Method and apparatus to prevent infections

Claim 2

Medical apparatus for placement in the human body comprising a member having an exterior surface adapted for physiological contact; at least one photosensitizer at or in said exterior surface; at least one light conductor extending along said member, each light conductor having an input at a proximal location along said member and an output at a distal location along said member, and a light transmitter for transmitting light energy to said input of the light conductor so that said light energy is conveyed along said member and is emitted at said output so as to illuminate said surface and said photosensitizer(s) residing on or in said exterior surface, the light energy being in a wavelength range to both activate the photosensitizer(s) so as to release toxic oxygen from said surface and also kill microorganisms on or opposite said surface.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said wavelength range is 200 nm to 1400 nm.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl-methylene blue, toluidine blue O, crystal violet, gentian violet, phenothiazinium, phthalocyanines and perylenequinonoids.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the photosensitizer is coated on said surface.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the photosensitizer is imbedded in said member.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the photosensitizer is incorporated in a removable sheath covering said member at said surface.

Claim 8

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a nasal applicator and the member comprises a cannula insertable into a nasal passage.

Claim 9

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the member comprises a probe.

Claim 10

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the member is tubular and at least one light conductor is a spiral light pipe extending along said member and having a plurality of light taps along its length which direct light to said surface.

Claim 11

Medical apparatus for placement in the human body comprising a wall with interior and exterior surfaces; light energy conductors extending along at least an implantable segment of said wall, said conductors having inputs at a proximal location along said wall and outputs at a distal location along said wall; at least one photosensitizer on or in said wall segment, said at least one photosensitizer, when illuminated by complementary light energy, releasing activated oxygen radicals which destroy microorganisms, and a light source for delivering complementary light energy to said inputs so that said complementary light energy is conveyed along said wall segment and is emitted at said outputs thereby illuminating the at least one photosensitizer residing on or in said wall segment and at least one of said surfaces, the complementary light energy being in a wavelength range to both activate the photosensitizer so as to release said oxygen radicals and also kill microorganisms on and opposite said at least one of said surfaces.

Claim 12

Medical apparatus for placement in the human body comprising a wall with interior and exterior surfaces; light energy conductors extending along at least an implantable segment of said wall, said conductors having inputs at a proximal location along said wall and outputs at a distal location along said wall; at least one photosensitizer on or in said wall segment, said at least one photosensitizer, when illuminated by complementary light energy, releasing activated oxygen radicals which destroy microorganisms, and a light source for delivering complementary light energy to said inputs so that said complementary light energy is conveyed along said wall segment and is emitted at said outputs thereby illuminating the at least one photosensitizer residing on or in said wall segment and at least one of said surfaces, the complementary light energy being in a wavelength range to both activate the photosensitizer so as to release said oxygen radicals and also kill microorganisms on and opposite said at least one of said surfaces.

Claim 13

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said wavelength range is 200 nm to 1400 nm.

Claim 14

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one photosensitizer is coated on at least one surface of the wall.

Claim 15

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one photosensitizer is coated on both surfaces of the wall.

Claim 16

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one photosensitizer is located in said wall.

Claim 17

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said at least one photosensitizer is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl-methylene blue, toluidine blue O, crystal violet, gentian violet, phenothiazinium, phthalocyanines and perylenequinonoids.

Claim 18

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said wall defines a catheter.

Claim 19

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said wall defines a cannula insertable into a nasal passage.

Claim 20

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said conductors comprise a plurality of optical fibers extending along said wall, said fibers having output ends directed to at least one of said surfaces.

Claim 21

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said fibers extend along the wall between said surfaces thereof.

Claim 22

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said fibers extend along the wall at a surface thereof.

Claim 23

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said fibers extend along the wall at both surfaces thereof.

Claim 24

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said fibers have output ends which are cut on a bias and face said at least one of said surfaces.

Claim 25

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said fibers have output ends which are square cut.

Claim 26

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the plurality of optical fibers have various lengths.

Claim 27

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein said optical fibers have one or more light taps along their lengths which face said at least one of said surfaces.

Claim 28

The apparatus defined in claim 18 wherein the output ends of said fibers are distributed over substantially the entire surface area of the wall.

Claim 29

The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said light source is selected from the group consisting of laser, incandescent, fluorescent or halogen bulb and light emitting diode.

Claim 30

The apparatus defined in claim 27 wherein the light source is mounted to said wall and connected directly to the inputs of said conductors.

Claim 31

The apparatus defined in claim 27 wherein the light includes an illuminator and light pipes extending from said illuminator to the input of said conductors.

Claim 32

The apparatus defined in claim 27 wherein said light source is a pulsed source which delivers said light energy as pulses.

Claim 33

The apparatus defined in claim 27 wherein said light source is a constant light source which transmits constant light energy.

Claim 34

The apparatus defined in claim 10 and further including light scatterers incorporated into said wall for scattering light emitted at the outputs of said conductors.

Claim 35

The apparatus defined in claim 32 wherein said light scatterers comprise a multiplicity of tiny fibers selected from the group consisting of plastic, quartz and glass fibers.

Claim 38

The method defined in claim 34 including the step of selecting the photosensitizers from the group consisting of dimethyl-methylene blue, toluidine blue O, crystal violet, gentian violet, phenothiazinium, phthalocyanines and perylenequinonoids.

Claim 39

The method defined in claim 35 including the step of selecting said range between 200 nm and 1400 nm.