Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20010024777?oq=6246862
Timestamp: 2018-04-21 02:54:19
Document Index: 340066155

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 109', 'art 119', 'art 119', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120', 'art 120']

US20010024777A1 - Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria Download PDF
US20010024777A1
US20010024777A1 US09874792 US87479201A US20010024777A1 US 20010024777 A1 US20010024777 A1 US 20010024777A1 US 09874792 US09874792 US 09874792 US 87479201 A US87479201 A US 87479201A US 20010024777 A1 US20010024777 A1 US 20010024777A1
US09874792
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/255,273, filed Feb. 23, 1999 which is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/IL99/00030, filed Jan. 17, 1999, which designates the US.
Prevention and treatment of periodontal gum disease must be based to a large extent on the control of bacterial plaque. This requires a considerable effort on the patient's part. In addition, routine professional oral hygiene requires a considerable effort on the part of the dental health professionals which have to provide the patient with renewed motivation and instruction on careful daily oral hygiene techniques, thorough professional cleaning of the teeth and frequent reassessment of the patient's periodontal tissues to provide early detection and treatment of new or reoccurring abnormalities or of destruction of supporting periodontal tissues.
By far the most important aspect of controlling periodontal diseases is the practicing of daily oral hygiene techniques that needs to be initiated at pre-adolescence and carried on for the rest of the patient's life. Daily maintenance schedules ideally require full patient's compliance with instructions and an ideal tooth cleaning technique. Far too often, token attempts at dental bacterial plaque control are inadequate and unsuccessful in one or more sites of the dentition leading to inflammatory changes at these sites and further loss of periodontal attachment.
It is therefore an object of some preferred embodiments of the present invention to provide a device and a method for destroying oral bacteria.
Preferably, the light directing member comprises a reflective layer coated light passage. Preferably, the reflective layer coated light passage comprises a hollow passage whose radial extent is defined by a light reflecting surface.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the incoherent light source includes a lamp, a reflector which directs at least part of the light produced by said lamp to said light directing member. Preferably, the lamp is a an arc discharge lamp or a flash lamp. Preferably, reflector is a parabolic reflector, a spherical reflector, a quasi-spherical reflector or an ellipsoidal reflector.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the light source further includes at least one lens disposed between said flash lamp and said light directing member for directing light onto said light directing member.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus includes a plurality of bristles coupled to said light directing member such that a first end of each of said plurality of bristles is optically coupled to said second end of said light guide and a second end of each of said plurality of bristles extends out of said terminal part for directing at least part of said light onto said at least part of said surface of said at least one tooth within said oral cavity.
generating at least one pulse of incoherent broad band light from a pulsed light source including a gas discharge lamp or a flash lamp;
modifying said at least one pulse of light to exclude a substantial portion of said at least one pulse of light, said portion having wavelengths which are substantially absorbed by oxyhemoglobin, to convert said at least one pulse of light into at least one band-limited light pulse; and
[0054]FIG. 1 is a schematic graph illustrating the absorption spectrum of an aqueous solution erythrosin B;
[0055]FIG. 2 is a schematic graph illustrating the absorption spectrum of the commercially available stain PLAK CHEK™;
[0056]FIG. 3 is a schematic part block diagram part cross sectional view of a device for selective photothermal destruction of oral bacteria, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0057]FIG. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of a hand held part of a device for selective photothermal destruction of oral bacteria, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0058]FIG. 5A is a schematic part block diagram part cross sectional view of a device for selective photothermal destruction of oral bacteria having a light source optically coupled to a hand held part by an optical fiber bundle, in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0059]FIG. 5B is an isometric view of a system for selective photothermal destruction of oral bacteria including the device of FIG. 5A and a plurality of the light directing members of the type illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0060]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a light directing member attachable to the handle of the devices of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5A-5B;
[0061]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the light directing member of FIG. 6 taken along the lines VII-VII;
[0062]FIG. 8 is a side view of a toothbrush like light delivery member attachable to the handle of the devices of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0063]FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view of a toothbrush like light directing member attachable to the handle of the devices of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, and having transparent bristles optically coupled to a light guide included within the light directing member; and
[0064]FIG. 10 is a schematic cross sectional view of a light directing member attachable to the handle of the devices of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, and having a light scattering dental floss member optically coupled to a light guide included within the light directing member.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are based on the use of incoherent broad band light for the selective photothermal destruction of selectively stained oral bacteria within dental plaque. The bacteria are stained preferably by applying a liquid or paste like formulation containing a bacterial selective dye within the oral cavity preferably followed by rinsing the oral cavity to wash out the excess dye. The bacteria within the dental plaque are thus selectively stained by the dye.
