Orthopedic infra-red laser medical device and methods of use

Abstract

An orthopedic infra-red laser medical device and methods of use for applying infra-red energy to an anatomic region of interest located within the body of a patient. The device includes a hollow needle and a housing on which the needle is releasably mounted. The housing includes an infra-red laser source for producing a laser beam and directing the beam through the needle to exit out of the open distal end of the needle. The distal end of the needle is sharp to pierce through the skin of the patient to a position closely adjacent the anatomic region of interest to deliver the infra-red laser beam thereto without any intervening skin and tissue attenuating the infra-red laser beam. The device can be used for various orthopedic purposes and can also be used on fat in a patient to release activated stem cells.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An infra-red laser device for applying infra-red energy to an anatomic region of interest located within the body of a patient, said device comprising a housing and a needle, said needle being an elongated member having a proximal end, a sharpened distal end and a hollow passageway extending therethrough from said proximal end to said distal end, said housing comprising an infra-red laser source located therein, said infra-red laser source being arranged when activated to produce a collimated infra-red laser beam, said needle being secured to said housing, whereupon said infra-red laser beam produced by said infra-red laser source when activated enters into said hollow passageway at said proximal end of said needle and passes therethrough to exit distal end of said needle, said distal end of said needle being arranged to pierce through the skin of the patient to a position closely adjacent the anatomic region of interest to deliver said infra-red laser beam thereto without any intervening skin and tissue attenuating said infra-red laser beam. 
     
     
         2 . The infra-red laser device of  claim 1  wherein said infra-red laser source is either a continuous infra-red laser beam or a pulsed infra-red laser beam. 
     
     
         3 . The infra-red laser device of  claim 1  wherein said infra-red laser source is arranged to produce a near infra-red laser beam in the range of approximately 0.7 μm to 3.0 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The infra-red laser device of  claim 1  wherein said infra-red laser source is arranged to produce a far infra-red laser beam in the range of approximately 50 μm to 1000 μm. 
     
     
         5 . The infra-red laser device of  claim 1 , wherein said needle is releasably secured to said housing. 
     
     
         6 . The infra-red laser device of  claim 1  wherein said needle is a wide bore caliber needle of at least 14 gauge. 
     
     
         7 . The infra-red laser device of  claim 1  wherein said infra-red laser source produces a laser beam in the range of 200 MW to 500 MW. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating an orthopedic disease or condition of a patient by the irradiation of an anatomic region of interest located within the body of the patient, said method comprising:
 a) providing a device comprising a housing and a needle, said needle being an elongated member having a proximal end, a sharpened distal end and a hollow passageway extending therethrough from said proximal end to said distal end, said housing comprising an infra-red laser source located therein arranged when activated to produce a collimated infra-red laser beam to enter into said hollow passageway at said proximal end of said needle and pass therethrough to exit said distal end of said needle;   b) introducing said needle into the body of the patient by causing said sharpened distal end to pierce the skin and underlying tissue so that said distal end of said needle is located closely adjacent the situs of the anatomic region of interest; and   c) activating said laser source to produce said infra-red laser beam, whereupon said infra-red laser beam exits said distal end of said needle to impinge said anatomic region of interest without the intervening skin and underlying tissue attenuating said infra-red laser beam.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said the laser source is either a continuous infra-red laser beam or a pulsed infra-red laser beam 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the laser source is arranged to produce a near infra-red laser beam in the range of approximately 0.7 μm to 3.0 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the laser source is arranged to produce a far infra-red laser beam in the range of approximately 50 μm to 1000 μm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said laser beam Energy-Soft Tissue Safe Zone (ESSZ) is in the range of 200 MW to 500 MW. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is a non-union or delayed-union bone fracture. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is avascular necrosis. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is low back pain. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is plantar fasciitis. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is osteomyelitis. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is supra-spinatus tendinitis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is Patelofemoral maltracking. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is Coccydynia. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is osteoarthritic joint disease. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said disease or condition is carpal tunnel syndrome. 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating fat of a patient by the irradiation of an anatomic region of fat located within the body of the patient, said method comprising:
 a) providing a device comprising a housing and a needle, said needle being an elongated member having a proximal end, a sharpened distal end and a hollow passageway extending therethrough from said proximal end to said distal end, said housing comprising an infra-red laser source located therein arranged when activated to produce a collimated infra-red laser beam to enter into said hollow passageway at said proximal end of said needle and pass therethrough to exit said distal end of said needle;   b) introducing said needle into the body of the patient by causing said sharpened distal end to pierce the skin and underlying tissue so that said distal end of said needle is located closely adjacent the situs of the anatomic region of fat; and   c) activating said laser source to produce said infra-red laser beam, whereupon said infra-red laser beam exits said distal end of said needle to impinge said anatomic region of fat without the intervening skin and underlying tissue attenuating said infra-red laser beam.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said the laser source is either a continuous infra-red laser beam or a pulsed infra-red laser beam 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the laser source is arranged to produce a near infra-red laser beam in the range of approximately 0.7 μm to 3.0 μm. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the laser source is arranged to produce a far infra-red laser beam in the range of approximately 50 μm to 1000 μm. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said laser beam Energy-Soft Tissue Safe Zone (ESSZ) is in the range of 200 MW to 500 MW.