Continuous low irradiance photodynamic therapy system and method

Abstract

Systems and methods are providing for treating a patient with continuous low irradiance photodynamic therapy. A disclosed method includes applying a photosensitizer to the patient; applying a conformable skin facing light applicator to the patient; and providing continuous low irradiance photodynamic therapy through the light applicator. A disclosed system includes a light applicator having a fiber optic cloth. The light applicator is conformable so that it can be worn against a patient's skin and the fiber optic cloth has a two dimensional surface that emits light in a direction toward a patient's skin. In this aspect, the power of the light emitted from the two dimensional surface in a direction toward a patient's skin is less than or equal to about 5 mW/cm 2 .

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A system for photodynamic therapy comprising:
 a light delivery device that delivers illumination necessary to perform photodynamic therapy, the light delivery device includes a skin facing area for illumination of a selected region of a body for photodynamic therapy;   a light source coupled to the light delivery device to provide illumination to the light delivery device; and   a controller having a processor programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the applicator delivers less than or equal to 3 mW/cm 2  through its skin facing area for illumination for a time period sufficient to activate a photosensitizer.   
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the illumination is delivered for a time period of at least 4 hours. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the illumination is delivered for a time period of at least 12 hours. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the illumination is delivered for a time period of at least 24 hours. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that an illumination dose is fractionated into multiple doses. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the skin facing area is at least 10 cm 2 . 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the skin facing area is at least 100 cm 2 . 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the skin facing area includes optical fiber having disruptions in a skin facing direction, the disruptions being arranged to cause light to be emitted in the skin facing direction. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54 , wherein the disruptions are formed by etching. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising a photosensitizer for activation by the light delivery device. 
     
     
         57 . A method for providing continuous low irradiance photodynamic therapy to a patient, comprising:
 applying a skin facing light applicator to the patient; and   providing a light intensity of less than or equal to 3 mW/cm 2  through the light applicator to activate a photosensitizer and thereby treat the patient.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the light is delivered for a time period of at least 4 hours. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the light is delivered for a time period of at least 12 hours. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the light is delivered for a time period of at least 24 hours. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the light is delivered such that an illumination dose is fractionated into multiple doses. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the light applicator delivers light through a skin facing area that is at least 10 cm 2 . 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the light applicator delivers light through a skin facing area that is at least 100 cm 2 . 
     
     
         64 . A system for treating a patient using light therapy comprising:
 a light delivery device that delivers illumination necessary to perform photodynamic therapy, the light delivery device being in the form of a facial mask and including a skin facing area for illumination of a selected region of a patient's facial skin for therapy;   a light source coupled to the light delivery device to provide the necessary illumination to the light delivery device; and   a controller having a processor programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the applicator delivers less than or equal to 3 mW/cm 2  through its skin facing area for illumination of the selected region of the patient's facial skin for therapy.   
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the illumination is delivered for a time period of at least 4 hours. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the illumination is delivered for a time period of at least 12 hours. 
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that the illumination is delivered for a time period of at least 24 hours. 
     
     
         68 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the processor is programmed to control the illumination delivered by the applicator such that an illumination dose is fractionated into multiple doses. 
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the skin facing area includes optical fiber having disruptions in a skin facing direction, the disruptions being arranged to cause light to be emitted in the skin facing direction. 
     
     
         70 . The system of  claim 69 , wherein the disruptions are formed by etching. 
     
     
         71 . The system of  claim 64 , further comprising a photosensitizer for activation by the light delivery device. 
     
     
         72 . A method for providing light therapy to a patient, comprising:
 providing a light applicator in the form of a facial mask;   applying the facial mask to the patient's face so that a light applying surface of the light applicator faces a selected region of the patient's facial skin; and   providing a light intensity of less than or equal to 3 mW/cm 2  through the light applicator to thereby treat the selected region of the patient's skin.   
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the light is delivered for a time period of at least 4 hours. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the light is delivered for a time period of at least 12 hours. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the light is delivered for a time period of at least 24 hours. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 72 , wherein the light is delivered such that an illumination dose is fractionated into multiple doses.