Abstract:
In one embodiment there is provided a spinal needle having a cannula defining an interior hollowed region with a longitudinal length and opposite proximal and distal ends. The cannula includes an opening at its distal end. The spinal needle further includes a UV light source and a light transmission tube positioned within the cannula for transmitting UV light emitting from the UV light source. The light transmission tube having a length extending through the longitudinal length of the cannula and having a distal end positioned at or about the distal end of the cannula.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing light to cerebrospinal fluid. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to treat a multitude of medical problems, including for example bacterial, viral and fungal infections, poisoning, fatigue, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, allergies and asthma, rheumatic diseases and arthritis, diabetes, hepatitis, and cancer. UV light sterilizes the blood and acts as an antibiotic. In these circumstances, the UV light is applied either to the patient&#39;s skin or directly to the blood. If the UV light is applied to the skin it is typically provided to the patient&#39;s skin either with a wrap or lamp. Applying the UV light directly to a patient&#39;s blood supply is known as photoluminescence or UV blood illumination (UBI). UV blood illumination increases oxygen, destroys toxins and boosts the immune system. 
         [0005]    However, diseases which are caused or relate to viruses in the brain, which may even include multiple sclerosis, are not treatable through UV blood illumination. The ability to treat these infections, viruses, and bacterial in the brain may require UV illumination of the cerebrospinal fluid also referred to as the cerebral spinal fluid or CSF (the terms are used interchangeable herein) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Since the cerebrospinal fluid surrounds/travels around the brain, the UV illumination of the CSF may treat infections, viruses, and bacterial in the brain. 
         [0006]    There is thus a need for a method of providing UV light to the cerebrospinal fluid. In accordance with the method an apparatus has been developed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a novel spinal needle used to deliver UV light to the cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space. The spinal needle includes a cannula defining an interior hollowed region having a longitudinal length with opposite proximal and distal ends and an opening at its distal end. The needle includes a UV light source, and a light transmission tube positioned within the cannula for transmitting UV light emitting from the UV light source. The light transmission tube has a length extending through the longitudinal length of the cannula and having a distal end positioned at or about the distal end of the cannula. 
         [0008]    In using the spinal needle, the operator pierces the epidermis of the body cavity and advances the cannula toward the body cavity until the distal end of the cannula enters the subarachnoid space. The UV light source may be activated such that the UV light will emit from the end of the light transmission tube to radiate cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space. 
         [0009]    In other embodiments, the light transmission tube is a liquid light guide or one or more fiber optic strands. In other aspects of the embodiments, the light transmission tube includes a lens positioned about the distal end defined thereby. The light tube may also have an end with a connector for attaching the light tube to the light transmission tube. 
         [0010]    In yet other aspects and embodiments, the spinal needle may include a catheter positioned within the light tube and having a length extending through the longitudinal length of the cannula and substantially positioned against the light transmission tube with a distal end positioned about the end of the distal end of the cannula. The catheter may be used to delivery medicine or drugs to help reduce the effects of a spinal headache. 
         [0011]    In other aspects, the spinal needle includes a primary tube having an end with a connector for attaching the primary tube to a base connector defined at an end defined by the cannula for transmitting the UV light from a UV light source through the primary tube to the light transmission tube. In this aspect, the catheter can be positioned within the primary tube, and along the length of the cannula and substantially positioned against the light transmission tube and having a distal end positioned about the end of the distal end of the cannula. 
         [0012]    Numerous advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a prior art illustration of spinal needles currently used and the method for administering medication to an epidural space and the improper puncturing of the subarachnoid space; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a partial sectional view of a spinal needle in accordance with one or more of the embodiments presented herein to treat cerebrospinal fluid with a UV light; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a partial exploded view of the spinal needle showing the cannula and the light guide; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view of the spinal needle from  FIG. 2A ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a spinal needle in accordance with one or more of the embodiments presented herein treating the cerebrospinal fluid with a UV light. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the claims by the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0020]    Light at one or more therapeutic wavelength, such as ultraviolet light (UV), is used to treat many diseases including infections, poisoning, fatigue, allergies, hepatitis, cancer and HIV. UV light increases the oxygen combining power, destroys toxins, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and boosts the immune system. UV light also sterilizes the blood and acts as an antibiotic. It is now proposed to use the UV light to treat the cerebrospinal fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space in a person&#39;s spinal region. Preferably, UV light at one or more therapeutic wavelength is utilized in the present invention. More preferably the light is either UV-A or UV-C light is utilized in the present invention. For some conditions and/or diseases UV-A light is more effective than UV-C and for other conditions and/or diseases UV-C light is more effective than UV-A light. The wavelengths or wavelengths of light to be used to treat the patient are selected based on the wavelength or wavelength that will best treat the condition or disease of the patient. 
