Importance

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Abstract

A plurality of microminiature light sources (10, 10') are injected at a treatment site to effect photodynamic therapy (PDT). Each of the microminiature light source beads includes an LED chip (12), a rectifier chip (14), and a plurality of electromagnetic receivers (18, 18') encapsulated within a biocompatible, light transmitting material such as silicone, forming a spherical bead that is only a few millimeters in diameter. The light source beads are sufficiently small so that they can be injected into a treatment site such as a tumor (46) from a syringe (58) through a needle (60). A photoreactive agent, which can serve as a carrier fluid for the microminiature light source beads, sensitizes the tissue at the treatment site so that light emitted by the LED chip when energized with an external electromagnetic transmitter (34) kills the tissue or other pathogens at the treatment site that have absorbed the photoreactive agent. Alternatively, a catheter (66) can be used for emplacing the microminiature light source beads at the treatment site.

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First Claim