Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20040260367?dq=7125605
Timestamp: 2017-01-17 11:49:29
Document Index: 147426137

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 220', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222', 'art 222']

Patent US20040260367 - Device and method for providing phototherapy to the heart - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA method for treating a patient's heart is provided. The method includes providing a light source which emits light having an initial power density. The method further includes positioning the light source relative to the patient's heart with intervening tissue of the patient between the light source...http://www.google.com/patents/US20040260367?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20040260367 - Device and method for providing phototherapy to the heartAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS20040260367 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/818,947Publication dateDec 23, 2004Filing dateApr 6, 2004Priority dateDec 21, 2001Also published asWO2005092440A1, WO2005092440A8Publication number10818947, 818947, US 2004/0260367 A1, US 2004/260367 A1, US 20040260367 A1, US 20040260367A1, US 2004260367 A1, US 2004260367A1, US-A1-20040260367, US-A1-2004260367, US2004/0260367A1, US2004/260367A1, US20040260367 A1, US20040260367A1, US2004260367 A1, US2004260367A1InventorsLuis De Taboada, Jackson StreeterOriginal AssigneeLuis De Taboada, Jackson StreeterExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (99), Referenced by (49), Classifications (9), Legal Events (7) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetDevice and method for providing phototherapy to the heart
[0114] In other embodiments, the target area includes portions of the heart 222 not within the zone of danger. In certain such embodiments, irradiation of healthy cardiac cells outside the zone of danger can treat and save surviving but endangered cardiac cells in the zone of danger surrounding the infarcted area. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that irradiation of healthy tissue in proximity to the zone of danger increases the production of ATP and copper ions in the healthy tissue and which then migrate to the injured cells within the region surrounding the infarct, thereby producing beneficial effects. Additional information regarding the biomedical mechanisms or reactions involved in phototherapy is provided by Tiina I. Karu in “Mechanisms of Low-Power Laser Light Action on Cellular Level”, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 4159 (2000), Effects of Low-Power Light on Biological Systems V, Ed. Rachel Lubart, pp. 1-17, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. [0115] The significance of the power density used in phototherapy has ramifications with regard to the devices and methods used in phototherapy treatments of cardiac tissue, as schematically illustrated by FIGS. 14A and 14B, which show the effects of scattering by intervening tissue. Further information regarding the scattering of light by tissue is provided by V. Tuchin in “Tissue Optics: Light Scattering Methods and Instruments for Medical Diagnosis,” SPIE Press (2000), Bellingham, Wash., pp. 3-11, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. [0116] [0116]FIG. 14A schematically illustrates a light beam 900 impinging a portion 910 of a patient's torso 220 and propagating through the patient's torso 220 to irradiate a portion 920 of the patient's heart 222. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 14A, the light beam 900 impinging the torso 220 has a circular cross-section with a radius of 2 centimeters and a cross-sectional area of approximately 12.5 cm2. For comparison purposes, FIG. 14B schematically illustrates a light beam 930 having a significantly smaller cross-section impinging a smaller portion 940 of the torso 220 to irradiate a portion 950 of the heart 222. The light beam 930 impinging the torso 220 in FIG. 14B has a circular cross-section with a radius of 1 centimeter and a cross-sectional area of approximately 3.1 cm2. The cross-sections and radii of the light beams 900, 930 illustrated in FIGS. 14A and 14B are exemplary; other light beams with other parameters are also compatible with embodiments described herein. In particular, similar considerations apply to focussed beams, collimated beams, or diverging beams, as they are similarly scattered by the intervening tissue. [0117] As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the cross-sections of the light beams 900, 930 become larger while propagating through the torso 220 due to scattering from interactions with tissue. The light beams 900, 930 propagate through various tissue portions, each with a characteristic angle of dispersion, with the light beams 900, 930 experiencing an effective angle of dispersion. Assuming that the effective angle of dispersion is 15 degrees and the irradiated cardiac tissue of the heart 220 is 7 centimeters below the surface of the torso 220, the resulting area of the portion 920 of the heart 222 irradiated by the light beam 900 in FIG. 14A is approximately 45.6 cm2. Similarly, the resulting area of the portion 950 of the heart 222 irradiated by the light beam 930 in FIG. 14B is approximately 24.8 cm2. [0118] Irradiating the portion 920 of the heart 222 with a power density of 