Patent Publication Number: US-2009228081-A1

Title: mouth piece for uv-light delivery

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application serial No. 11/140,272 filed May 27, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing light to blood. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     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. 
     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. 
     UV light is commonly used to treat jaundiced babies. Because infant&#39;s skin is thin and the blood vessels are close to the surface, UV light is typical applied to the skin when treating jaundiced babies. 
     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. 
     In prior art UBI, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient, up to about 250 cc. The body has about 5.6 L of blood. The blood that is drawn travels through a cuvette or glass chamber. The blood is repeatedly illuminated with UV light and then returned to the body. The process is repeated, typically a day or several days later. These treatments are time consuming, and require regular trips to a medical facility. In addition, trained personal must be available to provide the treatments. 
     There is a need for a method of providing UV light to a patient&#39;s entire blood supply, not just a small portion of it. There is a need for a system that is convenient for the patient, which does not require regular doctor visits. There is a need for a simple system that can be used by the patient in his home. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a light device or a portable light pack that irradiates the mucous membrane under the tongue. The light pack has a battery or other power supply and a light source. The light source emits light at one or more therapeutic wavelengths. Preferably, the light is UV light at one or more therapeutic wavelegths. The UV light source is typically LEDs that emit UV-A or UV-C light or a combination of UV-A and UV-C light. The light pack or device is inserted into the patient&#39;s mouth, preferably under the tongue. Fiber optic strand(s) run through a tube to illuminate the mucous membrane under the tongue. Capillaries are plentiful and close to the surface under the tongue, thus illuminating the blood. The present invention uses a mouth-guard specifically designed an used to administer and position the UV light to the mucous membrane under the tongue. 
     In a first embodiment there is provided a system for delivering UV-light under a patient&#39;s tongue. The system includes providing for a UV-light source in communication with a pair of tubes for transmitting the UV-light from the source to end tips defined by the pair of tubes separately. The system also includes a mouth piece having a U-shaped double trough region defined as an upper trough and a lower trough adapted to engage upper and lower teeth of a patient, respectively. The upper trough and lower trough being interconnected by a relatively flat base surface. The base surface provides for an upper base surface for the upper trough and a lower base surface for the lower trough. The mouth piece further includes a pair of windowed apertures centrally located in the double trough region and extending from a front portion to a rear portion of the double trough region. Each windowed aperture includes a pair of openings extending out through the lower base surface. The pair of openings are sized to accommodate the pair of tubes such that the tips of the tubes are capable of extending through the openings and exiting through the lower base surface. 
     The system may further define the upper trough as including an upper outer peripheral wall member and an upper inner peripheral wall member laterally spaced from the upper outer peripheral wall member, both the upper outer and upper inner peripheral wall members being interconnected with the upper base surface. And may further define the lower trough as including a lower outer peripheral wall member and a lower inner peripheral wall member laterally spaced from the lower outer peripheral wall member, both the lower outer and lower inner peripheral wall members being interconnected with the lower base surface. 
     In addition, the upper outer peripheral wall member may have a defined height higher than a defined height of the upper inner peripheral wall member. The system may further include indents positioned midway of the U-shaped upper trough at either or both the upper and lower outer peripheral wall members. 
     In other embodiments the pair of tubes further includes an indented region sized to fit within the pair of openings in the windowed apertures or the pair of tubes includes an enlarged region at a distance away from the tip, the enlarged region having a diameter larger then a diameter of an opening defined by the pair of openings. 
     In yet other embodiments, the invention may provide for a blood illuminator, defined to include a light source adapted to emit UV-C light and a power supply for supplying power to the light source; a pair of light guides, each light guide having a first end for receiving the UV-C light from the light source and having a second end adapted to emit the UV-C light; and a mouth piece having a pair of bored apertures separately corresponding to the pair of light guides, each bored apertures having an entrance near a front portion of the mouth piece and an exit near a bottom portion of the mouth piece, wherein the pair of light guides are inserted through the pair of board apertures, such that the second ends of the pair of light guides may extend outwardly from the bottom portion of the mouthpiece. 
     And in yet other embodiments, there is provided for a blood illuminator, defined to include a light source adapted to emit UV-C light and a power supply for supplying power to the light source; a pair of light guides, each light guide having a first end for receiving the UV-C light from the light source and having a second end adapted to emit the UV-C light; and a mouth piece having a pair of bored apertures separately corresponding to the pair of light guides, each bored apertures having an entrance near a front portion of the mouth piece and an exit near a bottom portion of the mouthpiece, wherein the pair of light guides are inserted through the pair of board apertures, such that the second ends of the pair of light guides may extend outwardly from the bottom portion of the mouth piece and wherein the mouth piece includes a grove along a center region of the front portion. 
