Red light implants for treating osteoporosis
View Patent ↗Red light implants for delivering red light to spinal implants to enhance osteointegration.
1. A method of treating a spine, comprising the steps of:
a) implanting an implant into a spine, and
b) irradiating a bone in the spine with an effective amount of red light from a light source in an instrument,
wherein the light enters bone via a transmitter adjacent the bone to induce bone repair or osteointegration around the implant.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant is an intervertebral implant.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the red light is delivered in an amount effective to enhance the osteointegration of the implant.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the red light is delivered through an LED.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the red light has a wavelength of between about 600 nm and about 1000 nm.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the red light irradiates a portion of a cancellous bone region with between about 0.02 J/cm 2 and 200 J/cm 2 energy.