10 mW/cm2 corresponds to a total power within the portion 920 of approximately 456 mW (10 mW/cm2×45.6 cm2). Assuming only approximately 0.5% of the light beam 900 is transmitted between the surface of the torso 220 and the heart 222, the incident light beam 900 at the surface of the torso 220 will have a total power of approximately 91200 mW (456 mW/0.005) and a power density of approximately 7300 mW/cm2 (91200 mW/12.5 cm2). Similarly, irradiating the portion 950 of the heart 222 with a power density of 10 mW/cm2 corresponds to a total power within the portion 950 of approximately 248 mW (10 mW/cm2×24.8 cm2), and with the same 0.5% transmittance, the incident light beam 950 at the surface of the torso 220 will have a total power of approximately 49600 mW (248 mW/0.005) and a power density of approximately 15790 mW/cm2 (49600 mW/3.1 cm2). These calculations are summarized in Table 1. TABLE 1 2 cm Spot Size 1 cm Spot Size (FIG. 14A) (FIG. 14B) Surface of Torso: Area 12.5 cm2 3.1 cm2 Total power 91200 mW 49600 mW Power density 7300 mW/cm2 15790 mW/cm2 Heart: Area 45.6 cm2 24.8 cm2 Total power 456 mW 248 mW Power density 10 mW/cm2 10 mW/cm2 [0119] These exemplary calculations illustrate that to obtain a desired power density at the heart 222, higher total power at the surface of the torso 220 can be used in conjunction with a larger spot size at the surface of the torso 220. Thus, by increasing the spot size at the surface of the torso 220, a desired power density at the heart 222 can be achieved with lower power densities at the surface of the torso 220 which can reduce the possibility of overheating the torso 220. In certain embodiments, the light can be directed through an aperture to define the illumination of the torso 220 to a selected smaller area. [0120] Directing Light Onto Cardiac Tissue: Other Parameters [0121] In certain embodiments, delivering the cardioprotective amount of light energy includes selecting an initial power density of the light energy at the torso 220 corresponding to the predetermined efficacious power density at the target area of the heart 222. As described above, light propagating through tissue is scattered and absorbed by the tissue. Calculations of the initial power density to be applied to the torso 220 so as to deliver a predetermined efficacious power density to the selected target area of the heart 222 preferably take into account the attenuation of the light energy as it propagates through the skin and other tissues, such as bone and lung tissue. Factors known to affect the attenuation of light propagating to the heart 222 include, but are not limited to, skin pigmentation, the presence and color of hair over the area to be treated, amount of fat tissue, body size, breast size, the presence of bruised or scarred tissue, amount of pericardial fluid, presence of other materials (e.g., sutures) in the intervening tissue, and the location of the target area of the heart 222, particularly the depth of the area relative to the surface of the torso 220. For example, for higher levels of skin pigmentation (with correspondingly higher absorptions), the power density applied to the torso 220 should be higher so as to deliver a predetermined power density of light energy to a selected portion of the heart 222. In addition, the power density selected to be applied to the target area of the patient's heart 222 can depend on other factors, including, but not limited to, the wavelength of the applied light, the type and location of the injury to the heart 222, and the patient's clinical condition. [0122] The target area of the patient's heart 222 to be irradiated can be previously identified by using standard medical imaging techniques. In certain embodiments, treatment includes calculating an initial power density which corresponds to a preselected power density at the target area of the patient's heart 222. The calculation of certain embodiments includes some or all of the factors listed above that affect the penetration of the light energy through the torso 220 and thus the power density at the target area. The power density of light energy to be delivered to the target area of the patient's heart 222 may also be adjusted to be combined with any other therapeutic agent or agents, especially pharmaceutical cardioprotective agents, to achieve the desired biological effect. In such embodiments, the selected power density can also depend on the additional therapeutic agent or agents chosen. The power density and other parameters of the applied light are then adjusted according to the results of the calculation. [0123] These other parameters can include the timing pattern of the phototherapy. In certain embodiments, the light energy is preferably delivered for at least one treatment period of at least about five minutes, and more preferably for at least one treatment period of at least ten minutes. In other embodiments, the treatment proceeds continuously for a period of about 10 seconds to about 2 hours, more preferably for a period of about 1 minute to about 10 minutes, and most preferably for a period of about 1 minute to about 5 minutes. [0124] In certain embodiments, the light energy is pulsed during the treatment period, while in other embodiments, the light energy is continuously applied during the treatment period. If the light is pulsed, the pulse widths are preferably at