The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 02, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 22, 1997
James C Chen, Bellevue, WA (US);
Light Sciences Limited Partnership, Issaquah, WA (US);
Abstract
The efficacy of a plurality of PDT treatments following at least an initial PDT treatment is enhanced by increasing the neutrophil count of the patient substantially above a normal level. The increase in the neutrophil count leads to a more rapid removal of dead abnormal cells and stroma that have been destroyed, thereby enabling light administered in subsequent PDT treatments to more effectively reach and destroy still living abnormal cells on the surface of the tumor. The accelerated removal of dead tumor cells also enables a more accurate assessment of the treatment progress, since the actual tumor size should be more evident in image of the site. By enabling a tumor to be more rapidly destroyed by multiple PDT treatments, the risk of metastatic spread of abnormal cells away from the treatment site is also reduced.