Light therapy treatment method and apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for minimizing tissue adhesion in a tissue of a subject includes applying light, to the tissue, that reduces at least one adhesion marker in the tissue, the light having wavelengths in at least one of a first wavelength range of 730-770 nm and a second wavelength range of 930-970 nm, wherein the at least one adhesion marker includes at least one of a transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a vascular endothelial growth factor, (VEGF), and a collagen alpha-1(I) chain (COL|α|), and wherein the light is free of wavelengths that increase the at least one adhesion marker.

1 - 67 . (canceled) 
     
     
         68 . A method of minimizing tissue adhesion in a tissue of a subject, the method comprising:
 applying light, to the tissue, that reduces at least one adhesion marker in the tissue, the light having wavelengths in at least one of a first wavelength range of 730-770 nm and a second wavelength range of 930-970 nm, wherein the at least one adhesion marker includes at least one of a transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a vascular endothelial growth factor, (VEGF), and a collagen alpha-1(I) chain (COL1α1), and wherein the light is free of wavelengths that increase the at least one adhesion marker.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68  further comprising applying glycerol to the subject prior to applying the light to increase transparency of a skin of the subject to infrared light. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the light is substantially free of 808 nm and 810 nm light to avoid increasing at least one of the at least one adhesion marker. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the applied light is in the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range and is substantially free of light outside the first and second wavelength ranges to avoid increasing at least one of the at least one adhesion marker. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the light has a first peak at approximately 750 nm and a second peak at approximately 950 nm. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the light is substantially free of 795-835 nm light to avoid increasing at least one of the at least one adhesion marker. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein applying light to the tissue occurs at least prior to a surgery on the subject and during the surgery. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein applying light to the tissue occurs at least after a surgery on the subject, wherein the surgery affected the tissue. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the light is configured to inhibit cytochrome c oxidase and decrease a mitochondrial membrane potential. 
     
     
         77 . A light therapy device comprising:
 at least one light source configured to apply light to a tissue of a subject to reduce at least one adhesion marker in the tissue, the at least one light source configured to present light in at least one of a first wavelength range of 730-770 nm and a second wavelength range of 930-970 nm, wherein the at least one adhesion marker includes at least one of a transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a vascular endothelial growth factor, (VEGF), and a collagen alpha-1(I) chain (COL1α1).   
     
     
         78 . The light therapy device of  claim 77 , wherein the light applied to the tissue is substantially free of wavelengths of 808 nm and 810 nm to avoid an increase in the at least one adhesion marker. 
     
     
         79 . The light therapy device of  claim 77  wherein the light applied to the tissue is substantially free of 795-835 nm light to avoid increasing at least one of the at least one adhesion marker. 
     
     
         80 . The light therapy device of  claim 77 , wherein the at least one light source includes light in the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range and is substantially free of light outside the first and second wavelength ranges when applied to the tissue to avoid increasing at least one of the at least one adhesion marker. 
     
     
         81 . The light therapy device of  claim 77  further comprising a support structure configured to position at least two light sources, of the at least one light source, to be aimed at a common focal point. 
     
     
         82 . The light therapy device of  claim 77 , wherein the light, when applied to the tissue, inhibits cytochrome c oxidase and decreases mitochondrial membrane potential. 
     
     
         83 . A method of designing a device to reduce tissue adhesion comprising:
 selecting at least one light source that reduces at least one adhesion marker in a tissue of a subject, the light having wavelengths in at least one of a first wavelength range of 730-770 nm and a second wavelength range of 930-970 nm, wherein the at least one adhesion marker includes at least one of a transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), a vascular endothelial growth factor, (VEGF), and a collagen alpha-1(I) chain (COL1α1); and   configuring the light source such that light applied to the tissue is substantially free of wavelengths that increase at least one of the at least one adhesion marker.   
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein configuring the light source such that light applied to the tissue is substantially free of wavelengths that increase at least one of the at least one adhesion marker includes ensuring that the light is substantially free of 808 nm and 810 nm wavelengths when applied to the tissue. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein configuring the light source such that light applied to the tissue is substantially free of wavelengths that increase at least one of the at least one adhesion marker includes ensuring that the light is substantially free of 795-835 nm wavelengths when applied to the tissue. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 83  further comprising selecting a plurality of power densities of the at least one light source such that a first power density is selected to penetrate skin and a second power density is selected to penetrate a portion of the subject other than skin, wherein the first power density is different than the second power density. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein selecting the at least one light source further includes selecting the at least one light source that inhibits cytochrome c oxidase and reduces a mitochondrial membrane potential.