least about 10 nanoseconds, and are more preferably in a range between approximately 100 microseconds and approximately 20 milliseconds. In certain embodiments, the pulses occur at a frequency of up to about 100 kHz. Continuous wave light may also be used. [0125] In certain embodiments, the treatment may be terminated after one treatment period, while in other embodiments, the treatment may be repeated for at least two treatment periods. The time between subsequent treatment periods is preferably at least about five minutes, more preferably at least about 1 to 2 days, and most preferably at least about one week. In certain embodiments in which treatment is performed over the course of multiple days, the therapy apparatus is wearable over multiple concurrent days. The length of treatment time and frequency of treatment periods can depend on several factors, including the functional recovery of the patient and the results of imaging analysis of the infarct. In certain embodiments, one or more treatment parameters can be adjusted in response to a feedback signal from a device (e.g., electrocardiogram or magnetic resonance imaging) monitoring the patient. [0126] In certain embodiments, the therapy pattern is selected to reduce the amount of scattering and absorption of the light by the lungs during the treatment procedure. Lung tissue surrounds a large fraction of the heart 222 and the lung tissue can be a significant source of scatter and absorption. For example, the lungs are substantially opaque at wavelengths of approximately 810 nanometers. However, during breathing, the lungs move back and forth such that the fraction of the heart 222 occluded from a light source by the lungs varies. Thus, in certain embodiments, irradiation occurs during those portions of the breathing cycle at which the lungs comprise a minimum fraction of the intervening tissue between the light source and the heart 222. [0127] The thrombolytic therapies currently in use for treatment of MI are typically begun within a few hours of the MI. However, many hours often pass before a person who has suffered an MI receives medical treatment, so the short time limit for initiating thrombolytic therapy excludes many patients from treatment. In contrast, phototherapy treatment of MI appears to be more effective if treatment begins no earlier than several hours after the ischemic event has occurred. Consequently, the present methods of phototherapy may be used to treat a greater percentage of MI patients. [0128] In certain embodiments, a method provides a cardioprotective effect in a patient that had an ischemic event in the heart. The method comprises identifying a patient who has experienced an ischemic event in the heart. The method further comprises estimating the time of the ischemic event. The method further comprises commencing administration of a cardioprotective effective amount of light energy to the heart. The administration of the light energy is commenced no earlier than about two hours following the time of the ischemic event. In certain embodiments, phototherapy treatment can be efficaciously performed preferably within 24 hours after the ischemic event occurs, and more preferably no earlier than three hours following the ischemic event, and most preferably no earlier than five hours following the ischemic event. In certain embodiments, one or more of the treatment parameters can be varied depending on the amount of time that has elapsed since the ischemic event. [0129] Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the benefit in delaying treatment occurs because of the time needed for induction of ATP production, and/or the possible induction of angiogenesis in the region surrounding the infarct. Thus, in accordance with one preferred embodiment, the phototherapy for the treatment of MI occurs preferably about 6 to 24 hours after the onset of MI symptoms, more preferably about 12 to 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. It is believed, however, that if treatment begins after about 2 days, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced. [0130] In certain embodiments, the phototherapy is combined with other types of treatments for an improved therapeutic effect. Treatment can comprise directing light through the torso 220 of the patient to a target area of the heart 222 concurrently with applying an electromagnetic field to the heart. In such embodiments, the light has an efficacious power density at the target area and the electromagnetic field has an efficacious field strength. For example, the therapy apparatus can also include systems for electromagnetic treatment, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,531 issued to Holcomb, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. In certain embodiments, the electromagnetic field comprises a magnetic field, while in other embodiments, the electromagnetic field comprises a radio-frequency (RF) field. As another example, treatment can comprise directing an efficacious power density of light through the torso 220 of the patient to a target area of the heart 222 concurrently with applying an efficacious amount of ultrasonic energy to the heart 222. Such a system can include systems for ultrasonic treatment, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,470 issued to Fry et al., which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. [0131] Directing