     Still further, there may be provided for a method of illuminating blood with light. The method including the following steps, providing a light source adapted to emit UV-C light; providing a pair of light guides, each light guide having a first end for receiving the UV-C light from the light source and having a second end adapted to emit the UV-C light; placing a mouthpiece in a mouth of a patient, the mouthpiece having a pair of bored apertures separately corresponding to the pair of light guides, each bored apertures having an entrance near a front portion of the mouthpiece and an exit near a bottom portion of the mouthpiece, wherein the pair of light guides are inserted through the pair of board apertures, such that the second ends of the pair of light guides may extend outwardly from the bottom portion of the mouthpiece and towards a bottom region of the mouth of the patient, and wherein the mouthpiece includes a grove along a center region of the front portion to accommodate a labial frenulum defined in the mouth of the patient; and supplying power to the light source such that the bottom region of the mouth of the patient is illuminated, wherein the UV-C light penetrates capillaries in the mouth to allow the UV-C light to illuminate blood of the patient. 
     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  
       A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  is a portable light pack; 
         FIG. 1B  is a sub-lingual light irradiation delivery device inserted into a patient&#39;s mouth 
         FIG. 2  is a sub-lingual light irradiation delivery device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a light guide for use with the light pack and delivery device or mouth guard; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of the tip of the light guide from  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a front perspective view of a mouth guard in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is the mouth guard from  FIG. 5A  illustrating the light guides before insertion through the mouth guard; 
         FIG. 5C  is the mouth guard from  FIG. 5A  illustrating the light guides inserted through the mouth guard; 
         FIG. 6  is the mouth guard from  FIG. 5A  showing the mouth guard prior to being inserted into a patient&#39;s mouth; 
         FIG. 7A  is the mouth guard from  FIG. 5A  illustrating the mouth guard from a bottom perspective view; 
         FIG. 7B  is the mouth guard from  FIG. 7A  illustrating the light guides prior to insertion through the mouth guard; 
         FIG. 7C  is the mouth guard from  FIG. 7A  illustrating the light guides inserted through the mouth guard; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the mouth guard from  FIG. 7C ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a back view of the mouth guard from  FIG. 5A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     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. 
     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 of the blood, destroys toxins, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and boosts the immune system. UV light also sterilizes the blood and acts as an antibiotic. 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. 
     In one embodiment,  FIGS. 1A-2 , there is provided a light device enclosed within a portable light pack  20  that directly supply light at a therapeutic wavelength(s), preferably UV light, to the patient&#39;s blood supply. Portable light pack  20  comprises housing  24 , battery or other power source (not shown) and light source (not shown). Preferably, the light source (not shown) is LEDs (not shown) 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. 
     In one embodiment, light pack  20  has a light guide  22  made of rubber or other flexible tubing for housing one or more fiber optic strands  26 . Alternatively, a liquid core light guide or other known light guide can be used. Emitted radiation travels to the end tip  30  of the light guide  22  and is emitted outwardly therefrom. Emitted radiation directly illuminates patient&#39;s blood. Light guide  22  has transparent cover  28  at the end. 
     The light pack  20  allows therapeutic wavelength(s) of light to be supplied directly to the blood. Instead of treating only a maximum of 250 cc of blood, larger amounts of blood or even the entire blood supply can be treated. The 5.6 L of blood in a human body circulates through the body about 3 times every minute. Thus, large amounts of blood can be treated with photoluminescence. 
     Light pack  20  could be turned on and off manually. Alternatively, light pack  20  could automatically turn off the light source after a set treatment time, such as 20 minutes. Light pack  20  could have a controller such as a computer or other smart interface that limits the number of treatments given time period, limits the total amount of treatment time in a given time period, automatically provides treatments, pulses the light source, or provides only particular wavelengths. The computer or other smart interface could keep a treatment record. The computer or other smart interface could communicate wirelessly, via the Internet or through other electronic means to automatically update the doctor&#39;s treatment records. Computer preferably can automatically adjust treatment time, wavelength or other factors based on patient input, doctor orders or other data. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIGS. 1A through 4 , light at a therapeutic wavelength is administered under the tongue. The capillaries under the tongue are close to the surface. These capillaries are very sensitive. Capillary exposure of the mucus membrane is significantly greater than other exposed body surfaces. The greater capillary exposure allows for greater penetration of the ultraviolet spectrum. Light device  20  comprises a mouthpiece  50  for holding and aligning the light source under the tongue. Mouthpiece  50  is inserted into patient&#39;s mouth under the tongue. The mouthpiece  50  has at least one aperture  52  through which tubing  54  is inserted. Tubing  54  is preferably plastic tubing and is preferably flexible. The tubing may be adjustably inserted through the at least one aperture  52  to allow for individual adjustment by the patient or doctor to a preferred treatment location under the patient&#39;s tongue. Alternatively, tubing  54  can be mounted in the preferred position such that each time the mouthpiece  50  is used, the light is administered at the same location. Preferably, mouthpiece  50  is molded to the shape of patient&#39;s  10  mouth. 
