US5522868A
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US
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Method and apparatus for determination of psoralen concentrations in biological tissues
Assignee: SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE IN OREGON
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Filing: 1994-08-23
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Granted: 1996-06-04
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Expires: 2014-08-23
Abstract
Abstract Levels of psoralen concentration in a biological detection target are determined so that an appropriate UVA light dose of PUVA therapy can be delivered to a biological treatment target. The appropriate therapy is determined by the product of the UVA light dose and psoralen concentration level. After determination of a baseline optical autofluoresence signal from the detection target, a first dosage of psoralen (preferably 8-methoxypsoralen [8-MOP]) is administered. Thereafter, the detection target is irradiated under the same conditions as the pre-psoralen irradiation. Then, the optical return from the psoralen-treated detection target is analyzed. A computer (86) compares the pre-psoralen optical return and psoralen-treated optical return to calculate a real time determination of the concentration level of psoralen in the treatment target. Then, then knowing the precise psoralen concentration level, a UV dosage level required to achieve the desired PUVA therapy can be precisely determined and applied to the treatment target. In some embodiments, the detection target is the treatment target and in vivo real time psoralen concentration is determined. Various forms of applicators (52, 452, 552, 652, 752) are provided for differing types of targets. Each applicator is mounted on an optical fiber bundle (54). In some embodiments, the same optical fiber bundle (54) is employed to transmit the irradiation and optical return signals in the psoralen concentration determination, as well as to transmit the UVA for the PUVA therapy.
Inventors
- 👤 Lisa A. Buckley
- 👤 Scott A. Prahl
- 👤 Steven L. Jacques
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0613; A61N5/062; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0059; A61B5/0071; A61B5/0082; A61B5/0084; A61B5/44; A61B5/441; A61B5/443; A61N5/0601; A61N2005/0658; A61N2005/0661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of determining psoralen concentration prior to application of PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) optically exciting a biological detection target whereby the excited detection target fluoresces; (2) obtaining a fluorescence spectrum from the optically excited detection target; (3) using the fluorescence spectrum to determine psoralen concentration in the optically excited detection target.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
54 words
A method of determining psoralen concentration prior to application of PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) optically exciting a biological detection target whereby the excited detection target fluoresces; (2) obtaining a fluorescence spectrum from the optically excited detection target; (3) using the fluorescence spectrum to determine psoralen concentration in the optically excited detection target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of obtaining a fluorescence spectrum includes obtaining a pre-psoralen fluorescence spectrum before the optically excited target contains psoralen and a post-psoralen fluorescence spectrum after the optically excited target contains psoralen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: (4) determining, in accordance with the determination of step (3), a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to a biological treatment target.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the treatment target is tissue selected from a group consisting of serum, blood and its components, a blood vessel wall, skin, or other tissue surrounding a blood vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the detection target and the treatment target are the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the detection target is tissue selected from a group consisting of serum, blood and its components, a blood vessel wall, skin, or other tissue surrounding a blood vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising: (5) applying the dosage level of step (4) to the biological treatment target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of optically exciting the detection target comprises irradiating the detection target with a first end of an optical fiber, a second end of the optical fiber being coupled to a source of irradiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of optically exciting the detection target comprises using a source of irradiation to emits a range of excitation wavelengths.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the source of irradiation emits a wavelength in a range on the order of from about 350 nm to about 400 nm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10, wherein the source of irradiation emits a wavelength of about 365 nm.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of step 1, further comprising transmitting radiation reflected and/or fluoresced from the detection target via an optical fiber to a detector.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
23 words
The method of step 1, further comprising transmitting radiation reflected and/or fluoresced from the detection target via an optical fiber to a detector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising using the detector to monitor the change in fluorescence in a wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the detection target is in vivo tissue.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating a biological treatment target using PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) administering psoralen to a biological detection target; (2) determining in vivo and in real time a concentration level of the psoralen in the detection target; (3) determining, in accordance with the determination of step (2), a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to the treatment target; and (4) applying the dosage level of step (3) to the treatment target.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating a biological treatment target using PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) administering psoralen to a biological detection target; (2) determining in vivo and in real time a concentration level of the psoralen in the detection target; (3) determining, in accordance with the determination of step (2), a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to the treatment target; and (4) applying the dosage level of step (3) to the treatment target.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining the concentration level of the psoralen in the target comprises: optically exciting the detection target; contrasting the optical reflectance and/or fluorescence of (a) the detection target with psoralen administered with (b) the detection target without psoralen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the step of optically exciting the detection target comprises irradiating the detection target with a first end of an optical fiber, a second end of the optical fiber being coupled to a source of irradiation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the detection target and the treatment target are the same.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the detection target is tissue selected from a group consisting of serum, blood and its components, a blood vessel wall, skin, or other tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining the concentration level of the psoralen in the detection target comprises irradiating the detection target with a first end of an optical fiber, a second end of the optical fiber being coupled to a source of irradiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, wherein step (2) involves optically exciting the detection target using a source of irradiation which emits a range of excitation wavelengths.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the source of irradiation emits a wavelength in a range on the order of from about 350 nm to about 400 nm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the source of irradiation emits a wavelength of about 365 nm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting radiation reflected and/or fluoresced from the detection target via an optical fiber to a detector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 24, further comprising using the detector to monitor the change in fluorescence in a wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of administering psoralen comprises administering psoralen to in vivo tissue.