WO1992020403A1

WO1992020403A1 - Laser therapeutic apparatus and method for systemic diseases

Info

Publication number: WO1992020403A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/003343
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luis A. Santana-Blank
Original assignee: Lasb Laser, Corp.; Seagull Laser, Corp.
Priority date: 1991-05-14
Filing date: 1991-05-14
Publication date: 1992-11-26

Abstract

An apparatus and method (10) for treating cancerous tissues and other systemic diseases through the application of a laser beam to the target tissue through the biological circuit of the patient. The wavelength of the laser beam ranges from 904 to 3500 nanometers. The output of an oscillator (20) is connected to the input of a frequency selector (30) to selectively adjust the pulse frequency. The pulse train (40) is selected to be between 0.5 MHz and 7.5 MHz with a relatively low duty cycle to avoid thermic energy from making the process an uncomfortable one. The pulse signal, after being amplified, is fed to a transistor (50) that drives a laser diode (60) thereby modulating the output beam. An ultraviolet filter (70) is used to block any unwanted harmonic byproduct. The laser beam is applied substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the patient's skin and in the area in close proximity to the VICC biological circuit that would more efficiently carry the laser energy to the target tissue. The procedure is repeated periodically and its process monitored through conventional magnetic resonance images techniques or other accepted methods.

Description

I. TITLE: LASER THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR

SYSTEMIC DISEASES

II. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to laser devices, and more particularly, to such devices that are used to treat cancer and other systemic diseases.

Other Related Applications.

The present application is substantially the same as PCT International Patent Application, Int'l. Application No. PCT/US89/05513, filed on December 11, 1989, wherein the United States has been designated and elected and said Application is hereby incorporated by reference. The additional claimed subject matter relates to a broader range for the wavelength of the laser radiation.

III. BACKGROUND ART

Applicant believes that the closest reference correspond to U.S. patent No. 4,724,835 issued to Liss, et al on February 16, 1988 and to French patent No. 2,571, 264 issued to Navarroc on April 11, 1986. However, they differ from the present invention because the patented devices include a circuit that operates the laser diode at a relatively high voltage with low pulse frequency. Also, while acknowledging or suggesting that the rise and/or fall time of the pulse may have an effect on the therapeutic effect of the above referenced patented device, it nevertheless lacks any mechanism (electronic or otherwise) to optimize this parameter. In fact, the patentees acknowledge their lack of precise knowledge for the results obtained. Finally, in Liss' patent, the laser beam is applied specifically on the injury area with the consequent inadequacy for uniform treatment of systemic illnesses at a distance. In Navarroc's patent a 200 nanosecond pulse is disclosed in the same manner as manufacturers have suggested th use of this pulse width for many laser diode applications. See attached specifications sheet from a leading manufacturer in the field, Laser Diode Incorporated, New Brunswick, N.J., LD-160 series, and said specifications incorporated by reference in this patent application. Furthermore, the invention disclosed in said patent makes reference to a 10 watts pulse which is within the radiant flux specifications, as shown in the table of characteristics of the device in the enclosed specifications. Therefore, Navarroc's laser diode stimulation is well within the specifications recommended by most manufacturers and, according to the semi- logarithmic graph shown below said table, the relative peak power output starts degrading when the frequency (pulse repetition rate) increases beyond the lKHz mark. Navarroc's 10 watt device, therefore, cannot be very far away from this range.

The present invention, on the other hand, utilizes a frequency (pulse repetition rate) that is three orders of magnitude greater than what Navarroc teaches. This is a very inefficient area of operation that the manufacturer did not even bother plotting since it could not have been imagined that someone would have used such a device in that manner. The peak power radiated at those frequencies (0.5 MHz to 7.5 MHz) are in the milliwatt range. However, the more frequent repetition, and the inherent generation of Fourier multiple frequencies of said pulses cause the stimulation of the natural physiological cell functions. The pulse width of 200 nanoseconds are not equivalent to the frequency of the applications of these pulses, or repetitive rate. At 1 KHz. the duty cycle of these 200 nsec pulses is 0.02 % computed as 200x 10-9 divided by the wavelength of the frequency of application (or repetitive rate) or 1/1000 Hz and multiplied by 100.

100 x 200 x 10-9-= 200 x 10-4 or 0.02%

(1/1000)

By contrast, in the present invention when 200 nsec pulses are applied at preferably 3.0 MHz repetition rate thereby giving a duty cycle o 60 %.

