A method of disinfecting using a light diffusing fiber includes optically coupling a light source to a light diffusing optical fiber having a core, a cladding surrounding the core, an outer surface, and a plurality of scattering structures positioned within the core, the cladding, or both the core and the cladding. The method further includes positioning the light diffusing optical fiber in optical engagement with a pathogen sample and directing light output by the light source into the light diffusing optical fiber for a first time interval. The scattering structures scatter light propagating along the light diffusing optical fiber toward the outer surface and a portion of the light diffuses through the outer surface thereby irradiating the pathogen sample with light having an average power density of about 5 mW/cm2 to about 30 mW/cm2 at a wavelength from about 380 nm to about 495 nm for an exposure time from about 2 hours to about 24 hours.

A method for applying LED light treatment includes initiating operation of at least one LED of an LED array of an LED module for a predetermined period of time; and during the predetermined period of time, receiving a signal from a light sensor that indicates light reflected from a surface of a patient's wound. During operation, when the signal from the light sensor indicates that an appropriate dose of light is not being irradiated, operation of the at least one LED is adjusted and when the signal from the light sensor indicates the appropriate dose of light is being irradiated, operation of the at least one LED continues until the predetermined period of time has been achieved.

A method of controlling application of a dose of light energy for treatment to disinfect an area includes causing the dose of light energy to be emitted from at least one light emitting device, receiving a wavelength and intensity of light emitted from a fluorescent component within the area being disinfected by the dose of light energy, and adjusting at least one of a current, a voltage, a pulse width, and a pulse frequency applied to the at least one light emitting device based on the received wavelength and intensity of the light emitted from the fluorescent component.

A device comprising a housing having a handle end and a treatment end. The treatment end is configured to provide an antimicrobial treatment and a heat treatment. The treatment end comprises an applicator having an applicator surface for providing at least the heat treatment. The device includes a heat generation unit configured to heat the applicator surface in use, a source of antimicrobial agent, and a control unit operatively connected to at least the heat generation unit for controlling the heat generation unit. The device can be a hand-held device and used to apply topical treatment to a treatment area of a subject.

Methods and systems for treating a biological fluid with light are disclosed. The methods and systems provide for determining a target light dose for the biological fluid; loading a treatment container holding the biological fluid into an irradiation chamber of an irradiation device comprising: with the treatment container being supported in the irradiation device in between a first array of light sources and first light energy sensors and a second light energy sensor. The first array of light sources is activated, and a first light intensity is measured with the first light energy sensors. A second light intensity is measured with the second light energy sensor, and the first light intensity is compared to the second light intensity to determine an attenuation factor. The attenuation factor is applied to the first light intensity to determine a time to achieve the target light dose, with the first array of multiple light sources being deactivated after the time to achieve the target light dose has elapsed.

A portion of a treatment device for treating bacteria may be coupled with the bacteria through direct or indirect contact. Mechanical stress energy and electromagnetic energy are generated with the treatment device, and are transmitted from the treatment device to the bacteria during the coupling. The bacteria are treated with both the mechanical stress energy and the electromagnetic energy to produce a killing effect on the bacteria. A treatment device may include a mechanical stress energy emitting portion, an electromagnetic energy emitting portion, and a contacting portion for coupling into direct or indirect contact with the bacteria and transmitting mechanical stress energy to the bacteria during the coupling. The mechanical stress energy emitting portion and the electromagnetic energy emitting portion are operable to treat the bacteria with a combination of mechanical stress energy and electromagnetic energy to produce a killing effect on the bacteria.

Confronted with the rapid evolution and dissemination of antibiotic resistance, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatment strategies for drug-resistant S. aureus, especially for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). We report a photonic approach to eradicate MRSA through blue-light photolysis of staphyloxanthin (STX), an anti-oxidative carotenoid acting as the constituent lipid of the functional membrane microdomains of S. aureus. Our transient absorption imaging study and mass spectrometry unveil the photolysis process of STX. After effective STX photolysis by pulsed laser, cell membranes are found severely disorganized and malfunctioned to defense antibiotics, as unveiled by membrane permeabilization, membrane fluidification, and detachment of membrane protein, PBP2a. Consequently, our photolysis approach sensitizes MRSA to reactive oxygen species attack and increases susceptibility and inhibits development of resistance to a broad spectrum of antibiotics including penicillins, quinolones, tetracyclines, aminoglyco sides, lipopeptides, and oxazolidinones. The synergistic therapy, without phototoxicity to the host, is effective in combating MRSA both in vitro and in vivo in a mice skin infection model. Collectively, this staphyloxanthin-targeted phototherapy concept paves a novel platform to use conventional antibiotics as well as reactive oxygen species to combat multidrug-resistant S. aureus infections.

An illuminator comprising more than one set of ultraviolet radiation sources. A first set of ultraviolet radiation sources operate in a wavelength range of approximately 270 nanometers to approximately 290 nanometers. A second set of ultraviolet radiation sources operate in a wavelength range of approximately 380 nanometers to approximately 420 nanometers. The illuminator can also include a set of sensors for acquiring data regarding at least one object to be irradiated by the first and the second set of ultraviolet radiation sources. A control system configured to control and adjust a set of radiation settings for the first and the second set of ultraviolet radiation sources based on the data acquired by the set of sensors.

A lighting apparatus including a controller including a real time clock, an LED driver, and an LED luminaire including a first light emitting unit including a first LED to emit light having a peak wavelength between 300 to 470 nm and a wavelength converter, and at least one of a second light emitting unit to emit light having a peak wavelength between 286 to 304 nm to cause production of vitamin D, a third light emitting unit to emit light having a peak wavelength between 605 to 935 nm to cause production of a cell activating substance, and a fourth light emitting unit to emit light having a peak wavelength between 400 to 430 nm to sterilize pathogenic microorganisms, in which the controller controls the LED driver to change an irradiance of light emitted from at least one of the light emitting units according to time.

Disclosed are compounds of general formula (I):

##STR00001##

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, formulations, methods and uses in, for example, the treatment of disease.