Microminiature illuminator for administering photodynamic therapy
US5571152A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/0651
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A plurality of microminiature light sources (10, 10') are injected at a treatment site to effect photodynamic therapy (PDT). Each of the microminiature light source beads includes an LED chip (12), a rectifier chip (14), and a plurality of electromagnetic receivers (18, 18') encapsulated within a biocompatible, light transmitting material such as silicone, forming a spherical bead that is only a few millimeters in diameter. The light source beads are sufficiently small so that they can be injected into a treatment site such as a tumor (46) from a syringe (58) through a needle (60). A photoreactive agent, which can serve as a carrier fluid for the microminiature light source beads, sensitizes the tissue at the treatment site so that light emitted by the LED chip when energized with an external electromagnetic transmitter (34) kills the tissue or other pathogens at the treatment site that have absorbed the photoreactive agent. Alternatively, a catheter (66) can be used for emplacing the microminiature light source beads at the treatment site.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.