The disclosure relates to administering light therapy to tissue.
Minimally-invasive light therapy comprises external beam illumination of the target tissue using, for example, a laser. The laser beam size determines the delivered light fluence or dose (J/cm2). The target tissue must be illuminated at a prescribed light fluence rate and dose for an effective treatment. Typically, the light illumination is achieved by aiming the laser beam towards the target surface (treatment area). This may be practical when the treatment area is few centimeters in diameter (e.g., 0.5-3 cm) and its surface is relatively flat (as in non-melanoma skin cancer, or early stage oral lesions). In treating curved and larger lesions, the therapeutic illumination is accomplished by manually moving a laser beam over the treated area. The treating physician uses a spot source to treat flat large surfaces, or a balloon (diffused light) to treat large body cavities, such as the thoracic cavity. This technique of manually scanning results in uncontrolled light dose deposition, which in turns may lead to over or under treatment. Others have attempted to address this issue by using woven layers of optical fibers for dose delivery, utilizing motion tracking devices to track the dose administered by a physician, or robotic scans to administer the light dose. These solutions are expensive, cumbersome, and/or do not adequately control the delivery of the light dose.
A system and method are disclosed that use a flexible guide (flap) and a scanning method to control the delivery of light dose to a treatment area. This approach overcomes the non-reliable delivery of light dose with a flap that conforms to the target area. Dosimetry control can be improved through the use of a computer controlled motor to move the laser fibers at known speed over the target tissue. In some embodiments, treatment time is reduced and illumination of large surfaces is achieved by using multiple fibers to deliver the light simultaneously. In such embodiments, software can be used to synchronize fiber movements through the flap. Control of the light delivery is improved by using detection fibers and/or imaging, to monitor the light fluence rate and fluence distribution during treatment.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure uses a template (flap) to guide treatment fibers with diffused working end (for emitting light) through channels that are at known distance from the target tissue. This approach allows:
In the present approach, a treatment fiber is either pulled or pushed through a channel within the flap, which parallel to the target lesion. The light dose is directly proportional to the rate of fiber movement, which can be controlled by a microprocessor. Well-defined light delivery can be accomplished by, for example, using multiple fibers in several channels or by moving one or more fibers from one channel to another.
Systems of the present disclosure advantageously allow: (1) Improved accuracy and repeatability of the light delivery to curved and large surfaces (such as, for example, the thoracic cavity); (2) improved control of light dose; (3) treatment of specific regions while sparing others; (4) automation; (5) reduced treatment time; and (6) cost effective and simple treatment.
With reference to
In the exemplary embodiment depicted in
The spheres 20 may be transparent or translucent. The spheres 20 may be made from, for example, silicone rubber, plastic, or other materials. In some embodiments, the spheres 20 may have some treatment—such as, for example, a surface treatment, embedded material, etc.—configured to diffuse light. In this way, light from a small light source within the channel, will be diffused to some extent. Such diffusion can be advantageous in delivering light therapy.
The system 10 further comprises a treatment fiber 30 having a working end 32 for emitting light. The working fiber 30 is, for example, a light-transmitting fiber with a ball end where light is emitted at the working end 32. The treatment fiber 30 is configured to be disposed in the channel 14. For example, the channel 14 may have a diameter of 0.5 mm, and the treatment fiber 30 may have a diameter of 0.98 mm over at least a length of the treatment fiber 30 which is configured to be disposed in the channel 14. In some embodiments, more than one treatment fiber 30 is used. For example, 2, 3, 4, or more treatment fibers 30 may be used simultaneously, each treatment fiber 30 being disposed in another of the channels 14 of guide 12.
A therapeutic light source 40 is in light-transmitting communication with the working end 32 of the treatment fiber 30. Where more than one fiber 30 is used, each fiber 30 may be connected to a separate source 40 or two or more of the fibers 30 may be connected with a single source 40. The source 40 may be, for example, a laser. In other embodiments, the source 40 is a broadband light source which may be unfiltered or filtered to transmit one or more wavelengths of light. It should be noted that a reference to one wavelength of light should be interpreted in view of known practical limits of light transmission, and should be interpreted to mean a narrow band of wavelengths surrounding the single wavelength.
