US 5,851,225 AGranted

Photoemitting catheters and other structures suitable for use in photo-dynamic therapy and other applications

AssigneeSpectra Science Corporation

InventorNabil M Lawandy

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A structure generates electromagnetic radiation having at least one wavelength selected for activating a photo-sensitive substance that is applied to a tissue to be treated. The structure is particularly useful for photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) applications. The structure includes a body of material, such as a polymer filament, band, or substrate, that contains a gain medium. The gain medium in turn contains a substance (such as dye molecules) for generating a stimulated emission that includes the at least one wavelength when excited by a pump wavelength, and a plurality of scattering sites (such as scattering particles) for scattering the stimulated emission to provide a narrow band emission at the at least one selected wavelength. The narrow band emission in turn activates the photo-sensitive therapeutic substance.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for performing photo-dynamic therapy (PDT), comprising the steps of:

treating a tissue of interest with at least one photo-sensitive therapeutic compound that responds to light having wavelengths within a predetermined band of wavelengths;
providing a structure that is positioned such that light generated in the structure will irradiate the tissue of interest, the structure comprising a gain medium that comprises a substance for generating a stimulated light emission that includes a selected wavelength, the structure further comprising a plurality of scattering sites for scattering the stimulated light emission to provide a narrow band emission at the selected wavelength;
generating excitation light at a location remote from the tissue of interest;
transmitting the excitation light to the structure;
in response to the transmitted excitation light, generating light in the structure, the light being generated to have the selected wavelength within the predetermined band of wavelengths;
and
irradiating the tissue of interest and the therapeutic compound with the light having the selected wavelength in the predetermined band of wavelengths.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/748,380Filed 13 Nov 1996 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Mar 1994
Granted: 22 Dec 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification32 codes

A61N 5/062
Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment: photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
A61N 5/0601
Using light: apparatus for use inside the body
D06F 93/00
Counting, sorting, or marking arrangements specially adapted for laundry purposes
G01N 21/01
Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light:…

Family

Serial210,710Parent of this division · filed 18 Mar 1994
Serial401,356Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 Mar 1995
US 5,448,582 AParent of this division · filed 5 Sep 1995
US 5,625,456 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Apr 1997
US 5,851,225 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.