preferentially absorbed by tissue at the treatment site and having an absorption waveband substantially within a waveband of light produced by the light source;
• (d) energizing the light source with the electrical current to illuminate the treatment site for a period of time;
• and
• (e) imaging the treatment site while the implantable probe remains disposed adjacent thereto, use of said non-metallic components in the implantable probe minimizing creation of artifacts in images produced thereby.