Method for improved selectivity in photo-activation of molecular agents

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the light sufficient to promote a simultaneous two-photon excitation of the at least one photo-active molecular agent is a laser light.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein the laser light is a pulsed laser light.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the light sufficient to promote a simultaneous two-photon excitation of the at least one photo-active molecular agent is a focused beam of light.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 wherein the focused beam of light is focussed laser light.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 wherein the focused laser light is pulsed laser light.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one photo-active molecular agent is selected from the group consisting of psoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP), 4'-aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (AMT), 5-chloromethyl-8-methoxypsoralen (HMT), angelicin (isopsoralen), 5-methylangelicin (5-MIP), 3-carboxypsoralen, porphyrin, haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), photofrin II, benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD), protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), dye haematoporphyrin ether (DHE), polyhaematoporphyrin esters (PHE), 13,17-N,N,N-dimethylethylethanolamine ester of protoporphyrin (PH1008), tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)-porphyrin(3-THPP), tetraphenylporphyrin monosulfonate (TPPS1), tetraphenylporphyrin disulfonate (TPPS2a), dihaematoporphyrin ether, mesotetraphenylporphyrin, mesotetra(4N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin (T4MpyP), octa-(4-tert-butylphenyl) tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine (OPTP), phthalocyanine, tetra-(4-tert-butyl)phthalocyanine (t 4 -PcH 2 ), tetra-(4-tert-butyl)phthalocyanatomagnesium(t 4 -PcMg), chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine (CASPc), chloroaluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfate (AIPcTS), mono-sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlSPc), di-sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlS2Pc), trisulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlS3Pc), tetra-sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlS4Pc), silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc IV), zinc II phthalocyanine (ZnPc), bis(di-isobutyl octadecylsiloxy)silicon 2,3-naphthalocyanine (isoBOSINC), germanium IV octabutoxyphthalocyamine (GePc), rhodamine 101 (Rh-101), rhodamine 110 (Rh-110), rhodamine 123 (Rh-123), rhodamine 19 (Rh-19), rhodamine 560 (Rh-560), rhodamine 575 (Rh-575), rhodamine 590 (Rh-590 ), rhodamine 610 (Rh-610), rhodamine 640 (Rh-640), rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G), rhodamine 700 (Rh-700), rhodamine 800 (Rh-800), rhodamine B (Rh-B), sulforhodamine 101, sulforhodamine 640, sulforhodamine B, coumarin 1, coumarin 2, coumarin 4, coumarin 6, coumarin 6H, coumarin 7, coumarin 30, coumarin 47, coumarin 102, coumarin 106, coumarin 120, coumarin 151, coumarin 152, coumarin 152A, coumarin 153, coumarin 311, coumarin 307, coumarin 314, coumarin 334, coumarin 337, coumarin 343, coumarin 440, coumarin 450, coumarin 456, coumarin 460, coumarin 461, coumarin 466, coumarin 478, coumarin 480, coumarin 481, coumarin 485, coumarin 490, coumarin 500, coumarin 503, coumarin 504, coumarin 510, coumarin 515, coumarin 519, coumarin 521, coumarin 522, coumarin 523, coumarin 535, coumarin 540, coumarin 540A, coumarin 548, 5-ethylamino-9-diethylaminobenzo a!phenoxazinium (EtNBA), 5-ethyl-amino-9-diethylaminobenzo a!phenothiazinium (EtNBS), 5-ethylamino-9-diethylaminobenzo a!phenoselenazinium (EtNBSe), chlorpromazine, chlorpromazine derivatives, chlorophyll derivatives, bacteriochlorophyll derivatives, metal-ligand complexes, tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium (II) dichloride (RuBPY), tris(2,2'-bipyridine)rhodium (II) dichloride (RhBPY), tris(2,2'-bipyridine)platinum (II) dichloride (PtBPY), pheophorbide a, merocyanine 540, vitamin, D, 5-amino-laevulinic acid, photosan, chlorin e6, chlorin e6 ethylenediamide, mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6, phenoxazine Nile blue derivatives, stilbene, stilbene derivatives, and 4-(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methyl)-aminophenyl)-4'-(6-hydroxyhexylsulfonyl)stilbene (APSS).

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one photo-active molecular agent includes at least one biogenic photo-active molecular agent that is specific to a particular tissue within the particular volume of plant or animal tissue.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 wherein the at least one biogenic photo-active molecular agent includes a segment selected from the group consisting of DNA, RNA, amino acids, proteins, antibodies, ligands, haptens, carbohydrate receptors or complexing agents, lipid receptors or complexing agents, protein receptors or complexing agents, chelators, and encapsulating vehicles.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 wherein the light sufficient to promote a simultaneous two-photon excitation of the at least one photo-active molecular agent is a laser light.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 wherein the laser light is a pulsed laser light.

Claim 15

The method of claim 10 wherein the light sufficient to promote a simultaneous two-photon excitation of the at least one photo-active molecular agent is a focused beam of light.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 wherein the focused beam of light is a focused laser light.

Claim 17

The method of claim 14 wherein the focused laser light is a pulsed laser light.

