Abu Ali ibn Sino Bukhara State Medical Institute • “Science Heroes — a Model for Youth” project • Series: “History of One Invention”

In the “History of One Invention” series of the Abu Ali ibn Sino Bukhara State Medical Institute, we tell the story of utility model patent No. FAP 2949, issued by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The utility model is titled “A method of complex treatment of erosive and ulcerative lesions of the esophagus in gastroesophageal reflux disease using an infrared diode laser.” Behind this official title stand an important question from gastroenterology and endoscopic surgery, clinical observations and teamwork.

What is gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a typical acid-related disorder of the digestive system caused by the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus. Patients often have persistent regurgitation, pain in the epigastric area or behind the breastbone, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, erosions and ulcers appear on the esophageal mucosa, Barrett’s esophagus may develop, and the risk of adenocarcinoma and scar stricture increases.

As the utility model description notes, the number of patients with this disease has risen significantly in recent decades. In 1998, GERD was included among five conditions that most reduce patients’ quality of life. Modern drugs are highly specific and strongly suppress basal acid production. Even so, the incidence in the population keeps growing, which shows the need to improve treatment approaches.

The question came from practice

In recent years, low-level laser radiation has come into wide clinical use. The description stresses that laser therapy has earned a firm place in modern medicine thanks to its effectiveness, lack of side effects and simplicity. Existing methods have weaknesses, however:

• in some, the laser acts through the skin and the radiation does not reach the damaged mucosa directly;
• in others, parameters are left to the physician’s subjective choice;
• intravenous laser irradiation of blood is limited in patients with clotting disorders.

The closest analog is the authors’ 2022 article: in 24 patients (17.8%) with GERD complicated by grade II–IV reflux esophagitis, an infrared diode laser of the “Lakhta-Milon” device was used. But the prototype does not specify the total energy, the irradiation time per area or the interval for repeat treatment. Hence the question: can standard drug therapy be combined with laser irradiation under endoscopic control into a complex method with precisely defined energy, time and repeat interval?

The solution: drug therapy plus laser irradiation with exact parameters

First, the patient receives standard complex therapy: cytoprotective drugs, amoxicillin (1000 mg after meals, twice daily), clarithromycin (500 mg before meals, twice daily) and proton pump inhibitors.

Then the throat is sprayed with 10% lidocaine, an endoscope is inserted through the mouth, and the light guide of the “Lakhta-Milon” device is passed through its instrument channel. The erosive and ulcerative areas of the esophageal mucosa are irradiated under endoscopic control with the parameters below, and the endoscope is withdrawn. After 10–14 days, if the erosive zones are confirmed to have decreased, irradiation is repeated in the same mode. If a hiatal hernia is found, the description says laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery can be performed in parallel.

Laser parameters (based on the utility model claim)

Parameter	Value
Wavelength	970 nm
Mode	pulsed
Power	7 W
Distance	about 0.5 cm from the mucosal surface
Total energy	137 J
Area per site	about 1 cm²
Exposure time	2–4 seconds
Repeat session	10–14 days after the start of treatment, once reduction of erosive zones is confirmed, with the same settings

Advantages of the method

Advantages stated in the description:

• irradiation can be delivered as early as the first day of treatment, during a routine endoscopic examination, directly onto the lesion inside the esophagus;
• pulsed irradiation from 0.5 cm does not cause necrosis, and the 2–4 second exposure shortens the procedure;
• the method can be used before and after anti-reflux surgery and may reduce the risk of GERD complications — adenocarcinoma and scar stricture.

Clinical examples (from the patent description)

The description confirms the method’s effectiveness with two clinical examples from the polyclinic of the Academician V. Vakhidov Republican Specialized Scientific-Practical Medical Center of Surgery.