100 x 200 x 10-2= 3.0 x 200 x 10-1 or 60%

(1/3.0 x 106)

Other patents describing therapeutic devices that utilize the laser technology concentrate on the cutting and burning characteristics of these beams at their different wavelengths which are not the subject of the present invention. None of these patents suggest the novel features of the present invention.

Another related reference is the article written by Dr. Bjorn E.W. Northerstrom entitled "Biokinetic Impacts on Structure and Imaging of the Lung: The Concept of Biologically Closed Electric Circuits" and published in the September, 1985 issue of the American Journal of the Roentgen Ray Society. In this article, the concept of the Vascular-Interstitial Closed Circuit (VICC) is described. The VICC concept explains the different voltage potential drops observed by Dr. Northerstrom in the different tissues studied with direct electric current. This circuit comprises the entire circulatory system and through which the relatively low electric resistanc of the plasma allows the flow of the direct current.

Another relevant reference in the related art includes the chapter authored by Dr. Anthony S-Y Leong entitled Microwave Irradiation in Histopathology in the volume 23, of part 2, of the Pathology Annual published Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CN. In particular, on the last paragraph of page 214 the author acknowledges the effect of field-induce alterations in macromolecular hydrogen bonding, proton tunnelling and disruption of bound water may induce alterations in biologic systems. Thi article, however, relates only to microwave fields.

For studies relating to lower frequency (ultra-sound on fractures) treatments, the closest reference known by Applicant corresponds to the article authored by A.A. Pilla et al in the Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. (IEEE Cat. No. 88CH2566-8), New Orleans, LA 1988.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a laser apparatus and method for treating cancer and other systemic disease through the alteration of the bonding of the water molecules which represent approximately 70% of all tissue structures and the transfer of th laser energy to the different biochemical structures and stimulation of thei respective electrochemical pumps. It is another object of this invention to provide a laser apparatus an method for treating cancer and other systemic diseases that can be readily and uniformly applied systemically by directing the laser energy to the subject tissue at a distance through the patient's vascular-interstitial close electric circuit (VICC).

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a block diagram of the apparatus for generating pulsed laser beam to be used in the present invention. VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to figure 1, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically includes oscillator circuit 20 which in the preferred embodiment generates a signal to frequency selector circuit 30 which includes an electronic divider that can be readily adjusted thereby reducing and shaping the signal from oscillator 20. It has been found that best results are obtained when the frequency of the signal is between 0.5 MHz and 7.5 MHz. This signal is shaped in the form of square pulses, preferably, and amplified through buffer circuit 40 to activate transistor 50. The time of application is controlled with timer circuit 80. Transistor 50 is implemented in the preferred embodiment a bipolar transistor. Transistor 50 is switched on and off with the pulses received from buffer circuit 40 driving lasing diode 60. Lasing diode 60 is preferably implemented with a single heterojunctio stacked diode, such as the one manufactured by Laser Diode, Inc. (Brunswick, N. Jersey) under part number LD-160, which has a peak wavelength of emission at 904 nanometers. The resulting laser beam is then passed through an ultraviolet filter 70 that blocks out higher harmonics, including potentially harmful ultraviolet components. It is important to note from the manufacturer specifications that laser diodes are typically driven at lKHz pulse frequencies and that they become considerably inefficient as the frequency is increased. At 0.5 MHz the efficiency is very low and this is not a range of operation recommended by the manufacturer. This inventor, however, is not interested in efficiency of the component but rather in radiating laser energy that when modulated with relatively high frequency pulses (0.5 MHz to 7.5 MHz equivalent to those in the ultrasonic range) stimulates the natural physiological cell function. In practice, the method for using the apparatus described above involves the positioning of the laser beam substantially perpendicularly over the patient's skin in the closest proximity of the most direct and efficient biological circuit in accordance with the concepts of VICC describ in the above referenced article of Dr. Northerstrom which is hereby incorporated by reference.

It is well known that approximately 70% of the body weight of human and animal tissues are composed of water. It is also well established that water is inherently a good receptor for radiations, including the pristine laser wavelengths. By channeling the pulsed laser energy produced by the above referenced apparatus through the VICC circuit of the patient to target tissues, electronic macromolecular bonding the water is altered along the path and at the tissues. The transfer of energy accomplished with the present method is substantially more effective than the transfer studied by Dr. Anthony S-Y Leong with the microwave radiations since the latter has a larger thermic (and destructiv component that cannot be effectively utilized to stimulate the natural repair mechanisms residing on each cell. Dr. Leong was primarily concerned with the rapid fixation of tissues for biopsy. The natural repai mechanisms include calcium pumps, hydrogen pumps, cATP ( system for high energy vinculated to phosphate) etc., when stimulated by the laser energy transferred, increase their opposition to the anarchical disposition of the molecular structures of cancerous cells or other cellular dysfunction

