Probe device, system and method for photobiomodulation of tissue lining a body cavity

Abstract

A device ( 10 ) is presented for use in treatment of tissues inside a body cavity. The device comprises a probe member ( 12 ) having at least a portion thereof carrying a plurality of light sources ( 18 ), at least said portion of the probe member ( 10 ) having dimensions and shape suitable for insertion into a certain body cavity and for arranging within the surface thereof a three-dimensional array of said light sources, the light sources being configured and operable to irradiate optical energy outwardly from said probe member.

1 . A probe device for use in treatment of tissues lining a body cavity, the device comprising a probe member having at least a portion thereof carrying a plurality of light sources, at least said portion of the probe member having dimensions and shape suitable for insertion into said body cavity and for arranging within the surface thereof a three-dimensional array of said light sources, the light sources being configured and operable to irradiate monochromatic or polychromatic optical energy outwardly from said probe member. 
   
   
       2 . The probe device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least portion of the probe member has tampon-like configuration. 
   
   
       3 . The probe device of  claim 1 , wherein said light sources carried by the probe member have one of the following configurations: (a) comprise light emitting units; (b) comprise optical windows optically coupled to one or more light emitting units located outside the probe member or said portion of the probe member. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The probe device of  claim 1 , wherein said light sources carried by the probe member are light emitters comprising the three-dimension array of LEDs. 
   
   
       6 . A probe device for use in treatment of tissues lining a body cavity, the device comprising a probe member having at least a portion thereof carrying a plurality of light emitters, at least said portion of the probe member having dimensions and shape suitable for insertion into the body cavity and for arranging within the surface thereof a three-dimensional array of said light emitters comprising the three-dimension array of LEDs arranged within an electronic device configured for wrapping said at least portion of the probe member, the light emitters being configured and operable to irradiate optical energy outwardly from said probe member. 
   
   
       7 . The probe device of  claim 6 , wherein said electronic device has at least one of the following configurations: (i) comprises a printed circuit board; and (ii) is configured to be removable mountable onto said at least portion of the probe member. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . The probe device of  claim 1 , wherein said light sources carried by the probe member comprise light emitting units, or optical windows optically coupled to one or more light emitting units located outside the probe member or said portion of the probe member, the light emitting unit comprising at least one of the following: flash lamp, laser, light emitting diode (LED). 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . The probe device of  claim 1 , wherein said sources carried by the probe member comprise light emitting units, or optical windows optically coupled to one or more light emitting units located outside the probe member or said portion of the probe member, light emitting unit comprising a plurality of light emitters producing light of different wavelengths. 
   
   
       12 . The probe device of  claim 1 , wherein said light sources carried by the probe member comprise optical windows optically coupled to one or more light emitting units located outside the probe member or said portion of the probe member, the optical coupling comprising an optical fiber connector. 
   
   
       13 . The probe device of  claim 12 , having one of the following configurations: (1) each of the optical windows is optically coupled to a dedicated segment of the optical fiber connector; and (2) an optical fiber of said optical fiber connector couples light to more than one of said optical windows. 
   
   
       14 .- 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . The probe device of  claim 1  comprising:
 an illumination controller configured and operable for adjusting one or more of the following operational parameters: an operational mode of each of the light sources to provide serious of pulses and/or continuous-wave mode of illumination, a duration of each light pulse, an interval between adjacent pulses, a period and number of pulses, an intensity of the illuminating light, wavelengths of the illuminating light, polarization of light, and a duration of the illumination process.   
   
   
       18 . The probe device of  claim 6 , comprising an illumination controller configured and operable for adjusting one or more of the following operational parameters: an operational mode of each of the light sources to provide serious of pulses and/or continuous-wave mode of illumination, a duration of each light pulse, an interval between adjacent pulses, a period and number of pulses, an intensity of the illuminating light, wavelengths of the illuminating light, polarization of light, and a duration of the illumination process, said illumination controller comprising a mixer utility for mixing light of different wavelengths to obtain a desired wavelength at the output of each of the light sources. 
   