         [0021]    Referring now to prior art  FIG. 1 , as is well known in the field of spinal needle usage administering spinal anesthetic is preferably done in such a manner to prevent the development of post dural puncture headache. Headaches are commonly associated when the subarachnoid space is punctured and cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid space leaks through the puncture site into the epidural compartment of the spine. As illustrated, a first spinal needle  10  is shown inserted between the second  4  and the third  6  lumbar vertebrae located in the back. The distal end  12  of the first spinal needle  10  includes a beveled end  14  which helps cut through the various layer of tissue. In the example, the first spinal needle  10  is shown passing through the body tissue  20  toward the spine  22 . The distal end  12  of the first spinal needle  10 , forming an end of the cannula  16 , passes through the body tissue  20  and the layer of yellow ligament  24  surrounding the spine. The first spinal needle  10  passes through the epidural space  26  and accidentally penetrates  32  the dura mater  28  to enter into the subarachnoid space  30 . As mentioned, in this example cerebrospinal fluid leaks from the subarachnoid space  30  into the epidural space  26  causing a spinal headache. Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1 , in another example of the prior art, a second needle  40  is shown having a distal end  42  with a beveled end  44  near the cannula  46  is properly inserted into the epidural space  26 . The second needle  40  is further illustrated as having a catheter  48  for the delivery of a liquid spinal anesthetic. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  through  2   c,  to accordance to the embodiments presented herein, there is provided a spinal needle  100  developed to accommodate the treatment aspects of the present invention. The spinal needle  100  may be of a gauge equal to or less than 29. The gauge of the spinal needle  100  may be determined by the use or administrators preference. The spinal needle  100  includes an cannula  102  with an outer casing  105  defining a hollowed interior  110  and includes a distal end  115  with a beveled end  120  used to penetrate the body tissue and dura layers. The cannula  102  further includes a needle base  125 . 
         [0023]    The hollowed interior  110  of the cannula  102  receives a light transmission tube  130 . The light tube  130  may be a liquid light guide or fiber optic cable, or other similar device, including a UV light emitting bulb positioned at an end  132  adjacent or near the distal end  115  with power transmission cables extending through the light transmission tube  130  or a UV light emitting bulb positioned at a proximal end  117  of the hollowed interior  110  with a light transmission cable (such as a liquid light guide of fiber optic strands) extending through the light tube  130 . The important aspect of the light tube is that UV light emits from the end  132  near the distal end  115  of the cannula  102 . 
         [0024]    The light source (not shown) may be LEDs or a light guide transferring the light from a source bulb, medical grade UV light bulb, or similar source that emits UV light at a therapeutic wavelength(s). More preferably, the light is UV-C light, UV-A, UV-B light or a combination thereof. Alternatively, a plurality of LEDs, having one or more different wavelengths of light at one or more therapeutic wavelengths is used. It is preferable that a substantial portion of the emitted light be UV-C and/or UV-A. There may alternatively be fused silica fiber optic bundles in the tube  130 . Fused silica fiber optic bundles may be used because they do not emit any heat. The fiber optic bundles deliver UV light at a therapeutic wavelength sublingually. 
         [0025]    Positioned at the end  132  of the light tube  130  is a lens  134  to help protect the light tube and help disperse and emit the UV light. The UV light is powered by a power source not shown but may be well known sources such as batteries or AC power with if necessary DC converter to power the UV light source. 
         [0026]    It may be preferably designed to have the light tube  130  removably and slidably positioned within the hollowed interior  110  of the cannula  102 . To help ensure the light tube  130  is secured within the cannula  102 , the light tube  130  includes a connector  136  which secures to the needle base  125 . A base tube  138  would extend past the connector  136  to secure to a power source, light source, or other equipment needed to facilitate proper use of the spinal needle  100 . 
         [0027]    In addition, the base tube  138  may secure to equipment for the delivery of medication, in this instance the base tube  138  would include a separate interior channel, interior tubing, or a catheter, generally referenced as catheter  140  for the delivery of medication that would be separate from the light tube  130 . The medication could be designed to help reduce the spinal headache or other medications used for the treatment. 
         [0028]    Referring now also to  FIG. 3 , during treatment the spinal needle of the present invention  300  is positioned through the body tissue  20  between two lumbar vertebra through the epidural space  26  and penetrating the dura mater  28  to enter into the subarachnoid space  30 . Once the distal end  115  of the cannula  102  or the spinal needle tip enters the subarachnoid space  30 , the UV light source can be activated such that the UV light is emitted outwardly from the spinal needle tip and can radiate cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space. In addition, medication may be administered through the catheter  140  if desired. The duration of the treatment may be determined by the physician. 
         [0029]    From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.