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Chemiluminescent light source using visible light for biotherapyRelated Patent Categories: Surgery: Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light ApplicationChemiluminescent light source using visible light for biotherapy description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070043406, Chemiluminescent light source using visible light for biotherapy. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application incorporates by reference, and claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/372,695, filed on Apr. 16, 2002. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to light source therapy of tissue and/or biological material on or within a patient's body and, more particularly, to light source therapy using chemiluminescent light sources. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many afflictions, diseases, and/or general disorders suffered by humans and animals can be successfully treated with light therapy. Some of these light-treatable afflictions relate to biological cells, organisms, tissues residing on and/or within a patient's body. For example, light is known to be effective in the treatment of the skin condition acne vulgaris. Acne vulgaris is due, at least in part, to inflammations caused by infections of propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). Other applications include the treatment of inflammation, and killing and/or debilitating other bacteria capable of causing infection, such as helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). [0004] H. pylori is a bacterial pathogen that infects the stomach and duodenum, today representing one of the most common gastrointestinal infections in the world. In industrialized nations, such as United States, H. pylori may be found in 20% or more of the adult population. It is a chronic gut infection and, once acquired, is notoriously difficult to eradicate. Although most infectious bacteria can be readily destroyed by the human immune system, H. pylori is relatively resistant to a host immune response, even if vigorous. At least one reason for H. pylori's resistance relates to its residing within the lining of the stomach and on the surfaces of the stomach and duodenal cells. [0005] Effective light therapy, generally, includes an initial pretreatment of the tissue of interest with a photosensitizer. In one example, PhotoDynamic Therapy (PDT) refers to the therapeutic treatment of a portion of a patient's body using light. As an initial step, PDT includes delivering a sensitizing drug to a treatment site of a patient's body. This step is then followed by illumination of the treated area to activate the sensitizing drug. [0006] PDT light sources are typically powered by high-powered sources, such as electrical power source. Light sources include, for example, fluorescent lights, incandescent lights, light emitting diodes, and lasers. Thus, during PDT, a light source, such as an electrical lamp, is shone upon a treatment site for a period of time sufficient to deliver a dosage amount (e.g., a total amount of energy). There are other means for creating light of specific wavelengths. In addition to standard light sources, many exothermic chemical reactions produce at lest some of their energy in the form of photons of specific wavelengths. For example, combustion is one form of chemical reaction that produces photons, the i.e., "flame." Furthermore, the wavelength of the photons produced are observed in the color of the flames. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention allows for effectively treating ailnents and afflictions of biological cells, organisms, tissues, etc., without having to apply a sensitizing drug, by taking advantage of naturally-occurring chemicals produced by the body and disposed within and around the treatment site. The invention is useful in the treatment of various parts of the body (e.g., the mouth, the stomach, bowel, lungs, peritoneal cavity, urinary tract, nasal cavity, ear canal, etc.), and is also particularly useful in the treatment of the skin. Namely, the invention is particularly effective in treating bacterial infections, such as chronic infections of the gut caused by H. pylori and infections of the skin, such as acne vulgaris, caused by P. acnes, by killing and/or debilitating the respective bacteria. The present therapeutic method involves the use of light for treating a part of a patient's body, for example, by eliminating pathogenic microorganisms within the body or supported upon the surface, e.g., the face. [0008] In one aspect, the invention relates to a device for killing and/or debilitating pathogenic microorganisms, such as P. acnes and/or H. pylori, in or on a body. The device includes a chemiluminescent light source that provides electromagnetic radiation having predetermined wavelengths in the visible spectrum. The chemiluminescent light source is selected to produce light at wavelengths suited for absorption by naturally-occurring photosensitive chemicals produced by a patient's body. In one embodiment, the predetermined wavelengths are selected to reside substantially within the spectral region including 400 to 600 nanometers. [0009] In one embodiment, the chemiluminescent light source includes an energizer producing a selected amount of energy for a selected duration. The light source further includes a wavelength-selectable material energetically coupled to the energizer. The chemiluminescent light source can be a liquid. The wavelength-selectable material produces electromagnetic radiation in response to the energy coupled from the energizer. The electromagnetic radiation is sustained at one or more selected wavelengths for the selected duration. [0010] In another embodiment, the chemiluminescent light source further includes a first reservoir for initially containing the wavelength-selectable material. The first reservoir can be electromagnetically coupled to a treatment site. The light source also includes a second reservoir containing the energizer. The first and second reservoirs are coupled together using a nozzle. Finally, the light source includes means for transporting at least a portion of the energizer from the second reservoir to the first reservoir through the nozzle. The nozzle can be an adjustable nozzle, as in an adjustable spray nozzle. [0011] In some embodiments, the wavelength-selectable material includes a dye, and the energizer includes an energy-releasing chemical reaction. For example, the energy-releasing chemical reaction can include a fuel-oxidant mixture, such as an oxalate and a peroxide that, when mixed together, release energy. [0012] The device can include a delivery element containing at least a portion of the chemiluminescent light source, the device elements being adapted for providing at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation to a treatment site. The delivery element can include a pad adapted for placement upon the skin of a patient, the pad selectively delivering electromagnetic radiation to the skin. The delivery element can include a mask for placement upon the face of a patient. [0013] In another embodiment, the device further includes a first reservoir containing a first portion of a liquid electromagnetically coupled to a treatment site, and a second reservoir containing a second portion of the liquid remotely located from the treatment site. The first and second reservoirs are coupled together via a tube. The device also includes means for transporting at least some of the first portion of the liquid from the first reservoir through the tube to the second reservoir. [0014] In another aspect, the invention relates to a process for killing and/or debilitating pathogenic microorganisms, such as P. acnes and/or H. pylori, in or on a body. The process includes providing a chemiluminescent light source that generates a chemiluminescent reaction to produce electromagnetic radiation at predetermined wavelengths in the visible spectrum. The process also includes illuminating the pathogenic microorganisms with electromagnetic radiation from the chemiluminescent light source for a selected treatment period. As a result, at least some of the microorganisms in or on the body are killed and/or debilitated. [0015] The process can include providing an energizer that produces a selected amount of energy. The energizer can be provided over a selected period of time. A wavelength-selectable material, such as a dye, is also provided and selectively coupled to the energizer to produce electromagnetic radiation in response to the coupled energy. As described above, the radiation can be provided at one or more selected wavelengths for the selected period of time. [0016] In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a device for killing and/or debilitating bacteria, such as P. acnes and/or H. pylori, in or on a patient's body. The device includes a chemiluminescent light source for providing electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths substantially within the visible spectral region comprising about 400 to about 690 nanometers. The wavelengths can be selected for selectively disabling the bacterium. [0017] In still another aspect, the invention relates to a process for killing and/or debilitating bacteria, such as P. acnes and/or H. pylori, in or on a patient's body. The process includes providing a chemiluminescent light source that generates a chemiluminescent reaction to produce electromagnetic radiation substantially within the spectral region comprising about 400 to about 690 nanometers. The process also includes illuminating the bacteria with electromagnetic radiation from the chemiluminescent light source for a selected treatment period to thereby kill and/or debilitate the bacteria in or on the body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which: [0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one exemplary embodiment of the invention including a chemiluminescent light source treating an organism; Continue reading about Chemiluminescent light source using visible light for biotherapy... 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