Photothermal treatment of soft tissues

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for the treatment of soft tissue. The apparatus includes a light source and at least two optical assemblies. Each of the optical assemblies includes at least one optical element and a light-transmitting contact surface configured to transmit a substantially uniform distribution of light therethrough. The apparatus further includes at least two optical transmission devices each disposed between the light source and a corresponding one of the at least two optical assemblies. The apparatus also includes a handpiece to which the at least two optical assemblies are attached, and which is adapted to bring the light-transmitting contact surfaces of the at least two optical assemblies in contact with soft tissue disposed therebetween. The method includes compressing and substantially flattening portions of the tonsil tissue between light-transmitting contact surfaces of two opposed light emitting optical assemblies, introducing light into an optical element of each of the optical assemblies; and irradiating the tonsil tissue by directing the light from the optical element through the light-transmitting contact surfaces to the tonsil tissue in a substantially uniform light distribution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treatment of soft tissue, comprising:
 a light source,   at least two optical assemblies, each of the optical assemblies comprising:
 at least one optical element; and 
 a light-transmitting contact surface configured to transmit a substantially uniform distribution of light therethrough; 
   at least two optical transmission devices each disposed between the light source and a corresponding one of the at least two optical assemblies; and   a handpiece to which the at least two optical assemblies are attached, and which is adapted to bring the light-transmitting contact surfaces of the at least two optical assemblies in contact with soft tissue disposed therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . A method for treating tonsil tissue, comprising:
 compressing and substantially flattening portions of the tonsil tissue between light-transmitting contact surfaces of two opposed light emitting optical assemblies;   introducing light into an optical element of each of the optical assemblies; and   irradiating the tonsil tissue by directing the light from the optical element through the light-transmitting contact surfaces to the tonsil tissue in a substantially uniform light distribution.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising reflecting the light introduced into the optical assembly at an angle using a reflecting device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 reflecting the light introduced into the optical assembly at an angle using a plurality of reflecting devices and transmitting the reflected light through the light transmitting contact surface of each optical assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising inserting a distal tip of at least one needle into the tonsil tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising selecting a combination of target irradiation temperature and irradiation time sufficient to achieve damage or injury to at least a portion of biofilm of a tonsillar crypt. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising selecting a combination of target irradiation temperature and irradiation time sufficient to achieve transitioning tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the target irradiation temperature is at least about 50° C. to about 65° C., and the irradiation time is between about 1 and about 7 minutes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the target irradiation temperature is at least about 60° C. and about 65° C., and the irradiation time is less than about 1 minute. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the light-transmitting contact surfaces cools a mucosal layer of the tonsil tissue. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the light-transmitting contact surfaces actively cools a mucosal layer of the tonsil tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the light-transmitting contact surfaces actively cools the mucosal layer using a cooling fluid in thermal contact with the light-transmitting contact surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising continuing to hold and cool the tonsil tissue between the light-transmitting contact surfaces after irradiating the tissue to reduce the tonsil tissue temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising continuing to hold and cool the tonsil tissue between the light-transmitting contact surfaces after irradiating the tissue to reduce the tonsil tissue temperature to a temperature of about 50° C. or less. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising cooling irradiated tonsil parenchyma to a temperature between about 37° C. and about 5° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein substantially the entire tonsil tissue is cooled to a temperature below 37° C. and above a temperature that causes irreversible freezing injury to the tonsil tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising measuring a temperature of the tonsil tissue in at least one location. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising measuring a temperature of at least one location within a parenchyma of the tonsil. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tonsil is compressed between at least two light-transmitting contact surfaces with sufficient applied pressure to reduce a perfusion of blood in the tonsil tissue as the tonsil tissue is irradiated. 
     
     
         20 . A method for treating tonsil tissue, comprising:
 compressing and substantially flattening portions of the tonsil tissue between a light-transmitting contact surface and a non-light-emitting surface;   introducing light into an optical element; and   irradiating the tonsil tissue by directing the light from the optical element through the light-transmitting contact surface to the tonsil tissue in a substantially uniform distribution.