Patent Application
20080275533
The embodiments disclosed herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments, which will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference is now made to the figures in which like reference numerals refer to like elements. While the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the systems and methods disclosed can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It will also be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.
The display screen 170 may be disposed on a housing 110 that may be shaped as desired, such as in a rectangular, circular, spherical, or other desired shape sufficient to house the light array 100. As described in greater detail below, the display screen 170 may be used to input parameters for controlling the light array 100, e.g., wavelength, duration, condition to be treated, etc, as well as to display the parameters or other information when the light array 100 is not in use.
In one embodiment, the light array 100 may also include one or more power modules 120 configured to direct and control an electric current to the light array 100. The light array 100 may be powered by an internal or external portable power source, such as a battery. The battery power source may provide the LEDs 150 with power such that AC power is not required. Alternatively, an AC adapter or direct AC connection may be used in other embodiments. The batteries may be stored within or proximate to the light array 100 and electrically connected to one or more of the power modules 120 to provide energy for the light array 100.
The array of LEDs 150 is located such that the light emitted from the each of the LEDs 150 may be directed to pass through the surface of the display screen 170 and towards a user located in front of the display screen 170. The light therapy device 100 may also include a light diffusing screen 160 disposed with the display screen 170 that may be configured to diffuse the light from the light array 100 as it passes through the display screen 170. The light array 100 may include one or more light sources of white light or other wavelengths of light such as colored light emitted from an array of colored LEDs.
The light array 100, including the array of LEDs 150, may be activated when a user depresses a control area on the display screen 170, which may be configured as touch screen. For example,
The light array 100 may be positioned behind the touch screen 415 in order to transmit therapeutic light through the touch screen 415. When the user chooses to activate the light therapy device 400, the display screen 415 may be started by activating a control button, such as control button 410 disposed on the light therapy device 400. When the display screen 415 is active, a user may operate the light therapy device 400 by touching the control surfaces on the display screen 415. For example, the control surfaces may be operated with the user's finger or with a stylus. More particularly, a user may touch the ON control 420 to turn on a light source, like the light array 100 shown by
The light therapy device 400 may be included as a part of many common consumer devices such as mobile cellular phones, personal digital assistants, portable video game consoles, portable music devise, and other portable devices with a display screen 415 through which a therapeutic light may be directed towards a user.
The light source may also be activated when a user pushes a button or switch. For example,
When the user chooses to activate the light therapy device 500, it may be started by activating a control button, such as the ON button 520 which can be in electric communication with a control element of the light source housed behind the display screen 515. More particularly, a user may push the ON button 520 to turn on the light source disposed behind the display screen 515, thereby directing a therapeutic light through the display screen 515 and towards the user. The OFF button 530 may be pressed to turn the light source off and the TIME buttons 541 and 542 may be used to increase or decrease the duration of the light therapy treatment. The light therapy device 500 may include other control buttons, such as INTENSITY buttons 551 and 552, which may be used to control the intensity or wavelengths of the light source shining through the display screen 515. The display screen 515 may display the control information and data such as the time value and the intensity value, as well as the date and time, etc.
With reference to
According to one embodiment, LEDs 150 include one or more multi-color LEDs in a single LED package, which is capable of emitting more than one discrete range of wavelengths. For example, in one embodiment the multi-color LEDs 150 can include a bi-color, or bi-polar LED producing two discrete ranges of wavelengths. As such, individual LEDs may produce a narrow band of wavelengths in the red portion of the visible electromagnetic spectrum as well as a narrow band of wavelengths in the blue portion of the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The red wavelengths may range between approximately 630 nanometers and 680 nanometers, while the blue wavelengths may range between approximately 400 nanometers and 470 nanometers. In one embodiment, the red band is between approximately 650 to 670 nanometers and the blue band is between approximately 405 to 420 nanometers.
One or more of the multi-color LEDs 150 may be capable of producing only red wavelengths at one time, or only blue wavelengths, or both red and blue wavelengths simultaneously. In other embodiments, the multi-color LEDs 150 can include at least one tri-color LED producing three discrete ranges of wavelengths. As would be apparent to those having skill in the art, multi-color LEDs 150 may be used which can produce more than three discrete wavelengths as the advancement of technology permits.
The light therapy devices 400 and 500 of
The light therapy devices 400 and 500 can produce specific wavelengths that may be therapeutic for a number of ailments or conditions. For example, for the treatment of acne, both blue wavelengths (400 to 470 nanometers) and red wavelengths (630 to 680 nanometers) may be used. Furthermore, for the treatment of acne, the light therapy devices 400 and 500 may provide twice as much exposure to blue wavelengths than to red wavelengths in a single treatment event. Relative exposures of red and blue wavelengths may be determined through a quantifiable value such as light intensity or duration of exposure.
In order to treat wrinkles in the skin, blue, red and yellow wavelength bands may be used. The blue and red wavelength ranges are approximately 400 to 470 nanometers and 630 to 680 nanometers, respectively. The yellow band of wavelengths may be between approximately 530 nanometers and 600 nanometers.
In treating rosacea, a yellow range of wavelengths may be used between approximately 530 and 600 nanometers.
In treating sun spots, a yellow range of wavelengths (530 to 600 nanometers) may be used. For alternative forms of sun damage, a red band (630 to 680 nanometers) may be employed.
Blue light (between 400 and 470 nanometers) may be used to treat and kill bacteria that may cause various forms of skin blemishes, such as acne.
Inflammation may be treated by exposing affected skin to red wavelengths (630 to 680 nanometers) and also to infrared wavelengths, which may range from about 800 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers. As discussed above, the two wavelength ranges may be produced by a single multi-color LED or by two separate LEDs, or an array of LEDs 150 as would be apparent to those having skill in the art.
