Abstract: The present invention relates to a devices and methods for killing and/or debilitating pathogenic microorganisms in or on a patient's body, such as light-sensitive bacteria including helicobacter pylori and/or propionibacterium acnes. A chemiluminescent light source provides electromagnetic radiation having predetermined wavelengths in the visible spectrum. The light wavelengths are selected for absorption by naturally-occurring photosensitive chemicals produced by the patient's body.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus has a body portion that includes a shaft terminating in a distal head or tip for directing light radiation from the apparatus onto the lining of a body cavity for treating an ailment in a body cavity of a patient as for example a gastrointestinal ailment of a patient such as gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, gastric lymphoma, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease as well as for treating diseases of the circulatory system, urogenital systems and other body cavities. During use, the shaft of the apparatus is inserted into a body cavity, e.g., stomach or colon, of the patient to place the distal tip of the shaft in the desired position. The body cavity of the patient is then irradiated with light radiation so as to kill or debilitate microorganisms lining the body cavity without serious destruction of the body tissue of the patient to thereby improve or alleviate one or more of the symptoms of the ailment.