Disinfection, destruction of neoplastic growth, and sterilization by differential absorption of electromagnetic energy

Abstract

Neoplastic tissue, viral and bacterial infections, and other physiological disorders and conditions are treated by irradiation of the host with electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength that is differentially absorbed by the offending tissue or cells. Radiation with differential absorption is also used in the sterilization of articles and packing made from synthetic polymers and for the treatment of food stuffs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for deactivating enzymes in living tissue, comprising:
 a processor to:
 determine a first spectra of enzymes in a living tissue, wherein the enzymes are a component in the living tissue; and 
 determine second spectra of molecules of the living tissue other than the enzymes; 
   a spectroscopic device to:
 perform a first flux density test for the enzymes of the living tissue; 
 perform a second flux density test for the molecules of the living tissue other than the enzymes; 
   an irradiator to:
 irradiate the living tissue with electromagnetic radiation of one or more wavelengths that is or are absorbed by the enzymes preferentially relative to the molecules of the living tissue other than the enzymes based at least in part on the first spectra and the second spectra at a sufficient intensity and for a sufficient period of time that said enzymes are denatured by the electromagnetic radiation without substantial denaturation or damage of the molecules of the living tissue other than the enzymes, wherein the sufficient intensity and the sufficient period are based at least in part on the first flux density test and the second flux density test. 
   
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the irradiation causes irreversible denaturation of the enzymes. 
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wavelengths are selected by comparing the first spectra and the second spectra to identify the one or more wavelengths at which the enzymes absorb the electromagnetic radiation preferentially relative to the molecules of the living tissue other than the enzymes 
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the living tissue comprises a malignant skin tissue. 
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a dermatofibroma. 
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a seborrhoeic keratosis. 
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises an actinic keratosis. 
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a keratoacan thoma. 
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a basal cell carcinoma. 
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a squamous cell carcinoma. 
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a nevus intradermalis. 
     
     
         12 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a nevus compositus. 
     
     
         13 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a dysplastic nevus. 
     
     
         14 . A system as in  claim 4 , wherein the malignant skin tissue comprises a lentigo maligna. 
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the living tissue comprises a brain cancer tissue. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the living tissue comprise a prostate cancer tissue. 
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the living tissue comprise a breast cancer tissue.