Light Onto Cardiac Tissue: Therapy Apparatus Control [0132] [0132]FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a control circuit 1000 comprising a programmable controller 1010 coupled to a light source 1005 according to embodiments described herein. The control circuit 1000 is configured to adjust the power of the light energy emitted by the light source 1005 to generate a predetermined energy delivery profile, such as a predetermined subsurface power density, to the target area of the heart 222. In certain embodiments, the control circuit 1000 is also configured to adjust other parameters of the phototherapy, including but not limited to, pulsing of the light, number, frequency, and duration of treatment periods, pattern of irradiation applied to the patient, wavelengths of the light, and the magnitude, timing, and duration of the application of other sources of energy (e.g., magnetic, RF, ultrasonic) to the heart. [0133] In certain embodiments, the programmable controller 1010 comprises a logic circuit 1020, a clock 1030 coupled to the logic circuit 1020, and an interface 1040 coupled to the logic circuit 1020. The clock 1030 of certain embodiments provides a timing signal to the logic circuit 1020 so that the logic circuit 1020 can monitor and control timing intervals of the applied light. Examples of timing intervals include, but are not limited to, total treatment times, pulsewidth times for pulses of applied light, and time intervals between pulses of applied light. In certain embodiments, the light source 1005 can be selectively turned on and off to reduce the thermal load at the torso 220 and to deliver a selected power density to the target cardiac tissue. In addition, in embodiments using a plurality of light sources, the light sources can be selectively activated to provide a predetermined pattern of irradiation. [0134] The interface 1040 of certain embodiments provides signals to the logic circuit 1020 which the logic circuit 1020 uses to control the applied light. The interface 1040 can comprise a user interface or an interface to a sensor monitoring at least one parameter of the treatment. In certain such embodiments, the programmable controller 1010 is responsive to signals from the sensor to preferably adjust the treatment parameters to optimize the measured response. The programmable controller 1010 can thus provide closed-loop monitoring and adjustment of various treatment parameters to optimize the phototherapy. The signals provided by the interface 1040 from a user are indicative of parameters that may include, but are not limited to, patient characteristics (e.g., skin type, fat percentage), selected applied power densities, target time intervals, and power density/timing profiles for the applied light. [0135] In certain embodiments, the logic circuit 1020 is coupled to a light source driver 1050. The light source driver 1050 is coupled to a power supply 1060, which in certain embodiments comprises a battery and in other embodiments comprises an alternating current source. The light source driver 1050 is also coupled to the light source 1005. The logic circuit 1020 is responsive to the signal from the clock 1030 and to user input from the user interface 1040 to transmit a control signal to the light source driver 1050. In response to the control signal from the logic circuit 1020, the light source driver 1050 adjust and controls the power applied to the light source 1005. Other control circuits besides the control circuit 1000 of FIG. 15 are compatible with embodiments described herein. [0136] In certain embodiments, the logic circuit 1020 is responsive to signals from a sensor monitoring at least one parameter of the treatment to control the applied light. For example, certain embodiments comprise a temperature sensor thermally coupled to the torso 220 to provide information regarding the temperature of the torso 220 to the logic circuit 1020. In such embodiments, the logic circuit 1020 is responsive to the information from the temperature sensor to transmit a control signal to the light source driver 1050 so as to adjust the parameters of the applied light to maintain the temperature at the torso 220 below a predetermined level. Other embodiments include exemplary biomedical sensors including, but not limited to, an electrocardiograph sensor, a blood flow sensor, a blood gas (e.g., oxygenation) sensor, an ATP production sensor, or a cellular activity sensor. Such biomedical sensors can provide real-time feedback information to the logic circuit 1020. In certain such embodiments, the logic circuit 1020 is responsive to signals from the sensors to preferably adjust the parameters of the applied light to optimize the measured response. The logic circuit 1020 can thus provide closed-loop monitoring and adjustment of various parameters of the applied light to optimize the phototherapy. EXAMPLE Phototherapy on Neurons [0137] While the following description recounts the irradiation of neurons with an efficacious power density of light, it serves as an example of the phototherapy technique in general. An in vitro experiment was done to demonstrate one effect of phototherapy on neurons, namely the effect on ATP production. Normal Human Neural Progenitor (NHNP) cells were obtained cryopreserved through Clonetics of Baltimore, Md., catalog # CC-2599. The