Reference is now made to FIG. 1 which is a schematic graph illustrating the absorption spectrum of an aqueous solution of erythrosin B. The horizontal axis represents the wavelength in nanometers and the vertical axis represents the absorbance in arbitrary units. The curve labeled 1 represents the absorption spectrum of erythrosin B. The curve has a main absorption peak 2 at a wavelength of approximately 542 nm and a secondary absorbance peak 3 at a wavelength of approximately 638 nm.
Another example of a dye suitable for selective photothermal destruction of oral plaque forming bacteria is PLAK-CHEK™, commercially available from Clairol Inc., CT, USA The staining method is similar to the method described for erythrosin B hereinabove.
Reference is now made to FIG. 2 which is a schematic graph illustrating the absorption spectrum of the commercially available stain PLAK-CHEK™.
The horizontal axis represents the wavelength in nanometers and the vertical axis represents the absorbance in arbitrary units. The curve labeled 4 represents the absorption spectrum of the PLAK-CHEK™ solution. The curve has a main absorbance peak 5 at a wavelength of approximately 494 nm. The main absorbance peak 5 has a bandwidth of approximately 40 nm. Thus, PLAK-CHEK™ may be a better stain than erythrosin B since its main absorption peak 5 does not substantially overlap the absorption peaks of oxyhemoglobin.
When a xenon flash lamp is used and system 10 is designed for use in conjunction with the PLACK CHEK™ stain, filter 21 preferably transmits all wavelengths above 450 nm and blocks all wavelengths below 450 nm and filter 23 preferably transmits all wavelengths below 500 nm and blocks all wavelengths above 500 nm. For example, filters 21 and 23 can be the filters having catalog numbers 450FH-90-25 and 500FL07-25, respectively, commercially available from Andover Corporation, N.H., USA.
It is noted that, while the non-limiting examples of filters 21 and 23 disclosed hereinabove are suitable for use in a device designed for being used in conjunction with PLACK CHEK™, other different types of filters having similar absorbance ranges can also be used.
It is further noted that, if other selective bacterial stains or dyes which are different from the stain PLACK CHEK™ are used, filters 21 and 23 are preferably chosen to pass wavelengths which match the absorbance of the particular stain or dye.
It is still further noted that, while the filtering of the light of lamp 20 is disclosed as being performed by two distinct filters 21 and 23, it is also possible to use a single optical filter having appropriate band limiting characteristics.
In another example, if the device 10 is used with the dye erythrosin B, a single filter can be used to replace filters 21 and 23. The single filter preferably absorbs all the wavelengths below 600 nm and transmit all wavelength above 600 nm. A suitable filter for use with erythrosin B is the filter having a catalog number 600FH90-25 commercially available from Andover Corporation, NH, USA.
Controller unit 16 controls the energizing of flash lamp 20. Controller unit 16 includes standard electronic circuitry needed to operate the flash lamp 20 such as a triggering unit, a capacitor unit and electronic timing circuitry for timing the frequency of flashing of the lamp 20. A suitable electronic circuit that can be used to construct as the controller unit 16 is the Personal Safety Strobe, Catalogue Number 61-2506, commercially available from Radio Shack, a division of Tandy Corporation, TX, USA The Personal Safety Strobe circuitry is preferably modified by electrically connecting an electrolytic capacitor having a capacitance of 120 microfarad (rated at 330 volts) in parallel with the capacitor already included in the Personal Safety Probe. The flashing frequency of the modified Personal Safety Strobe is approximately 1 Hz.
It is noted that, while the tooth brush like member 28 is a physical extension of the end 26 of the light directing member 22, it can also be formed as a separate part (not shown) which can be attached to the end 26 by gluing or fusing or by any other suitable attachment method.
