Patent ID: 7101384
Filing Date: 2006-09-05
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of illuminating an animal's body, the method comprising: positioning a light delivery module adjacent to a selected component of an animal's body, the module having at least two light delivery elements that can each be activated to intermittently illuminate the body component with light having at least one wavelength, where the light delivery module fits within said animal's mouth and illuminates a selected portion of an interior of a mouth of the animal, including at least one of a tooth, a gum region adjacent to the tooth, and a portion of a roof in the animal's mouth; deflating or compressing the light delivery module before insertion into the animal's mouth and inflating or de-compressing the light delivery module after insertion of the light delivery module into the animal's mouth; exposing the body component to light from at least a first light delivery element of the light delivery module, the first element having a first selected range of wavelengths for a first selected exposure time interval, and allowing light received in this first time interval to produce at least one free electron within or adjacent to the body component; exposing the body component to light from at least a second light delivery element of the light delivery module, the second element having a second selected range of wavelengths for a second selected exposure time interval, and allowing light received in this second time interval to produce at least one free electron within or adjacent to the body component, where the first and second exposure time intervals are spaced apart by a dark time interval having a selected length Δt(dark) that is at least about 0.1 sec; and allowing the at least one free electron produced during each of the first and second exposure time intervals to come to equilibrium with the body adjacent to or within the body component.