   
       19 . The probe device of  claim 6 , comprising an illumination controller configured and operable for adjusting one or more of the following operational parameters: an operational mode of each of the light sources to provide serious of pulses and/or continuous-wave mode of illumination, a duration of each light pulse, an interval between adjacent pulses, a period and number of pulses, an intensity of the illuminating light, wavelengths of the illuminating light, polarization of light, and a duration of the illumination process, said illumination controller being configured and operable to provide a predetermined sequence of wavelengths to at least one of the light source to thereby enable sequential illumination with different wavelengths at least a specific location on the tissue. 
   
   
       20 . A probe device for use in treatment of tissues lining a body cavity, the device comprising a probe member having at least a portion thereof carrying a plurality of light emitters, at least said portion of the probe member having dimensions and shape suitable for insertion into said body cavity and for arranging within the surface thereof a three-dimensional array of said light sources, the light sources being configured and operable to irradiate optical energy outwardly from said probe member, said three-dimensional array of the light sources comprising a plurality of sub-arrays of the light emitters, said sub-arrays being arranged one after the other along or across the probe member, each of the sub-arrays being operable with different illumination conditions. 
   
   
       21 . A probe device for use in treatment of tissues lining a body cavity, the device comprising a probe member having at least a portion thereof carrying a plurality of light emitters, at least said portion of the probe member having dimensions and shape suitable for insertion into said body cavity and for arranging within the surface thereof a three-dimensional array of said light sources, the light sources being configured and operable to irradiate optical energy outwardly from said probe member, said optical energy from said light sources having one or more wavelengths in the range from about 300 nm to about 1200 nm. 
   
   
       22 . The probe device of  claim 6 , wherein said optical energy from said light sources has one or more wavelengths in the range from about 300 nm to about 1200 nm. 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . A probe device for use in treatment of tissues lining a body cavity, the device comprising:
 a probe member having at least a portion thereof carrying a plurality of light emitters, at least said portion of the probe member having dimensions and shape suitable for insertion into said body cavity and for arranging within the surface thereof a three-dimensional array of said light sources, the light sources being configured and operable to irradiate optical energy outwardly from said probe member; and   a control unit connectable to said at least part of the probe member carrying the light sources, the control unit comprising a memory utility for storing reference data defining the operational mode of the light sources per a user's treatment program, a data processor for operating the illumination via an illumination controller utility, and a user interface.   
   
   
       25 . The probe device of  claim 24 , wherein the illumination controller is configured and operable for adjusting one or more of the following operational parameters: an operational mode of each of the light sources to provide series of pulses and/or continuous-wave mode of illumination, a duration of each light pulse, an interval between the adjacent pulses, a period and number of pulses, an intensity of the illuminating light, wavelengths of the illuminating light, and a duration of the illumination process. 
   
   
       26 . A treatment kit comprising a set of a predetermined number of disposable tampon-like probe members, each comprising the probe device of  claim 5  and being configured and operable to irradiate monochromatic or polychromatic optical energy outwardly from the respective probe member; and instructions for using said disposable tampon-like probe members for treatment of a woman's vagina. 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A method for photobiomodulation of a body cavity having a wall, the method comprising illuminating at least part of said wall with monochromatic or polychromatic optical energy using the probe device of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . A method for photobiomodulation of a body cavity having a wall, the method comprising illuminating at least part of said wall with optical energy, utilizing modulation of one or more of the following parameters:
 increase in mucous secretion at said body cavity;   increase in elasticity of the wall of said body cavity;   increase in firmness of the wall of said body cavity;   increase of blood circulation in blood vessels adjacent to the wall of said body cavity;   decrease in diameter of said body cavity.   
   
   
       31 . A method for photobiomodulation of a body cavity having a wall by illuminating at least part of said wall with optical energy, the method comprising:
 providing a hand-held device configured as the device of  claim 6 ;   inserting said at least part of the probe member into a body cavity via an orifice of the body cavity such that a part of the probe member is located close to said orifice of said body cavity and is accessible to a user;   actuating said hand-held device to illuminate at least a part of the inwall of said body cavity by said optical energy.   
   
   
       32 .- 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said body cavity is selected from the vagina, anus, nostril or lacrimal duct. 
   
   
       35 .- 36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 30 , comprising a single or a plurality of illumination sessions of the wall of the body cavity with optical energy, said plurality of illumination sessions being of the same or different illumination conditions. 
   
   
       38 .- 53 . (canceled)