Methods and apparatus to deliver therapeutic non-ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation for an endotracheal tube

Abstract

A therapeutic endotracheal tube assembly is provided for insertion into a patient's trachea to ventilate, to maintain patency of the patient's airway, and to deliver therapeutic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to the patient. The therapeutic endotracheal tube assembly has an endotracheal tube and an EMR delivery system. The EMR delivery system has an EMR source for emitting non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having intensity sufficient to activate desired therapeutic properties within the patient and an EMR conduction line conducive to the propagation of EMR from the EMR source along the endotracheal tube. The EMR conduction line is removably insertable into the endotracheal tube. The therapeutic endotracheal tube assembly may be custom made or may be constructed by retrofitting a removably insertable EMR delivery system to an existing endotracheal tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A therapeutic endotracheal tube assembly for insertion into a patient's trachea to ventilate, to maintain patency of the patient's airway, and to deliver therapeutic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to the patient, the therapeutic endotracheal tube assembly comprising:
 an endotracheal tube having a lumen defined by a tube wall, a ventilator collar, an upper tube portion having a proximate end coupled to a ventilator collar, and a lower tube portion having a forward end for insertion into the patient's trachea, the endotracheal tube further comprises an inflatable cuff surrounding the tube wall proximate the forward end; and   an EMR delivery system comprising:
 an EMR source for emitting non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having intensity sufficient to activate desired therapeutic properties within the patient; 
 an EMR conduction line conducive to the propagation of EMR from the EMR source along the endotracheal tube, the EMR conduction line having a coupling end and a distal end and being insertable into the endotracheal tube to deliver non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR within the patient at sufficient intensity to activate desired therapeutic properties; and 
 a coupling to connect the EMR source to the coupling end of the EMR conduction line. 
   
     
     
         2 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the endotracheal tube is at least one of optically clear and translucent so that the therapeutic EMR emits from the EMR conduction line at least one of internally and externally to the endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the EMR source comprises an optical element, the optical element being selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, lasers, filtered fluorescents, filtered incandescents, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the endotracheal tube further comprising a receiving element for receiving the insertion of the EMR conduction line, the receiving element being selected from the group consisting of an embedded conduit embedded within the tube wall, a secondary internal lumen, a partially-embedded channel, and an exterior adjacent channel. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the EMR conduction line emits EMR from at least a portion of the EMR conduction line, emission of the EMR from the EMR conduction line being from the group of emissions consisting of radial, oblique, longitudinal, from the distal end, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic EMR is delivered at a predetermined duty cycle. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic EMR has at least one wavelength, each wavelength being within the range from 380 nm to 900 nm. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one wavelength of therapeutic EMR comprises a predominant wavelength selected to sterilize one or more target organisms and selected from a group of wavelengths consisting of wavelengths centered about 400 nm, 405 nm, 415 nm, 430 nm, 440 nm, 455 nm, 470 nm, 475 nm, 660 nm, and 808 nm. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as in  claim 8 , wherein the predominant wavelength alternates between a first predominant wavelength and a second predominant wavelength in a selected treatment pattern. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein power density of the therapeutic EMR is within a range from 1.0 mW/cm 2  and 1.0 W/cm 2 . 
     
     
         11 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the fluence of the therapeutic EMR is within a range from 1.0 mJ/cm 2  and 1.0 kJ/cm 2 . 
     
     
         12 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the EMR conduction line is removably insertable into the endotracheal tube, the EMR conduction line being movable axially relative to the endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the ventilator collar comprises a tripartite configuration having a first collar, a second collar, and an entry conduit, the first collar having a first cylindrical portion having a first interior diameter and a first exterior diameter that differs from a second interior diameter and a second exterior diameter of a second cylindrical portion of the second collar, the entry conduit for receiving the passage of the EMR conduction line into the endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         14 . A therapeutic endotracheal tube assembly for insertion into a patient's trachea to ventilate, to maintain patency of the patient's airway, and to deliver therapeutic electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to the patient, the therapeutic endotracheal tube assembly comprising:
 an endotracheal tube having a lumen defined by a tube wall, a ventilator collar, an upper tube portion having a proximate end coupled to a ventilator collar, and a lower tube portion having a forward end for insertion into the patient's trachea, at least a portion of the endotracheal tube is at least one of optically clear and translucent; and   an EMR delivery system comprising:
 an EMR source for emitting non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having intensity sufficient to activate desired therapeutic properties within the patient; 
 a removably insertable EMR conduction line conducive to the propagation of EMR from the EMR source along the endotracheal tube assembly; 
 a port adapter connected to the endotracheal tube for receiving the EMR delivery system, the EMR conduction line being removably passable through the port adapter; and 
 a coupling to connect the EMR source to a coupling end of the EMR conduction line. 
   
     
     
         15 . An assembly as in  claim 14 , wherein the removable EMR conduction line emits EMR from at least a portion of the EMR conduction line, emission of the EMR from the EMR conduction line being from the group of emissions consisting of radial, oblique, longitudinal, from the distal end, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly as in  claim 14 , wherein the port adapter has an aperture through which at least one of a diagnostic probe, a therapeutic tool, an additional energy source, an optical device, a surgical instrument, and a monitor passes into the endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly as in  claim 14 , wherein the port adapter is removably attachable to the ventilator collar such that the EMR conduction system is retrofit to the endotracheal tube. 
     
     
         18 . An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) delivery system for removable insertion into an endotracheal tube capable of being disposed within a patient's trachea while ventilating and maintaining patency of the patient's airway, the endotracheal tube being optically clear or translucent and having a lumen defined by a tube wall and a ventilator collar for coupling the endotracheal tube to the ventilator, the EMR delivery system to deliver therapeutic EMR to the patient, the EMR delivery system comprising:
 an EMR source for emitting non-ultraviolet, therapeutic EMR having intensity sufficient to activate desired therapeutic properties within the patient;   an EMR conduction line removably insertable into the endotracheal tube and conducive to the propagation of EMR from the EMR source along the endotracheal tube; and
 a coupling to connect the EMR source to a coupling end of the EMR conduction line. 
   
     
     
         19 . A delivery system as in  claim 18 , wherein the EMR delivery system further comprises a port adapter connected to the endotracheal tube and for receiving the EMR conduction line such that the EMR conduction line is removably passable through the port adapter. 
     
     
         20 . A delivery system as in  claim 19 , wherein the port adapter is removably attachable to the ventilator collar such that the EMR delivery system is retrofit to the endotracheal tube.