Lesions in the skin may be treated by illuminating the affected area with red wavelengths (630 to 680 nanometers) and infrared wavelengths (800 to 1000 nanometers).
Canker sores may also be treated by irradiating the sore to red and infrared wavelengths (630 to 680 nanometers and 800 to 1000 nanometers, respectively). A typical one time treatment of canker sores may have a duration of exposure between 5 and 15 minutes, with an intensity of approximately 105 mW/cm2. However, multiple applications may be necessary in certain situations.
Skin blemishes may be treated through exposure to red, blue and yellow wavelengths. As discussed above the wavelength ranges may be approximately from 630 to 680 nanometers for red, approximately 400 to 470 nanometers for blue, and approximately 530 to 600 nanometers for yellow.
LEDs 150 that emit a band of wavelengths in the green portion of the visible electromagnetic spectrum may also be used in treating various conditions such as sun spots, rosacea and wrinkles. The wavelength range associated with green light may range between approximately 500 nanometers and 530 nanometers. LED light therapy may also be used in treating dead skin and other skin problems.
In one embodiment, the light therapy devices 400 and 500 of
The light therapy devices 400 and 500 shown in
The light therapy devices 400 and 500 may be configured to be cradled in a recharging base station (not shown). In the cradle position, the base station may have contact points that are in electronic communication with contact points of the light therapy devices 400 and 500. The base station can be connected to an AC power supply through a power cord (not shown). Alternatively, the light therapy devices 400 and 500 may be recharged using an AC adapter.
In one embodiment, the LEDs 150 may include a plurality of red and blue LEDs. In some embodiments, each LED is a single color LED, while in other embodiments, multi-color LEDs may be used. In the single color LED embodiment, the red and blue LEDs may be arranged in a checkerboard configuration, where every other LED emits blue wavelengths while all other adjacent LEDs emit red wavelengths.
Alternatively, other color LEDs may be used, particularly those that are capable of emitting yellow, green and infrared wavelengths. The array of LEDs 150 may also be programmed to emit a combination of wavelengths simultaneously to treat different conditions at the same time. Furthermore, light therapy devices 400 and 500 may also emit different intensities of light. For example, a user may control the intensities of all or some of the LEDs 150 by adjusting a touch-screen display or control buttons. The intensities of each color may also be varied independently.
For example, a user may provide input 352 indicative of a condition that a user desires to be treated by the LED light therapy device. Examples of various skin condition inputs 352 may include acne, rosacea, wrinkles, inflammation, sun spots or sun damage, bacteria, blemishes, lesions or canker sores. A user may select one or more of a list of conditions to be treated and the control system 350 accesses operating parameters stored on a memory device 354 or database in machine readable form. The operating parameters of the light therapy device that correspond with a particular light therapy treatment may be inputted by a manufacturer or programmer of the device, or alternatively a user may provide adjustment operating parameter input 356 in accordance with a customized treatment program.
The control system 350 accesses the memory device 354 containing multiple operating parameters and selects those corresponding to the condition input 352 received. The light therapy device then runs according to the operating parameters corresponding with the selected condition input 652. One example of an operating parameter output of the control system 350 is a control signal corresponding to the specific wavelengths for treatment 358 of the condition selected. Accordingly, if acne is selected by the user, the control system 350 accesses the corresponding operating parameter that indicates both red and blue wavelengths are to be used for treatment. However, if the user selected rosacea as the skin condition to be treated, the wavelengths for treatment 358 may be in the yellow band (530 to 600 nanometers).
Another form of output of the control system 350 is the operating parameter that indicates the intensity levels 360 for treatment of the condition selected. For example, with the light therapy device disclosed in
Another operating parameter that may be controlled is the time interval for treatment 362. A typical treatment session may last 15 minutes for some conditions. However, treatment for canker sores may be less, such as between 5 and 15 minutes, depending upon the user input. The time interval for treatment 362 may be controlled by a timer 364, which may be embodied, for example, as a Real Time Clock (RTC). Once the condition input 352 is received and the corresponding operating parameters accessed, the indicated time interval 362 is controlled by the timer 364. Once the timer 364 reaches the time interval 362 indicated it automatically shuts off LED emission of the light therapy device.
Additionally, the operating parameters corresponding to a condition input 352 may include wavelength ratio data 366. For example, when acne is selected as the condition to be treated, the operating parameters corresponding with the treatment of acne would indicate that twice as much exposure to blue wavelengths as compared to red wavelengths is desired. Consequently, the wavelength ratio 366 for acne would be 2:1, blue to red. The relative exposures of red and blue wavelengths may be determined through a quantifiable value such as light intensity or duration of exposure. Therefore, blue LED light may be emitted at twice the intensity of red LED light. Alternatively, the exposure time of blue LED light during a particular treatment interval would be twice as long as red LED light. This may be accomplished by pulsating blue LEDs twice as much as red LEDs, or by activating twice as many blue LEDs than red LEDs, or other methods known to those having skill in the art.
Accordingly, a user is able to control the wavelengths emitted, the intensity levels, the time intervals for treatment, and the relative ratio of wavelengths produced by simply selecting a particular condition. By selecting the condition, the control system 350 causes the LED light therapy device, such as light therapy devices 400 and 500, to provide the appropriate colors, intensity, etc., for that condition.
The control system may be in electronic communication with a display, such as display screens 415 and 515 discussed in conjunction with the description of
While specific embodiments and applications of light therapy devices have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention claimed hereinafter is not limited to the precise configuration and components disclosed. Various modifications, changes, and variations apparent to those of skill in the art may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the devices and systems disclosed.