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of treatment of an in vivo biological treatment target using PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) administering psoralen to the treatment target undergoing therapy; (2) optically exciting the treatment target by irradiating the target with radiation from a first end of an irradiating optical fiber, a second end of the irradiating optical fiber being coupled to a source of excitation irradiation; (3) using a receptor optical fiber to transmit optical reflectance and/or fluorescence of the in vivo treatment target to a detector coupled to second end of the receptor optical fiber; (4) using the optical reflectance and/or fluorescence of the in vivo target to determine in real time a concentration level of the psoralen in the treatment target; (5) determining, in accordance with the determination of step (4), a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to the treatment target; and (6) applying the dosage level of step (5) to the treatment target using the same optical fiber used to excite the treatment target.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of treatment of an in vivo biological treatment target using PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) administering psoralen to the treatment target undergoing therapy; (2) optically exciting the treatment target by irradiating the target with radiation from a first end of an irradiating optical fiber, a second end of the irradiating optical fiber being coupled to a source of excitation irradiation; (3) using a receptor optical fiber to transmit optical reflectance and/or fluorescence of the in vivo treatment target to a detector coupled to second end of the receptor optical fiber; (4) using the optical reflectance and/or fluorescence of the in vivo target to determine in real time a concentration level of the psoralen in the treatment target; (5) determining, in accordance with the determination of step (4), a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to the treatment target; and (6) applying the dosage level of step (5) to the treatment target using the same optical fiber used to excite the treatment target.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the source of irradiation emits a range of excitation wavelengths.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 28, wherein the source of irradiation emits a wavelength in a range on the order of from about 350 nm to about 400 nm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the source of irradiation emits a wavelength of about 365 nm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 27, wherein the detector monitors the change in fluorescence in a wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for determining psoralen concentration prior to application of PUVA therapy, the apparatus comprising: a source of excitation energy; means for applying the excitation energy to a biological detection target and thereby causing the detection target to fluoresce; means for detecting the fluorescence of the excited detection target and obtaining a fluorescence spectrum from the excited detection target; means for using the fluorescence spectrum to determine psoralen concentration in the optically excited detection target.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus for determining psoralen concentration prior to application of PUVA therapy, the apparatus comprising: a source of excitation energy; means for applying the excitation energy to a biological detection target and thereby causing the detection target to fluoresce; means for detecting the fluorescence of the excited detection target and obtaining a fluorescence spectrum from the excited detection target; means for using the fluorescence spectrum to determine psoralen concentration in the optically excited detection target.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein means for determining psoralen concentration obtains a pre-psoralen fluorescence spectrum before the optically excited target contains psoralen and a post-psoralen fluorescence spectrum after the optically excited target contains psoralen.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising: means for determining, in accordance with psoralen concentration, a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to a biological treatment target; and means for applying the dosage level of step to the biological treatment target.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising an optical fiber bundle comprising an optical fiber connected to transmit radiation from the source of excitation energy to the detection target.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the source of excitation energy emits a range of excitation wavelengths.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the source of excitation energy emits a wavelength in a range on the order of from about 350 nm to about 400 nm.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the source of excitation energy emits a wavelength of about 365 nm.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising an optical fiber bundle comprising an optical fiber connected to transmit radiation reflected and/or fluoresced from the detection target via an optical fiber to a detector.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the detector monitors the change in fluorescence in a wavelength range from about 400 nm to about 700 nm.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for applying the excitation energy to the detection target comprises means for applying the excitation energy to in vivo tissue.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a mobile cart, and wherein the source of excitation energy; the means for applying the excitation energy; the means for detecting the fluorescence of the excited detection target and obtaining a fluorescence spectrum; and the means for determining psoralen concentration in the optically excited detection target are all mounted on the mobile cart.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the biological detection target is positioned in an optically integrating sphere.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of treating a biological treatment target using PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) administering psoralen to a biological detection target; (2) determining in vivo and in real time a concentration level of the psoralen in the detection target; (3) using a processor to determine, in accordance with the determination of step (2), a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to the treatment target; and (4) automatically applying the dosage level of step (3) to the treatment target.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of treating a biological treatment target using PUVA therapy, the method comprising: (1) administering psoralen to a biological detection target; (2) determining in vivo and in real time a concentration level of the psoralen in the detection target; (3) using a processor to determine, in accordance with the determination of step (2), a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to the treatment target; and (4) automatically applying the dosage level of step (3) to the treatment target.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for determining psoralen concentration prior to application of PUVA therapy, the apparatus comprising: a source of excitation energy; means for applying the excitation energy to a biological detection target and thereby causing the detection target to fluoresce; means for detecting the fluorescence of the excited detection target and obtaining a fluorescence spectrum from the excited detection target; a processor which uses the fluorescence spectrum to determine psoralen concentration in the optically excited detection target and to determine, in accordance with psoralen concentration, a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to a biological treatment target; and means for automatically applying the dosage level of step to the biological treatment target.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for determining psoralen concentration prior to application of PUVA therapy, the apparatus comprising: a source of excitation energy; means for applying the excitation energy to a biological detection target and thereby causing the detection target to fluoresce; means for detecting the fluorescence of the excited detection target and obtaining a fluorescence spectrum from the excited detection target; a processor which uses the fluorescence spectrum to determine psoralen concentration in the optically excited detection target and to determine, in accordance with psoralen concentration, a dosage level of ultraviolet radiation for application to a biological treatment target; and means for automatically applying the dosage level of step to the biological treatment target.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-04 | 1999-12-04 | 2000-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-04 | 2003-12-04 | 2004-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-04 | 2007-12-04 | 2008-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |