Apparatus and method for photothermal destruction of oral bacteria

Abstract

Oral hygiene apparatus for destroying sensitized oral bacteria, comprising: an incoherent light source; and a light directing member, adapted for directing light from said light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity.

1 . Oral hygiene apparatus for destroying sensitized oral bacteria, comprising: 
 an incoherent light source, comprising a flash lamp; and    a light directing member, adapted for directing light from said light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity, said light being in an amount and at a wavelength effective to destroy bacteria but not to cause coagulation of blood vessels in the mouth.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the light directing member comprises a light guide removably coupled to a housing containing the light source.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein said light directing member comprises a reflective layer coated light passage.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to    claim 3    wherein said reflective layer coated light passage comprises a hollow passage whose radial extent is defined by a light reflecting surface.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to    claim 2    wherein said light guide comprises an elongated member, having at least one peripheral surface uncoated by a reflecting material, said light guide directing light entering it at one end by internal reflection from said at least one peripheral surface to a second end.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein said incoherent light source includes a reflector which directs at least part of the light produced by said lamp to said light directing member.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to    claim 6    wherein said reflector is a parabolic reflector, a spherical reflector, a quasi-spherical reflector or an ellipsoidal reflector.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to    claim 6    wherein said light source further includes at least one lens disposed between said flash lamp and said light directing member for directing light onto said light directing member.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    including at least one filter which passes light to which said bacteria has been sensitized.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to    claim 9    wherein the at least one filter substantially blocks light at wavelengths at which oxyhemoglobin absorbs substantial energy.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein said light is directed to said tooth surface from an exit port of the light directing member.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    and including a power source that powers the incoherent light source and a controller that controls said light source.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to    claim 12    wherein said power source is a battery and wherein said incoherent light source, said battery and said controller are mounted within a common housing.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein said light directing member is easily separated from the light source and wherein the light directing member is disposable.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the light is band limited to exclude a substantial portion of the light having wavelength which are substantially absorbed by oxyhemoglobin.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the light is filtered such that it is band limited to a wavelength range of between 450-500 nanometers.  
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 388 nanometers and 448 nanometers.  
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to    claim 17    wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 500 nanometers and 600 nanometers.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to    claim 1    wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 500 nanometers and 600 nanometers.  
     
     
         20 . Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising: 
 an incoherent light source;    a light directing member, adapted for directing light from the light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity,    wherein the light is band limited to exclude a substantial portion of the light having wavelength which are substantially absorbed by oxyhemoglobin.    
     
     
         21 . Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising: 
 an incoherent light source;    a light directing member, adapted for directing light from the light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity,    wherein the light is filtered such that it is band limited to a wavelength range of between 450-500 nanometers.    
     
     
         22 . Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising: 
 an incoherent light source;    a light directing member, adapted for directing light from the light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity,    wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 388 nanometers and 448 nanometers.    
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to    claim 22    wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 500 nanometers and 600 nanometers.  
     
     
         24 . Oral Hygiene apparatus for destroying oral bacteria, comprising: 
 an incoherent light source;    a light directing member, adapted for directing light from the light source onto at least part of a surface of at least one tooth within an oral cavity,    wherein the light is filtered to substantially exclude light having a wavelength of between 500 nanometers and 600 nanometers.