Abstract: A guide sheath is implanted to facilitate repeated access to a treatment site in a patient's body by a treatment device such as a probe for administering light therapy. The guide sheath reduces the risk of track contamination with bacteria, bleeding during insertion of the treatment device or a treatment evaluation probe, track metastasis, and inadvertent puncture of structures and tissues within the patient's body. The guide sheath is disposed so that its distal end is at or adjacent to the internal treatment site, and the proximal end of the guide sheath is either percutaneous or subcutaneous. The guide sheath is a thin-walled hollow tube that may be optically transparent or opaque. In one embodiment, the guide sheath has a flared opening on the proximal end to assist in inserting the treatment device into the guide sheath. This opening is covered with an self-sealing, elastomeric membrane. It is preferable to fabricate the guide sheath from a biodegradable material that will not require surgical removal.

Abstract: A flux generator base unit electromagnetically coupled with a receiving unit to transfer energy into the receiving unit. The base unit includes one or more permanent magnets that produce a magnetic flux, which passes through a receiver coil in the receiving unit. The receiver coil is either disposed in a separate housing that is electrically connected with a portable device, or integrated into the housing of the portable device. Either the permanent magnets or a flux shunt is moved in the base unit to produce the varying magnetic flux that is coupled to the receiver coil. As a result of the varying magnetic field experienced by the receiver coil, an electric current is induced in the receiver coil, which is conditioned (e.g., rectified, filtered, and regulated) by a conditioning circuit to charge a battery or energize electronics contained in the portable device.

Abstract: A photosensitizer suitable for use in administering photodynamic therapy (PDT), conjugated with antibodies that are targeted to antigens on abnormal tissue and polyethylene glycol (PEG) or other polymer that extends the residence time of the conjugate within a patient's body. The resulting pegylated targeted conjugate is administered to a patient, and after the antibodies have had sufficient time to bind with the antigens, light from an external or internal source having a waveband corresponding to an absorption waveband of the photosensitizer is administered. Use of an external light source that emits relatively long wavelength light enables the light to pass through any intervening dermal layer and normal tissue between the external light source and the treatment site. Since the photosensitizer in the conjugate is bound to the abnormal tissue, the light therapy has minimal effect on the intervening normal tissue.

Abstract: A photodynamic therapy (PDT) device utilizing a non-coherent light source to activate a photoreactive agent for treating a diseased site in a patient's eye. When activated, the photoreactive agent causes a desired change in the diseased tissue of the treatment site. In one embodiment, the photoactive agent is preferentially absorbed by the diseased tissue at the treatment site, and the light from the PDT device is directed generally at the site. In another embodiment, the photoactive agent is less selectively absorbed by the diseased tissue, and the light from the PDT device is focused onto the diseased treatment site. The device preferably focuses the light emitted by a source using totally internally reflective (TIR) lenses, convergent lenses, divergent lenses, and/or deformable lenses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating substances such as beverages, soups, chemicals, etc., with heat produced by circulating electrical eddy currents. In one form of the device, a magnetic flux generating base produces a varying magnetic field by using an electric motor to move a plurality of permanent magnets. The varying magnetic field induces the eddy currents to circulate in a ferromagnetic conductor that is sealed in the bottom of a container resting on the magnetic flux generating base. Losses due to the eddy current produce heat that is transferred into the substance within the container. In another embodiment, the motor moves one or more magnetic flux shunts to vary the magnetic field experienced by the ferromagnetic conductor. The presence of the container on the magnetic flux generating base can be detected and used to control the operation of the electrical motor.

Abstract: Several different embodiments of a flexible polymer battery are disclosed in connection with providing a medical therapy. For example, the electrical current from the polymer battery may be used to energize light sources for administering light therapy. In one embodiment, the polymer battery is formed as a substantially elongate structure having one end attached to an internal receiver coil, and the other end attached to a medical device such as a light probe that is adapted to be implanted within a patient's body. The polymer battery thus provides a conductive link between the internal receiver coil, which is electromagnetically coupled to an external transmitter coil for recharging the battery, and the light probe which is energized with current supplied by the flexible polymer battery. In another embodiment, the polymer battery is used to support a substrate on which a plurality of light sources are mounted in spaced-apart array.

Abstract: Progress of photodynamic therapy (PDT) administered over an extended period of time is monitored using an ultrasonic probe, which produces ultrasound images of an internal treatment site in real time. The ultrasound images indicate the extent and volume of an infarction zone within a tumor or other diseased tissue at the internal treatment site within a patient's body. Light is administered to the internal treatment site from either an internal or external light source that produces light in a waveband corresponding to the characteristic absorption waveband a photoreactive agent that is administered to a patient. Prior to or shortly after initiating administration of the light therapy, a baseline ultrasound image is produced for comparison to subsequent ultrasound images made after the effects of the PDT on the diseased tissue have occurred.

Abstract: A system having a plurality of light sources that emit light focused to treat an internal treatment site at a location determined using an imaging device that is integrally mounted in a housing with the plurality of light sources. The imaging device may include, for example, either an ultrasonic transducer or a gamma probe that produces a signal suitable for displaying an image of the internal treatment site. The image thus displayed enables the location, shape, extent, and depth of the internal treatment site to be determined so that an operator can correctly position the housing in which the imaging device and light sources are disposed. Each light source is provided with either a conventional refractive lens or a totally internally reflective (TIR) lens that directs and focuses the light at the appropriate depth within a patient's body.