Application of light at plural treatment sites within a tumor to increase the efficacy of light therapy
US6416531B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 24, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 24, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N2005/0652
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Light is administered during photodynamic therapy (PDT) for an extended period of time at a plurality of sites distributed within the abnormal tissue of a tumor. A clinical study has shown that a substantially greater volume of abnormal tissue in a tumor is destroyed by the extended administration of light therapy from a plurality of probes than would have been expected based upon the teaching of the prior art. In this process, a plurality of light emitting optical fibers or probes are deployed in a spaced-apart array. After a photoreactive agent is absorbed by the abnormal tissue, the light therapy is administered for at least three hours. The greater volume of necrosis in the tumor is achieved due to one or more concomitant effects, including: the inflammation of damaged abnormal tissue and resultant immunological response of the patient's body; the diffusion and circulation of activated photoreactive agent outside the expected fluence zone, which is believed to destroy the abnormal tissue; a retrograde thrombosis or vascular occlusion outside of the expected fluence zone; and, the collapse of the vascular system that provides oxygenated blood to portions of the tumor outside the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.