Claim 18

The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one photo-active molecular agent is selected from the group consisting of psoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP), 4'-aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (AMT), 5-chloromethyl-8-methoxypsoralen (HMT), angelicin (isopsoralen), 5-methylangelicin (5-MIP), 3-carboxypsoralen, porphyrin, haematoporphyrin derivative (HPD), photofrin II, benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD), protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), dye haematoporphyrin ether (DHE), polyhaematoporphyrin esters (PHE), 13,17-N,N,N-dimethylethylethanolamine ester of protoporphyrin (PH1008), tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)-porphyrin (3-THPP), tetraphenylporphyrin monosulfonate (TPPS1), tetraphenylporphyrin disulfonate (TPPS2a), dihaematoporphyrin ether, mesotetraphenylporphyrin, mesotetra(4N-methylpyridyl)porphyrin (T4MpyP), octa-(4-tert-butylphenyl)tetrapyrazinoporphyrazine (OPTP), phthalocyanine, tetra-(4-tert-butyl)phthalocyanine (t 4 -PcH 2 ), tetra-(4-tert-butyl)phthalocyanatomagnesium(t 4 -PcMg), chloroaluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine (CASPc), chloroaluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfate (AlPcTS), mono-sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlSPc), di-sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlS2Pc), tri-sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlS3Pc), tetra-sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlS4Pc), silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc IV), zinc II phthalocyanine (ZnPc), bis(di-isobutyl octadecylsiloxy)silicon 2,3-naphthalocyanine (isoBOSINC), germanium IV octabutoxyphthalocyanine (GePc), rhodamine 101 (Rh-101), rhodamine 110 (Rh-110), rhodamine 123 (Rh-123), rhodamine 19 (Rh-19), rhodamine 560 (Rh-560), rhodamine 575 (Rh-575), rhodamine 590 (Rh-590), rhodamine 610 (Rh-610), rhodamine 640 (Rh-640), rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G), rhodamine 700 (Rh-700), rhodamine 800 (Rh-800), rhodamine B (Rh-B), sulforhodamine 101, sulforhodamine 640, sulforhodamine B, coumarin 1, coumarin 2, coumarin 4, coumarin 6, coumarin 6H, coumarin 7, coumarin 30, coumarin 47, coumarin 102, coumarin 106, coumarin 120, coumarin 151, coumarin 152, coumarin 152A, coumarin 153, coumarin 311, coumarin 307, coumarin 314, coumarin 334, coumarin 337, coumarin 343, coumarin 440, coumarin 450, coumarin 456, coumarin 460, coumarin 461, coumarin 466, coumarin 478, coumarin 480, coumarin 481, coumarin 485, coumarin 490, coumarin 500, coumarin 503, coumarin 504, coumarin 510, coumarin 515, coumarin 519, coumarin 521, coumarin 522, coumarin 523, coumarin 535, coumarin 540, coumarin 540A, coumarin 548, 5-ethylamino-9-diethylaminobenzo a!phenoxazinium (EtNBA), 5-ethyl-amino-9-diethylaminobenzo a!phenothiazinium (EtNBS), 5-ethylamino-9-diethylaminobenzo a!phenoselenazinium (EtNBSe), chlorpromazine, chlorpromazine derivatives, chlorophyll derivatives, bacterio-chlorophyll derivatives, metal-ligand complexes, tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium (II) dichloride (RuBPY), tris(2,2'-bipyridine)rhodium (II) dichloride (RhBPY), tris(2,2'-bipyridine)platinum (II) dichloride (PtBPY), pheophorbide a, merocyanine 540 vitamin, D, 5-amino-laevulinic acid, photosan, chlorin e6, chlorin e6 ethylenediamide, mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e6, phenoxazine Nile blue derivatives, stilbene, stilbene derivatives, and 4-(N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methyl)-aminophenyl)-4'-(6-hydroxyhexylsulfonyl)stilbene (APSS).

Claim 19

The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one photo-active molecular agent includes at least one biogenic photo-active molecular agent that is specific to a particular tissue within the particular volume of plant or animal tissue.

Claim 20

The method of claim 17 wherein the at least one biogenic photo-active molecular agent includes a segment selected from the group consisting of DNA, RNA, amino acids, proteins, antibodies, ligands, haptens, carbohydrate receptors or complexing agents, lipid receptors or complexing agents, protein receptors or complexing agents, chelators, and encapsulating vehicles.

Claim 21

The method of claim 1 wherein said step of treating the particular volume of the plant or animal tissue includes focusing a beam of light over a range of focal lengths so that a focal plane of the light beam occurs at a position located between a surface of the tissue and a point substantially beyond the tissue surface, whereby said step of treating the particular volume of the plant or animal tissue may extend to penetrate deep within the tissue.

Claim 22

The method of claim 19 further including varying, while the beam of light is extant, the focal length position within the tissue, thereby to photoactivate the at least one photo-active molecular agent along positions between the tissue surface and a position located substantially beyond the tissue surface.

Claim 23

The method of claim 20 wherein said second treating step includes operating a laser to produce a pulsed output having a pulse repetition frequency above about 75 megahertz and a sub-nanosecond pulse duration.

