| 摘要 |
By compounding photochemicals in the material used to form, for example, air and water supply lines (6) for use in dental appliances (4), and activating these photochemicals through the use of laser beams, the adherence and colonization of bacteria within the water and air supply lines (6) can be prevented and eliminated. In addition to activating the photochemicals, the laser beams, which are preferably low power laser beams having a predetermined wavelength, can be utilized to biostimulate tissue surrounding locations where, for example, catheters (40) and other implantable medical devices are inserted into the patient's body, thereby stimulating the patient's immune system to suppress the growth of bacteria therein. By forming the catheters (40) and other implantable medical devices with a photochemical coating or compounding the photochemicals with the material of the devices themselves and activating the photochemicals through the use of laser beam energy, the adherence of colonization of bacteria to the medical devices can be reduced and eliminated. |
