Patent ID: 8535359

Claim:
A method for effecting photodamage in a biological contaminant in an illuminated target region of a subject, the method comprising: using an optical radiation generation device configured to generate near infrared optical radiation (i) substantially in a first wavelength range from 865 nm to 875 nm and a second wavelength range having a wavelength from 925 nm to 935 nm, and (ii) at a dosimetry including power density of 0.5 W/cm 2 to 5 W/cm 2 and an energy density from 200 J/cm 2 to 700 J/cm 2 at the illuminated target region, and a time duration of 50 to 720 seconds, wherein the dosimetry is sufficient to produce photodamage in the biological contaminant; using a delivery assembly to cause the optical radiation to be transmitted to illuminate the target region of the subject, wherein substantially all of the near infrared optical radiation transmitted from the optical radiation generation device to the target region by the delivery assembly is in the first wavelength range or the second wavelength range, and wherein the near infrared optical radiation has a spot size at the target region of at least 1.0 cm; and using a controller operatively connected to the optical radiation generation device to control the dosage of the near infrared optical radiation transmitted to the target region of the subject at the dosimetry sufficient to produce photodamage in the biological contaminant.