Device and method for use of photodynamic therapy

Abstract

An apparatus including a light source provides for intracranial treatment of a tissue region of a brain of a patient. The intracranial treatment apparatus comprises an outer shaft having a proximal end and a distal end for positioning within the tissue region of the brain. The outer shaft defines a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the outer shaft and having at least one aperture adjacent the distal end of the outer shaft. An inner light-delivery element having a distal end and a proximal end is adapted to be operatively connected to the light source. The light-delivery element is configured to be received within the lumen and extend from the proximal end of the shaft to adjacent the distal end of the shaft. The light-delivery element is adapted to deliver light from the light source through the at least one aperture of the outer shaft to the tissue region of the brain in proximity to the distal end of the outer shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus including a light source for intracranial treatment of a tissue region of a brain of a patient, the intracranial treatment apparatus comprising:
 an outer shaft having a proximal end and a distal end for positioning within the tissue region of the brain, the outer shaft defining a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the outer shaft and having at least one aperture adjacent the distal end of the outer shaft; and   an inner light-delivery element having a distal end and a proximal end adapted to be operatively connected to the light source, the light-delivery element configured to be received within the lumen and extend from the proximal end of the shaft to adjacent the distal end of the shaft,   
       wherein the light-delivery element is adapted to deliver light from the light source through the at least one aperture of the outer shaft to the tissue region of the brain in proximity to the distal end of the outer shaft. 
     
     
         2 . The intracranial treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft has a closed distal end so that the distal end of the light-delivery element is contained within the outer shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The intracranial treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft comprises a location marker adapted to be located by one of magnetic resonance imaging, computerized x-ray tomography, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The intracranial treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the light-delivery element comprises a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         5 . The intracranial treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the light delivery element further comprises a diffuser configured to be mounted to the distal end of the fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         6 . The intracranial treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the light delivery element further comprises a reflective sphere disposed within the outer shaft distal to the diffuser. 
     
     
         7 . The intracranial treatment apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft has a plurality of ports radially or axially spaced along the outer shaft, and wherein the light-delivery element comprises a plurality of independently movable fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables extending from one of the ports and axially movable within the lumen relative to the outer shaft between a first position where the distal end of the fiber optic cable is adjacent the outer shaft, and a second position where the distal end of the fiber optic cable extends into the tissue region of the brain in proximity to the outer shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The active endoscopic device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light-emitting diode mounted on the distal end of each of the plurality of fiber optic cables so as to effectively irradiate a selected treatment site. 
     
     
         9 . A method for intracranial treatment of a tissue region of a brain of a patient, the intracranial treatment method comprising the steps of:
 providing a device including a light source for selectively irradiating tissue, the irradiating device comprising
 an outer shaft having a proximal end and a distal end for positioning within the tissue region of the brain, the outer shaft defining a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the outer shaft and having at least one aperture adjacent the distal end of the outer shaft, and 
 an inner light-delivery element having a distal end and a proximal end configured to be operatively connected to the light source, the light-delivery element configured to be received within the lumen and extend from the proximal end of the outer shaft to adjacent the distal end of the outer shaft, 
   positioning the distal end of the outer shaft within close proximity to a selected site adjacent the tissue region in the brain; and   delivering light from the light source through the light-delivery element and the at least one aperture of the outer shaft to the tissue region of the brain in proximity to the distal end of the outer shaft sufficient to kill a portion of the tissue.   
     
     
         10 . The intracranial treatment method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the outer shaft has a closed distal end so the light-delivery element is contained within the lumen of the outer shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The intracranial treatment method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of selectively determining a site within the tissue of the brain for light delivery. 
     
     
         12 . The intracranial treatment method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the outer shaft has a location marker, and wherein the selectively determining step comprises locating the position of the location marker within the brain by utilizing magnetic resonance imaging, computerized x-ray tomography, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The intracranial treatment method comprising as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the selectively determined site is a tumor. 
     
     
         14 . The intracranial treatment method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising the step of delivering photosensitive fluid activated by radiation to the tissue region, and delivering sufficient light to the tissue region in the presence of the photosensitive fluid to kill the tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The intracranial treatment method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the positioning step comprises introducing the outer shaft through a percutaneous penetration in a skull of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The intracranial treatment method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the light-delivering element is a fiber optic cable. 
     
     
         17 . The intracranial treatment method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the outer shaft has a plurality of ports radially or axially spaced along the outer shaft,
 wherein the light-delivery element comprises a plurality of independently movable fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables extending from one of the ports and axially movable within the lumen relative to the outer shaft between a first position where the distal end of the fiber optic cable is adjacent the outer shaft, and a second position where the distal end of the fiber optic cable extends into the tissue region of the brain in proximity to the outer shaft, and   wherein the positioning step comprises moving the plurality of fiber optic cables to the second position such that the distal end of each of the plurality of fiber optic cables extends through the port of the outer shaft and into the tissue region in proximity to the outer shaft when the plurality of fiber optic cables is advanced distally relative to the lumen.