     There may be fused silica fiber optic bundles  57  in the tubing  54 . Fused silica fiber optic bundles  54  may be used because they do not emit any heat. The fiber optic bundles deliver UV light at a therapeutic wavelength sublingually. The light is preferably UV-A, UV-C or a combination thereof. In yet another alternative, light source is a LED or small light bulb at the end of the flexible tube adapted to directly irradiate the mucus membrane under the tongue. This delivery system is preferred for relatively young patients without a life threatening disease. In yet another alternative, the tubing  54  may be housing a liquid light guide core  56 . In addition, the tubing  54  may also include an attachment end  58  used to secure the tubing  54  to light pack housing  24  or other suitable light emitting source. 
     In another embodiment,  FIGS. 5A through 9 , there is provided a mouthpiece  100  that is easily accommodating in a patient&#39;s mouth and can be easily equipped with a UV-light delivery system. The mouthpiece  100  may generally be defined as an U-shaped double trough mouth piece integrally molded as a unitary piece. The double trough mouthpiece  100  comprises an upper trough  120  and a lower trough  140  (shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C ) interconnected by a relatively flat U-shaped base surface  105 . The base surface  105  provides an upper base surface  122  and a lower base surface  142  adapted to engage the upper teeth and lower teeth respectively in use. 
     The upper trough  120  is defined by an outer peripheral wall member or flange  124  and a laterally spaced smaller inner peripheral wall member or flange  126  both of which interconnect with the upper base surface  122 . The outer peripheral wall member  124  has a defined height adapted to cover the buccal side of the upper teeth and may extend such that it covers part of the upper gums. The outer peripheral wall  124  further includes an indent  128  located midway of the circular intermediate section  130  opposite the open end  132  of the U-shaped mouth piece where the indent  128  accommodates tissues (labial frenulum) on the front buccal side of the upper jaw. The inner peripheral wall  126  is relatively smaller in height than the height of the outer peripheral wall  124  and adapted to cover and protect the lingual side of the upper teeth. Both the outer peripheral wall member  124  and inner peripheral wall member  126  are resilient and preferably rather flexible to provide a conforming comfortable fit with the upper teeth. 
     The lower trough  140  of the mouth piece  100  is similarly structured and defined by an outer peripheral wall member or flange  144  and a laterally spaced smaller inner peripheral wall member or flange  146  both of which interconnect with the lower base surface  142 . The outer peripheral wall member  144  has a defined height adapted to cover the buccal side of the lower teeth and may extend such that it covers part of the lower gums. The outer peripheral wall  144  further includes an indent  148  located midway of the circular intermediate section  130  opposite the open end  132  of the U-shaped mouth piece where the indent  148  accommodates tissues on the front buccal side of the lower jaw. The inner peripheral wall  146  is relatively smaller in height than the height of the outer peripheral wall  144  and adapted to cover and protect the lingual side of the lower teeth. Both the outer peripheral wall member  144  and inner peripheral wall member  146  are resilient and preferably rather flexible to provide a conforming comfortable fit with the lower teeth. 
     The mouth piece  100  includes a pair of windowed apertures  152  centrally located in a middle region  150  of the circular intermediate section  130 . The windowed apertures  152  bore through the mouth piece  100  from a front portion  154  of the combined upper outer peripheral wall  124  and the lower outer peripheral wall  144  to a rear portion  156  of the combined upper inner peripheral wall  126  and the lower inner peripheral wall  146 . The windowed apertures further define a lower sill section  158  traversing from the front to real portions of the mouth piece  100 . A pair of openings  160  are positioned through the lower sill section  158  and out the lower base surface  142  of the U-shaped base surface  105 . The openings are sized to accommodate a tubing  54  which includes the source of UV-light. 
     Once the tubing  54  are inserted through the openings  160 , the tips  30  of the tubing extend out the bottom of the mouth piece attempting to make sure the UV-light is properly directed to the mucus membrane under the tongue. 
     Referring now to  10 , in another embodiment the mouth piece  100  is used in connection with tubing  200  (that while is similar in function to the above tubing  54 ), which further includes indented regions  205  near the tips  30 . The indented regions  205  are sized to fit in the openings  160  defined in the mouth piece  100 , such that the undented regions  207  on either side of the indented regions  205  secure the tubing  200  in place. Thereby ensuring the tubing  200  cannot be inserted to far into a person&#39;s mouth. It being further understood that the tubing could include an enlarged region passed the tip along the tubing such that the tubing inserted into an opening  160  would stop when the enlarged region came up against the opening  160 . Being enlarged such that it could not fit through the opening  160 . 
     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.