Claim 24

The method of claim 21 wherein the laser produces pulse energies of about 20 nanojoules.

Claim 25

The method of claim 21 including operating the laser to produce near-infrared light.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 wherein said step of directing light includes generating near infra-red light using a pulsed laser operating at short pulse widths and a high pulse repetition rate, and focusing said laser into said tissue.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein said step of controlling the location comprises varying the position of the confocal region relative to the tissue under examination or varying the position of the tissue under examination relative to a fixed confocal region.

Claim 32

The method of claim 27 wherein the transient virtual level is below a level that may be reached with higher frequency radiation that would damage tissue between the light source and the particular volume.

Claim 35

The method of claim 27 wherein said at least one excited molecular agent becomes photoactivated in said particular volume at a controllable position substantially beyond a tissue surface.

Claim 36

The method of claim 30 further including varying, while said light is extant, a focal length position of said light within said tissue, thereby to photoactivate said at least one molecular agent at controlled positions between said tissue surface and a position located substantially beyond said tissue surface.

Claim 37

The method of claim 29 wherein said treating step includes directing a laser light to said particular volume.

Claim 38

The method of claim 32 wherein said treating step includes directing a pulsed laser light to said particular volume.

Claim 39

The method of claim 33 wherein said laser is pulsed to produce sub-nanosecond duration pulses.

Claim 40

The method of claim 33 wherein said laser produces a pulse frequency in the range of from about 1 kilohertz to about 10 gigahertz.

Claim 41

The method of claim 35 wherein said laser produces a pulse frequency above about 75 megahertz.

Claim 42

The method of claim 33 wherein said laser pulses have energies in the range of from about 10 picojoules to about 50 millijoules.

Claim 43

The method of claim 37 wherein said laser pulses have energies of about 20 nanojoules.

Claim 44

The method of claim 29 including operating a laser light source to produce near-infrared light.

Claim 47

The method of claim 40 wherein said at least one excited molecular agent becomes photoactivated in said particular volume at a controllable position substantially beyond a tissue surface.

Claim 48

The method of claim 40 further including varying, while said light is extant, a focal length position of said light within said tissue, thereby to photoactivate said at least one molecular agent along controlled positions between said tissue surface and a position located substantially beyond said tissue surface.

Claim 49

The method of claim 40 wherein said treating step includes directing a laser light to said particular volume.

Claim 50

The method of claim 43 wherein said treating step includes directing a pulsed laser light to said particular volume.

Claim 51

The method of claim 44 wherein said laser is pulsed to produce sub-nanosecond duration pulses.

Claim 52

The method of claim 44 wherein said laser produces a pulse frequency in the range of from about 1 kilohertz to about 10 gigahertz.

Claim 53

The method of claim 46 wherein said laser produces a pulse frequency above about 75 megahertz.

Claim 54

The method of claim 44 wherein said laser pulses have energies in the range of from about 10 picojoules to about 50 millijoules.

Claim 55

The method of claim 48 wherein said laser pulses have energies of about 20 nanojoules.

Claim 56

The method of claim 40 including operating a light source to produce near-infrared light.

Claim 57

The method of claim 44 including operating a light source to produce near-infrared light.

Claim 60

The method of claim 52 wherein said directing step includes directing a laser light to said particular volume.

Claim 61

The method of claim 53 wherein said directing step includes directing a pulsed laser light to said particular volume.

Claim 62

The method of claim 54 wherein said laser is operated to produce sub-nanosecond duration pulses.

Claim 63

The method of claim 54 wherein said laser produces a pulse frequency in the range of from about 1 kilohertz to about 10 gigahertz.

Claim 64

The method of claim 56 wherein said laser produces a pulse frequency above about 75 megahertz.

Claim 65

The method of claim 54 wherein said laser pulses have energies in the range of from about 10 picojoules to about 50 millijoules.

Claim 66

The method of claim 58 wherein said laser pulses have energies of about 20 nanojoules.

Claim 67

The method of claim 52 wherein said method causes simultaneous TPE at said confocal region.

Claim 68

The method of claim 52 wherein said photoactivating step includes using energy of a first photon to excite at least one of said at least one molecular agent to a transient virtual level between a ground state and an excited electronic state and using energy of a second photon to excite said molecular agent to an excited electronic state before said agent makes a transition to a substantially different excitation state.

Claim 71

The method of claim 62 including the treatment of a particular volume of plant or animal tissue located substantially below a tissue surface.

Claim 72

The method of claim 63 wherein said transient virtual level occurs substantially only at said particular volume, despite the passage of light through other tissue portions between said surface and said particular volume.

Claim 73

The method of claim 64 further including varying the position where TPE occurs over a range of depths below the tissue surface.

Claim 74

The method of claim 62 wherein said illuminating step includes directing laser beam to said particular volume.

Claim 75

The method of claim 66 wherein said illuminating step includes directing a pulsed laser beam having sub-nanosecond pulses to said particular volume.

Claim 76

The method of claim 67 wherein an individual photon provided by said pulsed laser beam has insufficient energy to directly excite the molecular agent from a ground state to an excited electronic state.