When device 10 is used for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria, a user first selectively stains plaque bacteria by using a bacterial selective stain or dye such as PLAK-CHECK™ as described above. The user then holds housing 12 in his hand, switches switch 19 to the “on” position to commence the flashing of flash lamp 20 of light source 14. and inserts brush member 28 into his oral cavity. The user then brushes his teeth using brush member 28. Preferably, flash lamp 20, is flashed at a flashing rate of approximately 1 Hz to 10 Hz, but flashing rates in the range of approximately 0.5-50 Hz may be used. Typically, each light flash has a duration of 0.1 to 10 msec and irradiates the teeth 36 with incoherent band limited light having an energy density of approximately 0.1-10 Joule/cm2, thereby heating stained bacteria to the temperature of coagulation. Using energy densities within this range, even a single flash can effectively cause photothermal heating and coagulation of selectively stained plaque bacteria.
The frequency of flashing of the lamp 20 by the electronic timer circuitry may be factory preset so as to take into account the typical parameters of the movements of brush member 28 over the teeth during the brushing of teeth by the user and to provide a sufficient irradiation of the surfaces of the teeth within the oral cavity of the user for efficient photothermal destruction of dental plaque bacteria.
After the user finishes the photothermal coagulation procedure, the user switches off the flashing of the flash lamp 20 by switching the switch 19 to the “off” position. If desired, the user may then apply a tooth paste to the bristles 29 of the tooth brush like member 28 and proceed to brush his teeth normally.
Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which is a schematic cross sectional view of a handle 41 of a device for selective photothermal destruction of oral bacteria, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Handle 41 includes a housing 42 having a recessed opening 58 therein. Handle 41 further includes a controller unit 16 attached to a power supply (not shown) by a suitable power cable 57. Handle 41 also includes switch 19 suitably connected to the controller 16 as disclosed with respect to FIG. 3. Switch 19 is used to turn controller 16 on and off as disclosed for device 10 of FIG. 3. Handle 41 further includes a reflector 44 to reflect light from a lamp 50 to an opening 58. Handle 41 further preferably includes two filters 21 and 23 disposed between the lamp and the opening. Handle 41 preferably also includes a lens 55 situated between filter 23 and opening 58.
Lamp 50 is similar to lamp 20 of FIG. 3 and is electrically connected to the controller 16 by a conducting wires (not shown for the sake of clarity of illustration). Reflector 44 is made of a light reflecting material such as polished aluminum or any other suitable reflecting material. Alternatively, the reflector 44 may be made of a preferably thermally insulating material such as plastic or the like which is plated or coated by a light reflecting layer made of a suitable reflecting metal such as aluminum, silver or the like. Reflector 44 is preferably a parabolic reflector but can also have a quasi-parabolic, spherical or quasi-spherical shape or any other suitable shape. Light rays 56 produced by the lamp 50 are reflected by the reflector 44, filtered by the filters 21 and 23 as disclosed above and focused by the lens 55 at a point 59 within opening 58.
Light source 74 preferably includes a lamp 70 similar to lamp 20 of FIG. 2. and electrically connected to controller 16. Light source 74 preferably also includes a reflector 75 which includes filters 21 and 23 attached thereto as disclosed above. Reflector 75 is made of a light reflective material or is constructed from a thermally insulating material coated with a light reflecting layer as disclosed above. The reflector 75 may be ellipsoidal but may also have other shapes as disclosed above. Optical fiber bundle 67 has a first end 67A and a second end 67B. Light source 74 is optically coupled to first end 67A, by the structure shown or by other suitable means known in the art. Optical fiber bundle 67 passes within housing 62 of handle 61 and end 67B of optical fiber bundle 67 is attached to housing 62 at recessed opening 68 in such a way that it can be optically coupled to the light guide of light directing member 22 of FIG. 3. Thus, light produced by light source 74 enters first end 67A and is directed by the individual optical fibers within optical fiber bundle 67 to exit at second end 67B.
