LIGHT-WAND AND BALLOON CATHETERS

摘要

One aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus which has a light emitting portion 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. For example, the ailment may be a gastrointestinal ailment of a patient, such as gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, gastric lymphoma, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease. The apparatus may also be used for treating diseases of the circulatory system, urogenital systems and other body cavities. In one embodiment, the apparatus is inserted into a body cavity, e.g., stomach or colon, of the patient to place the distal tip of the apparatus in the desired position. A balloon is then inflated around the light-emitting portion of the apparatus, e.g., an array of optical fiber ends. The body cavity of the patient is then irradiated with light radiation so as to kill or debilitate microorganisms lining the body cavity without significant destruction of the body tissue of the patient, thereby improving or alleviating one or more of the symptoms associated with the ailment. Following treatment, a probiotic may be administered to the patient to reestablish the growth of normal microbial flora after treatment of the gastrointestinal tract.