Through the use of a guide 12 with channels 14, the working end 32 of the treatment fiber 30 may be moved back and forth within the channel 14 during therapy. In this way, the surface 90 beneath and around a channel 14 will be exposed to light emanating from the working end 32 within that channel 14, and light can be more uniform because movement of the fiber 30 is constrained to a single degree of freedom—i.e., back and forth within the channel 14. The doseage is provided according to the speed of movement of the working end 32 (i.e., the time of exposure of a particular portion of the surface) and the intensity of the light.
In some embodiments, the light source 40 is controlled by a microcontroller such that the intensity can be varied. The light may be varied in accordance with the location of the working end 32 within the channel 14. In some embodiments, the light is varied according to doseage measured by sensors on the surface. The microcontroller may be programmed to vary the light for any other reasons that will be apparent in light of the present disclosure.
In some embodiments, the system 10 further comprises an armature or other mover for moving the working end 32 within the channel 14. In this way, the fiber 30 may be moved by the mover and not be manual operation by a physician or other user. The mover may also be controlled by a microcontroller (which may be the same microcontroller as described above or a different microcontroller). The mover may alter the speed at which the fibers are moved and/or the total duration of treatment time to accomplish the desired therapeutic light dose. In this way, the system 10 may be automated such that once placed into position, control by a physician is not necessary for its continued operation.
In some embodiments, measurement of the dosage is achieved using a measurement fiber (dosimetry fiber) which can be disposed in the same channel 14 as the treatment fiber 30 or a different channel 14. More than one dosimetry fiber can be used and the dosimetry fibers can be moved or can be motionless within the channels. Information measured through the use of such fibers can be provided as feedback to the microcontroller such that the light intensity, motion of the treatment fibers 30, and/or treatment time can be altered accordingly.
In another aspect of the present disclosure (for example, shown in
A treatment fiber is inserted 106 into a channel of the guide until a working end of the treatment fiber reaches a first location of the channel. The method 100 comprises causing 109 light to be emitted from the working end of the fiber. For example, a light source connected to the fiber may be energized such that light is transmitted through the fiber (through the axial length of the fiber) and emitted from the working end. The fiber is moved 112 such that the working end of the fiber reaches a second location within the channel.
In some embodiments, more than one treatment fibers are inserted 106 into channels of the guide. For example, two treatment fibers may be inserted 106, each fiber being inserted into a separate channel of the guide. Each of the treatment fibers may be moved 112 together with the other treatment fibers (i.e., coordinated) or one or more of the fibers may be moved 112 independently of the other fiber(s).
The inserted 106 fiber may be moved back and forth within the channel from the first location to the second location (and or other locations) until a sufficient light dose has been received by the surface. As such, the method 100 may comprise measuring 115 a light dose of a location of the tissue surface. Such measurement may be made by, for example, sensors on the surface, a dosimetry fiber inserted 118 into a channel of the guide, or in other ways known for making such dosimetry measurements.
The fiber may be moved until a desired dosage (e.g., a predetermined dosage) is reached for the tissue at each of one or more locations of the surface. The fiber may then be removed and/or the light emission is ceased.
In a test configuration shown in
Tests comparing the presently-disclosed flap device with a balloon device were performed using air, water, or 0.01% intralipid media. The tests incorporated a 4×5 cm detection area, IP-85 probes between 2 gel layers, and 400 mW of light at a wavelength 652 nm.
Although the present disclosure has been described with respect to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that other embodiments of the present disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Hence, the present disclosure is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the reasonable interpretation thereof.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/196,198, filed on Jul. 23, 2015, now, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2016/043957 | 7/25/2016 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2017/015676 | 1/26/2017 | WO | A |
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