PHOTO MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY

The FDA reports the incidence of Staphylococcus aurous to be at near-epidemic proportions in many hospitals and clinics.  Newer strains of these bacteria called super pathogens are rapidly becoming antibiotic-resistant[1]. Other bacteria, such as H. pylori, populate the upper GI tract, and form the basis for most gastric ulcers. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an “opportunistic pathogen,” exploits some break in the host defenses to infect the patient’s urinary tract, soft tissue, bones, joints, or gastrointestinal track and accounts for 10% of all hospital-acquired infections. [2] Almost all endoscopic surgical sites are potential breeding grounds for post-operative infections, and resultant medical complications are not uncommon.

                                         COMMON INFECTIOUS BACTERIA

When coupled with our TheraScope, the potential use of therapeutic light to destroy pathogens in the body represents an entirely new capability for endoscopy. Light wavelengths can also be selectively tuned to energize a targeted chemical reaction. In addition, the photons’ energy level can be controlled to maximize one process while minimizing others. 

MITI is developing endoscopic therapy that uses lightwaves to which pathogens have no defense as the lightwaves destroy the bacteria’s DNA. This physical technique may be used to supplement, or even replace traditional drug therapy. Specifically, a surgeon can sweep the bacteria-killing endoscope over a surgical field, including trocar ports, before closing, thus either eradicating or greatly diminishing the potential for bacterial infection. 

For germicidal processing, the use of light offers two fundamental advantages over chemical, plasma or mechanical options. First, light can be transmitted through optical fibers, lenses and air space directly to the infection site. This allows MITI’s patented Photo Microbial Therapy to deliver specific energies of controlled intensity, wavelength, power and geometry to destroy the infectious species.

Second, the wavelength of light can be selectively tuned to energize a targeted chemical reaction. The photons’ energy level can be controlled to maximize one process while minimizing others. Lasers, often used in photo medicine for germicidal applications, but are not always optimal; monochromatic light is often more effective. Although most monochromatic light sources generate light efficiently, they are unsuitable for selective excitation because of their low power. MITI’s light source has high peak power thus, offers the capability to selectively tune the wavelength with either a monochromator or a narrow band light. Rather than utilizing a single large bolus of energy, control is achieved through time-related pulses. 

Our Therapeutic Light Therapy has proven effective in killing bacteria and fungus in laboratory tests, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Helobactor pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus fumigatus. 

[1] Forbes Article 6/19/2006 Referencing US Center for Disease Control

[2] U.S. Center for Disease Control

Lasers, often used in photo medicine for germicidal applications as well as monochromatic light, can be delivered through the TheraScope. However, although most monochromatic light sources generate light efficiently, they are unsuitable for selective excitation because of their low power. MITI’s pulsed light system offers high peak power to selectively apply either a monochromatic or a narrow wavelength can be delivered through the endoscope to the source of the infection. The TheraScope is capable of delivering a single large bolus or incremental levels of energy using time-related pulses

ANTIMICROBIAL TEST RESULTS

The assay plates in the photographs shown below contain large colonies of Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas bacteria; the clear circles indicate where bacteria have been completely eradicated with lightwaves by a 5 second exposure to therapeutic wavelengths.

MITI has also tested other antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including Acinetobacter, Bacillus subtillis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherchria coli and Helicobacter pylori. An aggressive strain of Acinetobacter baumanni, brought from Iraq by returning veterans that is causing major problems in civilian and VA hospitals, was also successfully eradicated. We have also tested our therapeutic light wave technology on Aspergillus fungus, and achieved the same results.