Micro-organism reducing device

Abstract

The invention relates to a microorganism reducing device, comprising a radiation device which is provided with a light source, a photosensitive substance which treats the area to be treated and is irradiated by said light source. The aim of said invention is to configure said device in such a way that it is possible to carry out an efficient and controllable treatment by means of operationally low-cost and easily handling apparatus. For this purpose, the inventive device comprises at least one applicator provided with a fibre-optic waveguide. In addition, the applicator and radiation device respectively comprise corresponding connector bodies coupling the applicator and radiation device in such a way that the light from the light source is emitted towards the treated area by means of the fibre-optic waveguide.

1 . An arrangement for reducing microorganisms in response to applied light and a light-activated substance, comprising:
 a radiation device comprising a light blocking device, a laser source, a housing tube and a head part having an anterior end part configured as a first connector body which is couplable to the laser source, the laser source generating light along a light path at a wavelength corresponding to an activation wavelength of the light-activated substance;   a disposable, single-use applicator, the applicator comprising a second connector body and a light conductor, the first and second connector bodies corresponding to one another and being engageable with one another by the anterior end part of the head part engaging with the second connector body, the light conductor having a first end couplable to the laser source by engagement of the anterior end part of the head part with the second connector body, the light conductor having a second end serving as a light exit area out of which the generated light may be emitted to be applied onto a microorganism-containing area onto which the light-activated substance has been applied;   wherein a battery for supplying current to electronics for the laser source is provided in said housing tube;   wherein said head part has a central bore for receiving and centering the first end of the light conductor;   wherein the light conductor has a numerical aperture greater than 0.5; and   wherein said blocking device has a first configuration in which said light path is interrupted and a second configuration in which said light path is not interrupted, said blocking device being in the first configuration when the applicator is not properly coupled to the laser source, said blocking device being in the second configuration when the applicator is properly coupled to the laser source.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said blocking device contains a locking body securely connected to said radiation device and with a hole arranged in said light path and wherein a locking disk that is arranged movably with respect to said locking body interrupts said light path by blocking the hole as long as said applicator is not connected to said radiation device, and whereby after a connection between said applicator and said radiation device is created the locking disk moves so as no longer to block the hole and interrupt said light path from said laser source to said light conductor of said applicator. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said light conductor has a numerical aperture greater than 0.7 and/or wherein said light from said laser source is coupled directly into said light conductor of said applicator. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said light conductor has a defined geometry of the light exit area that matches the light exit to the shape of sites to be irradiated and produces either a two-dimensional or three-dimensional radiation area, and/or wherein said light conductor has at its second end a spacer that indicates an active light cycle and establishes the correct irradiation distance. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said light conductor has a geometry that permits narrow cavities and pockets of tissue with complex shapes to be penetrated and opened gently, or wherein said light conductor has a conical tip with an angle of 1.5 to 4° to the perpendicular. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said light conductor has a light exit surface that is provided with a predetermined microstructure thereby to obtain enhanced scattering of light. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the microstructure is dimensioned in a range 10 μm to 200 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said second connector body is a plug-in or screw-in connector with a stop. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said light conductor passes through said second connector body and the light conductor first end projects rearward from said second connector body at a predetermined length and when connected with said radiation device engages said head part thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , device wherein the anterior end part of the housing tube is configured as the head part of said first connector body, and a posterior end part of the housing tube is detachably connected to a cap via a thread connection. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said housing tube, at an anterior end part thereof, is provided with the laser source and an electronic board having a button actuateable from outside. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said housing tube is made of metal and configured as a protective housing. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said housing tube, at a posterior end part thereof, is provided with a battery or an accumulator for supplying current to electronics on an electronic board and to the laser source. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the laser source is arranged at said housing tube and is configured as a laser diode and situated at an anterior end part of the housing tube, and the light from the laser source is coupled to the applicator with direct light coupling or light coupling via an optical system. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said housing tube, at a posterior end part thereof, is provided with a cap having a key-operated switch by means of which the radiation device is turned on and off. 
     
     
         16 . A method of reducing microorganisms in response to applied light and a light-activated substance by using the arrangement of  claim 1 , comprising:
 applying the light-activated substance in an initial concentration higher than a predetermined optimal concentration to an area in which microorganisms are to be reduced;   rinsing said area with a medium which reduces said initial concentration to the predetermined optimal concentration;   wherein the predetermined optimal concentration is a concentration at which, upon application to the area of light from the laser source, damage to the microorganism is optimized;   blocking, with the light blocking device configured in the first configuration, said light path of light generated by the laser source;   coupling the disposable, single-use applicator to the laser source;   in response to said coupling, configuring the light blocking device into the second configuration in which said light path is unblocked; and   emitting the generated light from the second end of the light conductor as said applied light onto said area to which the light-activated substance has been applied.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , where said light-activated substance comprises a solution of a photosensitizer in a solvent and the initial concentration thereof in weight per volume is greater than 0.1%. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said initial concentration is at least 1%. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said initial concentration is not greater than 10%. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said photosensitizer solution initially has an acidic pH and said rinsing medium is highly alkaline. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said rinsing medium has at least one of the following three characteristics: an oxygen partial pressure; enrichment with molecular oxygen; enrichment with a peroxide. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein, prior to irradiation of said area by said arrangement, a quantity of the photosensitizer solution applied to the area is reduced by at least one of wiping, dabbing, suctioning, or blowing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said oxygen partial pressure is 4-6 mg/L and said enrichment with molecular oxygen is up to 14 mg/L.