[0114]FIG. 5B illustrates base 77 which includes a control panel 73 for activation of controller unit 16 by the user. Base 77 is suitably formed to house handle 61 while it is not being used. Base 77 is also suitably formed to house a plurality of light directing members 22 each of which may be attached to handle 61 for use by a different individual for his own personal use. Optical fiber bundle 67 may be conveniently wound around a member 67 for storage.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a light directing member 82, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, attachable to the handle of the devices of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5A-5B. FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the light directing member of FIG. 6 taken along the lines VII-VII.
Light guide 85 is optimally made from a material which is transparent to the bandwidth of the band limited light which is being used for photothermally coagulating the oral bacteria. The transparent material forming light guide 85 has an index of refraction which is higher than the index of refraction of air. A light ray 81 which enters light guide 85 at surface 89A is guided by multiple reflections along light guide 85 towards end 85B of light guide 85 where it exits through surface 89B.
Preferably, light guide 85 is shaped as a rod having a generally circular cross-section, and is made from clear polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA), glass or any other optically suitable transparent material. However, light guide 85 may have other different shapes and cross-sections which are suitable for implementing a light guide.
Reference is now made to FIG. 8 which is a side view of a toothbrush like light delivery member 92 attachable to the handle of the devices of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Light directing member 92 is similar to light directing member 82 of FIG. 6 and includes a light guide 83.
However, in contrast to hollow member 83 of FIG. 6, hollow member 93 of light directing member 92 includes a lip 94 extending therefrom and surrounding surface 89B. A plurality of bristles 95 are attached to lip 94 and extend from lip 94 in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the surface of the 94 forming a tooth brush like member 97 at the end of light directing member 92. When light directing member 92 is attached to a handle such as, for example, handle 11 or 41 or 61 of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5A, respectively, and teeth within the oral cavity of a user are brushed by tooth brush like member 97, the light which exits from surface 89B is not blocked by bristles 95 and illuminates part of the surface of the teeth which lie underneath tooth brush like member 97.
It is noted that, while light can be directed onto the surfaces of teeth as disclosed hereinabove for the light directing members 22, 82 and 92, other methods for directing light can be used.
Terminal part 109 further includes a plurality of transparent bristles 105. Each of the bristles 105 has a first end 105A and a second end 105B. Bristles 105 are attached to plate 107. First end 105A of each of the bristles 105 is inserted into a hole 108 and glued to or frictionally held within the hole. First end 105A of each of bristles 105 is optically coupled to light guide 85 at surface 89B thereof by abutting surface 89B or by being glued to surface 89B using a suitable optically transparent glue.
Second end 105B of each of bristles 105 extends distally from plate 107 in a direction generally perpendicular to a surface 107A thereof. Bristles 105 are preferably made from a flexible material which is transparent to the bandwidth of the band limited light which is being used for photothermally coagulating the oral bacteria. For example, bristles 105 can be made from nylon or from any other suitably transparent flexible plastic. Light from surface 89B enters first end 105A and is guided within each bristle 105 to exit from second end 105 b of each of bristle. When teeth are brushed by bristles 105, light exiting ends 105B of bristles 105 irradiates the surfaces of the teeth and may photothermally coagulate selectively stained bacteria within plaque covering the surfaces of teeth.
For example, FIG. 10 to which reference is now made is a schematic cross sectional view of a light directing member 112 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is preferably attachable to the hand held part of the devices of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. and has a light scattering dental floss like member 120 optically coupled to a light guide 115 included within a hollow cavity member 113 within the light directing member. Light directing member 112 has a proximal end 114 and a distal end 116. Light guide 115 has a first end 115A at proximal end 114 of light directing member 112 and a second narrowing end 115B at distal end.
Light directing member 112 includes a terminal part 119 extending from distal end 116. Terminal part 119 includes a floss holding member 117 holding light scattering dental floss like member 120 having a first part 120A and a second part 120B. Floss like member 120 is preferably made from a flexible transparent material such as nylon or any other type of suitably transparent flexible plastic. First part 120A is attached to and optically coupled to the second end 115B of the light guide 115. The optical coupling may be performed by a glue having suitable optical properties or, alternatively, floss like member 120 can be an extension of narrowing end 115B of light guide 115. Second part 120B of floss like member 120 is attached to floss holding member 117 such that floss like member is suitably held for flossing.