NHNP cells were thawed and cultured on polyethyleneimine (PEI) with reagents provided with the cells, following the manufacturers' instructions. The cells were plated into 96 well plates (black plastic with clear bottoms, Becton Dickinson of Franklin Lakes, N.J.) as spheroids and allowed to differentiate into mature neurons over a period of two weeks. [0138] A Photo Dosing Assembly (PDA) was used to provide precisely metered doses of laser light to the NHNP cells in the 96 well plates. The PDA included a Nikon Diaphot inverted microscope (Nikon of Melville, N.Y.) with a LUDL motorized x,y,z stage (Ludl Electronic Products of Hawthorne, N.Y.). An 808 nanometer laser was routed into the rear epi-fluorescent port on the microscope using a custom designed adapter and a fiber optic cable. Diffusing lenses were mounted in the path of the beam to create a “speckled” pattern, which was intended to mimic in vivo conditions after a laser beam passed through human skin. The beam diverged to a 25 millimeter diameter circle when it reached the bottom of the 96 well plates. This dimension was chosen so that a cluster of four adjacent wells could be lased at the same time. Cells were plated in a pattern such that a total of 12 clusters could be lased per 96 well plate. Stage positioning was controlled by a Silicon Graphics workstation and laser timing was performed by hand using a digital timer. The measured power density passing through the plate for the NHNP cells was 50 mW/cm2. [0139] Two independent assays were used to measure the effects of 808 nanometer laser light on the NHNP cells. The first was the CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay (Promega of Madison, Wis.). This assay generates a “glow-type” luminescent signal produced by a luciferase reaction with cellular ATP. The CellTiter-Glo reagent is added in an amount equal to the volume of media in the well and results in cell lysis followed by a sustained luminescent reaction that was measured using a Reporter luminometer (Turner Biosystems of Sunnyvale, Calif.). Amounts of ATP present in the NHNP cells were quantified in Relative Luminescent Units (RLUs) by the luminometer. [0140] The second assay used was the alamarBlue assay (Biosource of Camarillo, Calif.). The internal environment of a proliferating cell is more reduced than that of a non-proliferating cell. Specifically, the ratios of NADPH/NADP, FADH/FAD, FMNH/FMN and NADH/NAD, increase during proliferation. Laser irradiation is also thought to have an effect on these ratios. Compounds such as alamarBlue are reduced by these metabolic intermediates and can be used to monitor cellular states. The oxidization of alamarBlue is accompanied by a measurable shift in color. In its unoxidized state, alamarBlue appears blue; when oxidized, the color changes to red. To quantify this shift, a 340PC microplate reading spectrophotometer (Molecular Devices of Sunnyvale, Calif.) was used to measure the absorbance of a well containing NHNP cells, media and alamarBlue diluted 10% v/v. The absorbance of each well was measured at 570 nanometers and 600 nanometers and the percent reduction of alamarBlue was calculated using an equation provided by the manufacturer. [0141] The two metrics described above, (RLUs and % Reduction) were then used to compare NHNP culture wells that had been lased with 50 mW/cm2 at a wavelength of 808 nanometers. For the CellTiter-Glo assay, 20 wells were lased for 1 second and compared to an unlased control group of 20 wells. The CellTiter-Glo reagent was added 10 minutes after lasing completed and the plate was read after the cells had lysed and the luciferase reaction had stabilized. The average RLUs measured for the control wells was 3808+/−3394 while the laser group showed a two-fold increase in ATP content to 7513+/−6109. The standard deviations were somewhat high due to the relatively small number of NHNP cells in the wells (approximately 100 per well from visual observation), but a student's unpaired t-test was performed on the data with a resulting p-value of 0.02 indicating that the two-fold change is statistically significant. [0142] The alamarBlue assay was performed with a higher cell density and a lasing time of 5 seconds. The plating density (calculated to be between 7,500-26,000 cells per well based on the certificate of analysis provided by the manufacturer) was difficult to determine since some of the cells had remained in the spheroids and had not completely differentiated. Wells from the same plate can still be compared though, since plating conditions were identical. The alamarBlue was added immediately after lasing and the absorbance was measured 9.5 hours later. The average measured values for percent reduction were 22%+/−7.3% for the 8 lased wells and 12.4%+/−5.9% for the 3 unlased control wells (p-value=0.076). These alamarBlue results support the earlier findings in that they show a similar positive effect of the laser treatment on the cells. [0143] Increases in cellular ATP concentration and a more reduced state within the cell are both related to cellular metabolism and are considered to be indications that the cell is viable and healthy. These results are novel and significant in that they show the positive effects of laser irradiation on cellular metabolism in in-vitro neuronal cell cultures. 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