Illumination devices for inducing biological effects

Abstract

Illumination devices for impinging light on tissue, for example within a body cavity of a patient, to induce various biological effects are disclosed. Biological effects may include at least one of inactivating and/or inhibiting growth of one or more pathogens, upregulating a local immune response, increasing endogenous stores of nitric oxide, releasing nitric oxide from endogenous stores, and inducing an anti-inflammatory effect. Wavelengths of light are selected based on intended biological effects for one or more of targeted tissue types and targeted pathogens. Light treatments may provide multiple pathogenic biological effects, either with light of a single wavelength or with light having multiple wavelengths. Devices for light treatments are disclosed that provide light doses for inducing biological effects on various targeted pathogens and tissues with increased efficacy and reduced cytotoxicity. Particular illumination devices are disclosed that provide safe and effective treatments for upper respiratory tract infections, including coronaviridae and orthomyxoviridae.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilator device comprising:
 a light source configured to provide light with a peak wavelength; and   a light guide comprising a hollow core configured to permit air flow through the hollow core via a mouth of a patient while the light from the light source transmits along the light guide.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide comprises a ventilator tube. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide is configured to target tissue via the mouth. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide is configured for at least partial insertion in the mouth. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide further comprises a tube configured to drain fluid from the patient while the light guide is inserted within the mouth of the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilator device of  claim 5 , wherein the tube is configured to drain the fluid by suctioning. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide is configured to transmit light within the hollow core. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide is configured to transmit light within a cross-sectional area of the light guide. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the peak wavelength is configured to at least one of alter a concentration of one or more pathogens and alter growth of the one or more pathogens. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilator device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more pathogens comprise bacteria. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilator device of  claim 10 , wherein the bacteria comprise spore-forming bacteria. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilator device of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode and the peak wavelength is in a range from 400 nanometers (nm) to 490 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The illumination device of  claim 12 , wherein the peak wavelength is in a range from 410 nm to 440 nm. 
     
     
         14 . The ventilator device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to provide a pulsed irradiance along the light guide. 
     
     
         15 . An illumination device comprising:
 a light source configured to provide light with a peak wavelength; and   a light guide configured for at least partial insertion within a body cavity of a patient, the light guide comprising a hollow core configured to permit air flow through the hollow core while the light from the light source transmits along the light guide.   
     
     
         16 . The illumination device of  claim 15 , further comprising a tube configured to drain fluid from the patient while the light guide is inserted within the body cavity of the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The illumination device of  claim 15 , wherein the light guide is configured to transmit light within the hollow core. 
     
     
         18 . The illumination device of  claim 15 , wherein the light guide is further configured to transmit light within a cross-sectional area of the light guide. 
     
     
         19 . The illumination device of  claim 15 , wherein the peak wavelength is configured to at least one of alter a concentration of one or more pathogens and alter growth of the one or more pathogens. 
     
     
         20 . The illumination device of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more pathogens comprise bacteria. 
     
     
         21 . The illumination device of  claim 20 , wherein the bacteria comprise spore-forming bacteria. 
     
     
         22 . The illumination device of  claim 19 , wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode and the peak wavelength is in a range from 410 nanometers (nm) to 440 nm. 
     
     
         23 . The illumination device of  claim 15 , wherein the light source is configured to provide a pulsed irradiance along the light guide. 
     
     
         24 . The illumination device of  claim 15 , wherein the light guide is configured for at least partial insertion in the body cavity.