After selective staining of plaque bacteria as disclosed above, a user inserts the floss like member 120 between the teeth as he would with ordinary floss. The light scattered from floss like member 120 irradiates the plaque on the surfaces of the teeth that are not accessible by regular brushing and performs photothermal coagulation of selectively stained plaque bacteria positioned at these inaccessible surfaces, while normal flossing is performed.
It is noted that each of the handles 11, 41 and 61 can be attached to any of the light directing members 22, 82, 92, 102 and 112 of FIGS. 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively.
It is further noted that, while any of the light directing members 22, 82, 92, 102 and 112 of FIGS. 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10, respectively, may be made for extended use, they may also be made to be disposable. Furthermore, while various features and forms of features have been shown in the various preferred embodiments, many of these features and variations may be present in other preferred embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, some preferred embodiments of the invention may omit some features shown in the preferred embodiments.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many variations of the preferred embodiments of the present inventions can be made which are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. As used herein, the words “comprise” or “include” or their conjugates mean “including but not necessarily limited to.”
1. Oral hygiene apparatus for destroying sensitized oral bacteria, comprising:
an incoherent light source, comprising a flash lamp; and
a light directing member, adapted for directing light from said light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity, said light being in an amount and at a wavelength effective to destroy bacteria but not to cause coagulation of blood vessels in the mouth.
wherein the light directing member comprises a light guide removably coupled to a housing containing the light source.
wherein said light directing member comprises a reflective layer coated light passage.
wherein said reflective layer coated light passage comprises a hollow passage whose radial extent is defined by a light reflecting surface.
wherein said light guide comprises an elongated member, having at least one peripheral surface uncoated by a reflecting material, said light guide directing light entering it at one end by internal reflection from said at least one peripheral surface to a second end.
wherein said incoherent light source includes a reflector which directs at least part of the light produced by said lamp to said light directing member.
wherein said reflector is a parabolic reflector, a spherical reflector, a quasi-spherical reflector or an ellipsoidal reflector.
wherein said light source further includes at least one lens disposed between said flash lamp and said light directing member for directing light onto said light directing member.
including at least one filter which passes light to which said bacteria has been sensitized.
wherein the at least one filter substantially blocks light at wavelengths at which oxyhemoglobin absorbs substantial energy.
wherein said light is directed to said tooth surface from an exit port of the light directing member.
and including a power source that powers the incoherent light source and a controller that controls said light source.
wherein said power source is a battery and wherein said incoherent light source, said battery and said controller are mounted within a common housing.
wherein said light directing member is easily separated from the light source and wherein the light directing member is disposable.
wherein the light is band limited to exclude a substantial portion of the light having wavelength which are substantially absorbed by oxyhemoglobin.
wherein the light is filtered such that it is band limited to a wavelength range of between 450-500 nanometers.
wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 388 nanometers and 448 nanometers.
wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 500 nanometers and 600 nanometers.
20. Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising:
an incoherent light source;
a light directing member, adapted for directing light from the light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity,
21. Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising:
22. Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising:
24. Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising:
US09874792 1998-02-24 2001-06-05 Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria Abandoned US20010024777A1 (en)
IL12343798 1998-02-24
IL123437 1998-02-24
PCT/IL1999/000030 WO1999043387A1 (en) 1998-02-24 1999-01-17 Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria
US09255273 US6290496B1 (en) 1998-02-24 1999-02-23 Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria
US09874792 US20010024777A1 (en) 1998-02-24 2001-06-05 Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria
US20010024777A1 true true US20010024777A1 (en) 2001-09-27
ID=11071266
US09255273 Active US6290496B1 (en) 1998-02-24 1999-02-23 Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria
US09874792 Abandoned US20010024777A1 (en) 1998-02-24 2001-06-05 Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria
US (2) US6290496B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999043387A1 (en)
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US20060240375A1 (en) * 2003-07-21 2006-10-26 Soukos Nikos S Method and device for improving oral health
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US6290496B1 (en) 2001-09-18 grant
WO1999043387A1 (en) 1999-09-02 application
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