In practice, the inventor's initial basic investigation involved the evaluation of severe lesions induced by heat on the skin of rats. In the experiment, seven groups of rats were created. In groups one through six, each rat was applied a 150 degrees centigrade soldering tip for approximately 1 minute. In group 1, the rats were applied a laser beam pulsed at 3.0 MHz on the lesion immediately after burning. Then a specimen of the skin was obtained and the rats sacrificed. In group 2, th laser beam was applied immediately upon the infliction of the burn and 2 hours afterwards. The skin specimen was then taken. In group 3, the las beam was applied immediately after the burn, 24 hours after and then again 48 hours after the infliction of the lesion. Then the skin sample was taken. Groups 4 through 6 were similar to groups 1 through 3, except that the laser radiation was not applied. Finally, group 7 was the control group and nothing was done to the rats of this group. The skin samples were measured by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance methods and the water structure was found to be progressively better (closer to healthy) structured in the groups that were most exposed to the laser radiation. Th percent of error (the value of p) found in this experiment was less than 0.54%. This is clear evidence of the certainty of the experiment supporting the foregoing deduction.

After this animal experiment, a pilot experimental project was initiated in Venezuela with 16 terminal patients with at least 12 weeks of expected lifetime. The patients had different carcinoma and sarcomas. Th patients were examined every 5-8 weeks using magnetic resonance imaging methods to monitor the progress of the treatment. Additionally, laboratory routines, tumor markers and occasionally radiological procedures were utilized. All patients received the abovementioned pulsed laser radiation at 3.0 MHz through the most effective VICC circuit for their particular case. These patients received multiple daily doses for periods of not less than 4 months and some of them for up to 11 months. It was observed that the tumoral activity was progressively reduced by its periodic monitoring through the abovementioned MRI methods. More recently, through serialized biopsy of the tumoral areas. The latter confirmed the changes announced by the MRI results. These results unequivocally establish a correlation between the application of the abov referenced laser energy to the target tissues and the stimulation of the natural healing mechanisms of the body with the consequent involution o the tumor.

It should be noted that ongoing experimentation in the laser wavelength range higher than 904 nanometers and up to 3500 nanomete have also shown positive results since the water absorption coefficient is such that permits the effective treatment of the affected cells.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

VII. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY.

It is apparent from the previous paragraphs that an improvement of the type for such a laser apparatus and method is quite desirable for treating cancer and other systemic diseases through the alteration of the bonding of the water molecules which represent approximately 70% of all tissue structures and the transfer of the laser energy to the different biochemical structures and stimulation of their respective electrochemical pumps.

Claims

VIII. CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method for treating cancerous tissues and other systemic diseases in humans and animals, comprising the steps of:

A. evaluating the patient and the state of the progress of the disease and recording for subsequent comparison; and

B. applying a laser beam to the user, substantially perpendicularly t the skin, following the closest VICC biological circuit that passes b the area of the targeted tissue and said laser beam being pulsed a a frequency that ranges from 0.5 megahertz to 7.5 megahertz;

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said laser beam is filtere so that any non-infrared radiations are excluded.

3. The method set forth in claim 2 wherein the pulses of said laser beam have a square shape.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein the voltage of said pulses is kept below 15 volts so that the thermic radiation is kept to a minimum.

5. An apparatus for treating cancerous tissues and other systemic diseases in humans and animals of the type that includes an oscillator circuit for generating pulses that activate an laser diode generating a laser radiation that is applied through the user's biological circuit and the improvement comprising the selection of the frequency of said pulses to between 0.5 megahertz and 7.5 megahertz with a voltage of up to 15 volt so that the generation of thermic radiation as a byproduct is kept to a minimum.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 further including filter means for limiting the application to a user of non-infrared radiation.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 further including programma timing means for pre-setting times of application.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said pulses have a square shape and the width is between 100 nsec and 200 nsec.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said laser radiation h its peak wavelength of emission between 904 and 3500 nanometers.

10. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said laser radiation has its peak wavelength of emission at 904 nanometers.

11. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the pulses in said laser beam are square and have a width between 100 nsec and 200 nsec.

12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein the peak wavelength said laser beam is between 904 and 3500 nanometers.

13. The method set forth in claim 12 wherein the peak wavelength said laser beam is 904 nanometers.