Systems and methods for treating superficial venous malformations like spider veins

Abstract

Systems and methods treat superficial venous malformations, such as spider veins. The systems and methods distribute a reactive agent, e.g., a light-reactive agent such as talaporfin sodium or verteporfin, at or near an inner wall of a vein. The systems and methods activate the reactive agent by applying energy, e.g. non-thermal light energy at a wavelength that activates the reactive agent to cause localized injury to the inner wall of the vein.

1 . A method for treating a spider vein comprising 
 providing a reactive agent that is controllably activated by the application of a prescribed form of energy,    distributing the reactive agent at, in, or near an inner wall of a spider vein, and activating the reactive agent by applying the prescribed form of energy that activates the reactive agent in situ to cause localized injury to the inner wall of the spider vein.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1   wherein the prescribed form of energy comprises electromagnetic radiation.    
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1   wherein the prescribed form of energy comprises light energy.    
     
     
         4 . A method for treating a spider vein comprising 
 providing a light-reactive agent,    distributing the light-reactive agent at, in, or near an inner wall of a spider vein, and    activating the light-reactive agent by applying light energy having a wavelength that activates the light-reactive agent to cause localized injury to the inner wall of the spider vein.    
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light-reactive agent comprises verteporfin.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light-reactive agent comprises talaporfin sodium.    
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light-reactive agent is distributed by intravenous injection.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light-reactive agent is distributed by ingestion.    
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light-reactive agent is distributed by topical application.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9   wherein the light-reactive agent is topically applied to exterior skin tissue.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10   wherein the light-reactive agent is carried on a band aid member applied to skin tissue.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 9   wherein the light-reactive agent is topically applied to tissue within an oral cavity.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 9   wherein the light-reactive agent is applied by pricking tissue.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light-reactive agent includes a time release component.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein distribution of the light-reactive agent includes application of ultrasound.    
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein distribution of the light-reactive agent includes use of dimethyl sulfoxide or aloe cream.    
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light energy comprises light from at least one light emitting diode.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light energy is applied by a hand-held photoactivation device.    
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18   wherein the photoactivation device is battery powered.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein light energy is applied by an array of light emitters.    
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20   wherein at least one of the light emitters comprises a light emitting diode.    
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein light energy is applied by an array of light emitter carried by a platform.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22   wherein the platform is sized and configured to be manually placed in contact with a tissue region.    
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein light energy is applied via a fiber optic cable.    
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24   wherein the fiber optic cable includes quartz.    
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 24   wherein the light energy comprises fluorescent light.    
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 24   wherein the light energy comprises incandescent light.    
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 4   wherein the light energy comprises laser.    
     
     
         29 . A system comprising 
 a reactive agent that is controllably activated by the application of a prescribed form of energy,    a device operating to emit the prescribed form of energy that activates the reactive agent, and    directions for using the reactive agent and the device to treat a spider vein condition.    
     
     
         30 . A system comprising 
 a light-reactive agent,    a photoactivation device operating to emit light at a wavelength that activates the light-reactive agent, and    directions for using the light-reactive agent and the photoactivation device to treat a spider vein condition.    
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 30   wherein the light-reactive agent is verteporfin.    
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 30   wherein the light-reactive agent comprises talaporfin sodium.    
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 30   wherein the photoactivating device comprises a hand-held light source.    
     
     
         34 . A system according to  claim 30   wherein the photoactivation device includes at least one light emitting diode.    
     
     
         35 . A system according to  claim 30   wherein the photoactivation device includes an array of light emitters.    
     
     
         36 . A system according to  claim 35   wherein at least one of the light emitters comprises a light emitting diode.    
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 30   wherein the photoactivation device includes a platform and an array of light emitters carried by the platform.    
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 37   wherein the platform is sized and configured to be manually placed in contact with a tissue region.    
     
     
         39 . A method for treating superficial venous malformations comprising 
 providing a reactive agent that is controllably activated by the application of a prescribed form of energy,    distributing the reactive agent at, in, or near an inner wall of a vein, and    activating the reactive agent by applying the prescribed form of energy that activates the reactive agent in situ to-cause localized injury to the inner wall of the vein.    
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39   wherein the prescribed form of energy comprises electromagnetic radiation.    
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 39   wherein the prescribed form of energy comprises light energy.    
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 39   wherein the superficial venous malformation comprises a spider vein.    
     
     
         43 . A system comprising 
 a reactive agent that is controllably activated by the application of a prescribed form of energy,    a device operating to emit the prescribed form of energy that activates the reactive agent, and    directions for using the reactive agent and the device to treat a superficial venous malformation.    
     
     
         44 . A system according to  claim 43   wherein the prescribed form of energy comprises electromagnetic radiation.    
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 43   wherein the prescribed form of energy comprises light energy.    
     
     
         46 . A system according to  claim 43   wherein the superficial venous malformation comprises a spider vein.    
     
     
         47 . A method for treating superficial venous malformations comprising 
 providing a light-reactive agent,    distributing the light-reactive agent at, in, or near an inner wall of a vein, and    activating the light-reactive agent by applying light energy from a light emitting diode having a wavelength that activates the light-reactive agent to cause localized injury to the inner wall of the vein.    
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 47   wherein the superficial venous malformation comprises a spider vein.    
     
     
         49 . A system comprising 
 a light-reactive agent,    is a photoactivation device comprising at least one light-emitting diode operating to emit light at a wavelength that activates the light-reactive agent, and    directions for using the light-reactive agent and the photoactivation device to treat a superficial venous malformation.    
     
     
         50 . A system according to  claim 49   wherein the superficial venous malformation comprises a spider vein.