Example one. A 57-year-old patient presented with a 10-year history of epigastric pain, persistent regurgitation, nausea, vomiting and weight loss; after conservative treatment, symptoms returned within 2–3 months. Endoscopy revealed a 4 cm hiatal hernia, grade IV reflux esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, gastric mucosal dystopia of up to 6 cm and diffuse catarrhal gastritis. The patient refused surgery. Standard therapy and laser irradiation (from 3 seconds) were given, with repeat irradiation after 10 days. After 48 days, symptoms had decreased markedly and reflux esophagitis had fallen to grade II–III; the hernia size was unchanged. A second course of laser irradiation was given.

Example two. An 80-year-old patient presented with a 10–15-year history of retrosternal pain, persistent regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, hiccups and general weakness; the effect of conservative treatment lasted about 5–6 months. Endoscopy revealed a 9–10 cm hernia, grade IV reflux esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, 10 cm gastric mucosal dystopia and an ulcer in the middle third of the esophagus (10 cm from the incisors, 1.0×0.8 cm). Because of age and comorbidities, complex treatment was recommended. In the first course each site was irradiated for 4 seconds; histology showed apoptosis in the esophageal epithelium. After 14 days, symptoms had decreased markedly, reflux esophagitis improved to grade III and the ulcer shrank to 0.8×0.5 cm; the hernia was unchanged. A second course was given in the same mode.

According to the description, the sign of effectiveness is a trend toward reduction of erosive and ulcerative changes, followed by complete healing. In both examples, fewer complaints and an improved endoscopic picture were reported.

From application to patent

Legally protecting a scientific result is a separate piece of work. The authors prepared application documents describing the field of application, analysis of analogs, novelty, the problem solved and the technical result. The application was received on 19 January 2026 and given number FAP 20260029; this date is the priority date.

After the application was examined in the established procedure, on 20 February 2026 the utility model was registered in the State Register of Utility Models of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and under the Law “On Inventions, Utility Models and Industrial Designs” the Ministry of Justice issued patent No. FAP 2949. It was published in the bulletin on 26 March 2026 (Bull. No. 3(299)). The patent is valid in Uzbekistan for 5 years from 19 January 2026, provided the patent fee is paid on time.

Stages of obtaining the patent

Date	Stage
19.01.2026	Application received (FAP 20260029); priority date
19.01.2026 — 20.02.2026	Application examined in the established procedure
20.02.2026	Utility model registered in the State Register of Utility Models; Ministry of Justice patent No. FAP 2949 issued
26.03.2026	Published in the bulletin (Bull. No. 3(299))
5 years from 19.01.2026	Patent term (if the patent fee is paid on time)

Authors of the utility model

Authors and patent holders: Akhmedov G‘ayrat Keldibayevich, Gulamov Olimjon Mirzakhitovich, Sherbekov Ulugbek Akhrarovich, Achilov Mirzakarim Temirovich, Davlatov Salim Sulaymonovich, Saydullayev Zayniddin Yakhshiboyevich and Bobokulov Azamat Uktamovich. This result is the fruit of collective scientific work, and every author contributed to it.

What does it give doctors and patients?

For the physician, the method has precise, reproducible parameters: irradiation can be delivered directly to the damaged mucosa as early as the first day of treatment during a routine endoscopic examination, and repeated in the same mode after 10–14 days if improvement is confirmed. Standard drug therapy is not cancelled but supplemented by laser exposure under endoscopic control.

For the patient, it means a procedure without extra preparation, carried out together with the examination, taking only 2–4 seconds per site, and an approach aimed at reducing the risk of severe GERD complications — adenocarcinoma and scar stricture. It should be stressed that this is not a miracle cure but a patent-protected complex treatment method with precise parameters.

This story from the “History of One Invention” series shows how a concrete question from clinical practice — how to treat erosive and ulcerative lesions of the esophagus more effectively — becomes a legally protected result through strict parameters and teamwork. For young researchers it is a reminder of an important truth: the path of science begins beside the patient, with the ability to see a problem in practice.

#HistoryOfOneInvention #ScienceHeroes

Abu Ali ibn Sino Bukhara State Medical Institute — Press / Information Service • November 2026

Basis: Ministry of Justice patent for utility model No. FAP 2949.