Light Sciences Oncology, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120209359 | LOW-PROFILE INTRALUMINAL LIGHT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - A light delivery system to provide light treatment to a patient includes an elongated catheter having a light emitter that transmits light towards a target site within a patient. The catheter is sized and configured to pass through anatomical body structures to reduce or eliminate trauma associated with the delivery procedure. A visualization system of the catheter can assist a user before, during, and/or after performing light therapy. The visualization system includes sensors that provide real-time imaging or feedback. | 08-16-2012 |
20120149986 | MEDICAL APPARATUS EMPLOYING FLEXIBLE LIGHT STRUCTURES - A method of manufacture and medical apparatus that provides an apparatus useful in illuminating at least a portion of a lumen of a body. The apparatus includes an elongated flexible member and a polymer encasement portion encasing a plurality of light emitters. The light emitters may be electrically coupled to one another without the use of wire bonds, and in some embodiments may be coupled without intervening electrical paths or traces. A maximum cross-sectional dimension of the polymer encasement portion may be less than twice a dimension of one of the light emitters. In some embodiments the maximum cross-sectional dimension is less than or equal to the sum of the dimension of one of the light emitters and a marginal dimension by which an outer portion of the polymer encasement portion extends beyond the light emitter. Light emitters may be arranged linearly, helically or in partially overlapping back-to-back relation. | 06-14-2012 |
20120089207 | LIGHT TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR PHOTOREACTIVE THERAPY - A light transmission system to provide photodynamic treatment to a patient includes a single use integrated control module and catheter assembly having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to transmit light toward target cells within a patient. The integrated light catheter and control module are used in combination with a light activated drug. Selected operating parameters may be programmed into the control module, or it may be wirelessly programmable in situ prior to use to allow user flexibility to tailor treatment for a particular patient or condition. Among the features that prevent reuse are that the control module lacks access to recharge the power source, and it may include a deactivation module that destroys circuitry or software when triggered. To prevent patient interference when in use, the control module may also be configured to selectively deactivate. | 04-12-2012 |
20110236402 | ENHANCEMENT OF LIGHT ACTIVATED THERAPY BY IMMUNE AUGMENTATION USING ANTI-CTLA-4 ANTIBODY - The efficacy of light activated therapy treatment is enhanced by stimulating the immune system of the patient substantially above a normal level. Abnormal tissue that is destroyed by the light activated therapy releases factors that stimulate the immune system, leading to systemic reductions in abnormal tissue (i.e., reduction beyond the region treated using light). By further stimulating the immune system using an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, the systemic destruction of abnormal tissue is enhanced. | 09-29-2011 |
20110105745 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING A PHOTOACTIVE AGENT - An improved two stage reaction process for production of mono-L-aspartyl chlorin e | 05-05-2011 |
20110077464 | MEDICAL APPARATUS EMPLOYING FLEXIBLE LIGHT STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A method of manufacture and medical apparatus that provides an apparatus useful in illuminating at least a portion of a lumen of a body. The apparatus includes an elongated flexible member and a polymer encasement portion encasing a plurality of light emitters. The light emitters may be electrically coupled to one another without the use of wire bonds, and in some embodiments may be coupled without intervening electrical paths or traces. A maximum cross-sectional dimension of the polymer encasement portion may be less than twice a dimension of one of the light emitters. In some embodiments the maximum cross-sectional dimension is less than or equal to the sum of the dimension of one of the light emitters and a marginal dimension by which an outer portion of the polymer encasement portion extends beyond the light emitter. Light emitters may be arranged linearly, helically or in partially overlapping back-to-back relation. | 03-31-2011 |
20110009464 | IMMUNE SYSTEM STIMULATION BY LIGHT THERAPY INDUCED APOPTOTIC CELL DEATH IN ABNORMAL TISSUE - The efficacy of light activated therapy treatment is enhanced by stimulating the immune system of the patient substantially above the pre-therapy level. Abnormal tissue that is destroyed by the light activated therapy releases factors that stimulate the immune system, leading to systemic reductions in abnormal tissue (i.e., reduction beyond the area treated using light), so long as the light therapy conditions favor apoptosis over necrosis. The volume of abnormal tissue destroyed is maximized to the extent possible, reducing tumor load, which reduces an amount of immunosuppressive factors in the body, enabling stimulation of the immune system to be successful. | 01-13-2011 |
