Phototherapeutical apparatus and method for the treatment and prevention of diseases of body cavities

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small body cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm2 in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein
• the tissue is a mucous membrane and the body cavity is at least one of
• a mouth cavity, a throat, an esophagus, a stomach, a small intestine, a large intestine, a gastrointestinal tract, a rectum, an ear, a trachea, a urogenital tract, a portio, a uterus, and a conjunctiva.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small body cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm2 in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein
• the tissue is a mucous membrane and the body cavity is at least one of a nasal cavity and a paranasal sinus.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small body cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein
• the preparation for the application of the photoherapeutical apparatus comprises
• determining at least one of a minimal erythema dose and a minimal phototoxicity dose.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small body cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm2 in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein the preparation for the application of the photoherapeutical apparatus comprises
• applying a photosensitizer substance to the tissue surface, wherein the photosensitizer substance is at least one of 5-methoxypsoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen, and trimethoxysporalen.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small body cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm2 in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein the preparation for the application of the photoherapeutical apparatus comprises
• applying a photosensitizer substance to the tissue surface, wherein
• the applying the photosensitizer substance comprises
• applying the photosensitizer substance to the tissue surface in the form of at least one of a spray and a cream.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance svstem;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small body cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm2 in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein the preparation for the application of the photoherapeutical apparatus comprises
• applying a photosensitizer substance to the tissue surface, wherein
• the applying the photosensitizer substance comprises
• applying the photosensitizer substance to the tissue surface in a concentration between approximately 0.0005% and 0.5%.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small body cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm2 in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein
• the preparation for the application of the photoherapeutical apparatus comprises
• applying a vasoconstrictor substance to the tissue surface.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a small cavity to deliver a dose in the range of 20–1000 mJ/cm2 in a time interval of 1–10 minutes, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease, wherein
• the applying the ultraviolet light to the tissue surface comprises
• applying the ultraviolet light to the tissue surface repeatedly.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• inserting the patient interface at least partially into a nasal cavity;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of the nasal cavity, wherein
• the tissue of the nasal cavity has allergic rhinitis.

A method of preventing diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity is symptom-free.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototheapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease;
• and
• the multiwavelength light source is one of a fluorescent lamp, a ultraviolet light emitting diode, a dye laser, an arc lamp, and an electric discharge lamp, the electric discharge lamp comprising at least one of xenon, argon, and mercury vapor, generating a quasi continuous light with a frequency less than about 10 Hertz.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease;
• and
• the tissue is a mucous membrane and the body cavity is at least one of a mouth cavity, a throat, an esophagus, a stomach, a small intestine, a large intestine, a gastrointestinal tract, a rectum, an ear, a trachea, a urogenital tract, a portio, a uterus, a conjunctiva, a nasal cavity and a paranasal sinus.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, nonallergic eosinophilic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, sinusitis, and nasal polyp.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus;
• determining at least one of a minimal erythema dosis and a minimal phototoxicity dosis;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light in a dose calculated in relation to at least one of the minimal erythema dosis and the minimal phototoxicity dose by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease.

A method of treating diseases, the method comprising:

• providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising:
• an ultraviolet light source;
• an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source;
• and
• a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;
• preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising at least one of:
• applying one of 5-methoxypsoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen, and trimethoxysporalen to the tissue surface;
• applying a photosensitizer substance to the tissue surface in the form of at least one of a spray and a cream;
• applying a photosensitizer substance to the tissue surface in a concentration between approximately 0.0005% and 0.5%;
• and
• applying a vasoconstrictor substance to the tissue surface;
• generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;
• coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;
• and
• applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein
• the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyper-proliferative disease.