Surgery – Instruments – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-07-03
Dvorak, Linda C. M. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Light application
C606S003000, C606S010000, C606S004000, C607S088000, C607S089000, C128S898000, C359S333000, C359S334000, C359S335000, C359S342000, C359S358000, C359S361000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254594
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a system for improving the shape and/or appearance of an outer layer of tissue, and particularly to the use of a photoinitiated chemical reaction to provide energy for the stimulation of tissue, such as corneal tissue, disposed beneath an outer layer of tissue without damaging the outer layer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heat has been used to modify and reshape various tissues. For example, lasers, such as carbon dioxide lasers, have been developed and used for the reduction or elimination of wrinkles, such as periorbital wrinkles and other anomalies of the skin. Lasers also have been developed and used for the correction of vision disorders, such as nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness. In thermal keratoplasty, laser light energy has been used to heat the cornea and thereby alter its shape to correct for refractive errors.
The energy from a laser causes conformational changes in collagen and can be used to stimulate the release of factors that promote new collagen growth in the desired area of tissue stimulation, e.g. a subdermal layer of skin. Other laser methods, such as eximer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), also have been utilized for the correction of refractive errors.
Although the use of lasers in correcting refractive errors and improving the appearance of skin has proved to be very promising, laser equipment for such procedures tends to require substantial investment on the part of the hospital, clinic or practitioner using the equipment. It would be advantageous to utilize a source of energy that could be absorbed by the desired tissue, as with laser light energy, but without the substantial expense of the laser equipment.
Another problem that occurs during the heating of desired subsurface tissues to cause tissue modification, is the absorption of energy by the outermost tissue layer, e.g. the epidermis or the epithelial layer of the cornea. As energy, e.g. laser light, passes to the sublayers of the dermis or the cornea where the desired modification or reshaping should occur, undue heating of the outer layers can result. The absorption of energy by the epithelial layer, for example, can damage the epithelium and result in pain, permeability to bacteria, and a wound healing response that is detrimental to the corrective procedure.
It would be advantageous to utilize a less expensive, preferably disposable, source of energy for permanently reshaping sublayers of tissue while reducing the absorption of energy by the outermost layer of tissue.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a method for utilizing an energy source to alter mammalian tissue. The method includes preparing a chemical mixture capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength or wavelengths absorbed by a desired tissue. The electromagnetic radiation is emitted upon photoinitiation of a chemical reaction involving the chemical mixture. The method further includes initiating the chemical reaction, and directing the electromagnetic radiation to the desired tissue.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for managing a chemical reaction to create a desirable change in a tissue. The method includes combining selected chemicals able to undergo a chemical reaction. The method further includes photoinitiating the chemical reaction to produce energy. Additionally, the method includes exposing a selected tissue to the energy to bring about a desired modification of the selected tissue.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a disposable light source system is provided for use in modification of corneal tissue. The system includes a disposable sample cell containing a chemical mixture. The mixture is able to undergo a chemical reaction that produces energy at a wavelength or wavelengths capable of causing a predetermined modification to a human tissue. The chemical mixture is selected such that the chemical reaction is subject to selective initiation. Additionally, the system includes an outlet aperture in communication with the chemical mixture disposed in the disposable sample cell. A chemical reaction initiator is positioned in communication with the chemical mixture to selectively initiate the chemical reaction. Upon initiation, energy is emitted at the desired wavelength through the outlet aperture.
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Dvorak Linda C. M.
Farah Ahmed
Fletcher Yoder & Van Someren
Quadrivium, LLC
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