20110008372 | ENHANCEMENT OF LIGHT ACTIVATED DRUG THERAPY THROUGH COMBINATION WITH OTHER THERAPEUTIC AGENTS - The efficacy of light activated therapy treatment is enhanced by use of additional therapeutic agents. Abnormal tissue is destroyed by light activated therapy, and the associated administration of one or more additional therapeutic agents can synergistically enhance the therapy. For example, the concepts disclosed herein encompass the use of the following agents in combination with light activated drug therapy: (1) agents that selectively inhibit heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90); (2) agents that inhibit the Hedgehog pathway (which is believed to play a central role in allowing the proliferation and survival of certain cancer-causing cells, and which is implicated in many of the most deadly cancers); and, (3) agents for reducing the anti-apoptotic effects of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. These agents can be used with light activated drug therapy individually, or in various combinations and permutations. | 01-13-2011 |
20100305436 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR PHOTOACTIVE ASSISTED RESECTION - A method and system is used to locate tissue for removal during a resection. The system includes a container that holds a photoactivatable agent capable of binding with unwanted tissue at a treatment site, a light source, and a viewing device. The light source is adapted to continuously output light that causes fluorescence of the photoactivatable agent in unwanted tissue. The system provides fluorescence-enhanced viewing of the treatment site through the viewing device. The viewing device has a filter that filters out light from the light source that is reflected from the treatment site while allowing a fluorescence emission from the photoactivatable agent to pass therethrough to each eye of the user. The light from the light source and the fluorescence emission are in different regions of the energy spectrum. | 12-02-2010 |
20100274330 | DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF BLOOD VESSELS USING LIGHT - Light generating devices for illuminating portions of vascular tissue to administer photodynamic therapy, and usable with, or including a distal protection device. A first device includes a hollow tip, a flushing lumen, a guidewire lumen, and at least one of a light source, and a hollow light transmissive shaft that is adapted to accommodate a light source. If desired, the device can include a balloon, so that a portion of a body lumen between the balloon and the distal protection device is isolated when the balloon is inflated. A second device includes inner and outer catheters, the outer catheter including a balloon, and the inner catheter including a light source encompassed by another balloon. Yet another device is a catheter having two balloons and a sleeve extending there between. Within the sleeve, the catheter includes a light source and an expanding member. | 10-28-2010 |
20100036311 | ENHANCEMENT OF LIGHT ACTIVATED THERAPY BY IMMUNE AUGMENTATION USING ANTI-CTLA-4 ANTIBODY - The efficacy of light activated therapy treatment is enhanced by stimulating the immune system of the patient substantially above a normal level. Abnormal tissue that is destroyed by the light activated therapy releases factors that stimulate the immune system, leading to systemic reductions in abnormal tissue (i.e., reduction beyond the region treated using light). By further stimulating the immune system using an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, the systemic destruction of abnormal tissue is enhanced. | 02-11-2010 |
20090216300 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHT-ACTIVATED DRUG THERAPY - A prostate treatment system having a light delivery device positionable in a transurethral device for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The light delivery device includes light generator, such as light emitting diodes (LED), laser diodes (LDs) or a diffusion quartz fiber tip connected to a light generator or a light emitting polymer which produces light at a selected wavelength or waveband or alternative sources of suitable light energy. The treatment device may further include a temperature monitoring system for monitoring the temperature at the treatment site. A light-activated drug is administered to the treatment site prior to light activation. The light-activated drug therapy induces cell death of the target tissue. The device provides a minimally invasive transurethral method for treatment of BPH or prostate cancer. | 08-27-2009 |
20090192209 | Extended treatment of tumors through vessel occlusion with light activated drugs - Methods of treating diseases of a subject through selective occlusion of blood vessels. The methods include identifying and/or mapping the blood vessels supplying nutrients to the diseased or unwanted tissue, delivering an appropriate dose of an occlusion-forming photosensitizer to the subject, and exciting the photosensitizer with sufficient light irradiation in the vicinity of the blood vessels to cause vessel occlusion. The vessel occlusion cuts off nutrient supply to the diseased or unwanted tissue resulting in cell death of that tissue and any other tissue served by the occluded vessels. | 07-30-2009 |
20080269846 | DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF BLOOD VESSELS USING LIGHT - Light generating devices for illuminating portions of vascular tissue to administer photodynamic therapy, and usable with, or including a distal protection device. A first device includes a hollow tip, a flushing lumen, a guidewire lumen, and at least one of a light source, and a hollow light transmissive shaft that is adapted to accommodate a light source. If desired, the device can include a balloon, so that a portion of a body lumen between the balloon and the distal protection device is isolated when the balloon is inflated. A second device includes inner and outer catheters, the outer catheter including a balloon, and the inner catheter including a light source encompassed by another balloon. Yet another device is a catheter having two balloons and a sleeve extending there between. Within the sleeve, the catheter includes a light source and an expanding member. | 10-30-2008 |