Phototherapeutical apparatus and method for the treatment and prevention of diseases of body cavities

Abstract

A phototherapeutical apparatus and method are described. The apparatus includes an ultraviolet light source, an optical guidance system, and a patient interface. The patient interface is insertable at least partially into a body cavity and is operable to apply the guided ultraviolet light to a tissue surface of a body cavity. The method includes providing the phototherapeutical apparatus, preparing for the application of the phototherapeutical apparatus, inserting the patient interface at least partially into a body cavity, and applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein the tissue of the body cavity has an inflammatory or a hyperproliferative disease. The inflammatory diseases include rhinitis, sinusitis and rhinosinusitis. A photochemotherapeutical method is also described, using photosensitizing substances, such as psoralen before treatment with ultraviolet light. The phototherapeutical method is also effective for the prevention of inflammatory or hyperproliferative diseases.

1 . A method of treating diseases, the method comprising: 
 providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising: 
 an ultraviolet light source;  
 an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source; and  
 a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;  
   generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;    coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system; and    applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity, wherein the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, eosinophilic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, sinusitis, and nasal polyp.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising inserting the patient interface into the body cavity.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ultraviolet light source comprises at least one of a fluorescent lamp, a ultraviolet light emitting diode, a dye laser, an arc lamp, and an electric discharge lamp, and wherein the electric discharge lamp comprises at least one of xenon, argon, and mercury vapor.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body cavity comprises a nasal cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body cavity comprises a nasal cavity.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the optical guidance system is flexible.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the optical guidance system comprises a fiberoptic.  
   
   
       8 . A method of treating diseases, the method comprising: 
 providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising: 
 an ultraviolet light source;  
 an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source; and  
 a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;  
   generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;    coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system; and    applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity to deliver a dose in a range of 20-1000 mJ/cm 2  in a time interval of 1-10 minutes.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tissue of the body cavity has at least one of an inflammatory disease and a hyperproliferative disease.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the inflammatory disease comprises at least one of allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, eosinophilic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis, and sinusitis.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the hyperproliferative disease comprises a nasal polyp.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tissue comprises a mucous membrane and the body cavity comprises at least one of a mouth cavity, a throat, an esophagus, a stomach, a small intestine, a large intestine, a gastrointestinal tract, a rectum, an ear, a trachea, a urogenital tract, a uterus, and a conjunctiva.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tissue comprises a mucous membrane and the body cavity comprises at least one of a nasal cavity and a paranasal sinus.  
   
   
       14 . The phototherapeutical method of  claim 8 , wherein an inner diameter of the body cavity is less than 1 cm.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the optical guidance system is flexible.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the optical guidance system comprises a fiberoptic.  
   
   
       17 . A method of preventing diseases, the method comprising: 
 providing a phototherapeutical apparatus, comprising: 
 an ultraviolet light source;  
 an optical guidance system, coupled to the ultraviolet light source; and  
 a patient interface, coupled to the optical guidance system;  
   generating ultraviolet light with the ultraviolet light source;    coupling the generated ultraviolet light into the patient interface through the optical guidance system;    applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface to a tissue surface of a body cavity of a patient, wherein the patient is symptom-free.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the applying the ultraviolet light by the patient interface comprises inserting the patient interface at least partially into the body cavity.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the optical guidance system is flexible.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the optical guidance system comprises a fiberoptic.