WO2008017101A1

WO2008017101A1 - A phototherapy device

Info

Publication number: WO2008017101A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001041
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nick Balgowan
Original assignee: Total Control Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-08-09
Filing date: 2007-07-26
Publication date: 2008-02-14

Abstract

A phototherapy device having a face associated with a radiation source for projecting a first form of radiation from the face to the surface of a patient and the device having a controller comprising a switching means, a transmitter capable of emitting a second form of radiation and receiver capable of receiving the second form of radiation when reflected from the surface, the controller operatively coupled to the radiation source through the switching means, the switching means being adapted to activate the radiation source wherein upon the receiver receiving a characteristic of the second radiation signal indicative of a desired range of spacings of the face from the surface and to cause the radiation source when the characteristic of the second radiation signal is indicative of a spacing outside the desired range of spacings.

Description

A Phototherapy Device

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to phototherapy treatment devices and in particular a controller for such devices.

Throughout the specification the term "phototherapy device" shall be taken as including, but is not limited to, a device that emits radiation onto a surface such as IR, UV, laser, microwave, x-ray, gamma, beta and ultrasonic radiations.

Background Art

The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

The use of phototherapy devices, whilst providing benefit when used in the correct manner, have the capacity to cause damage to an operator of the device and/or other persons in the vicinity of its operation and/or the patient receiving treatment, via accidental or over-exposure to the emitted radiation.

Existing phototherapy devices rely on the operator turning the phototherapy device to an on or off position in order to activate and deactivate the emission of radiation from the device respectfully. In this regard, the process is prone to human error, in that the light may be harmfully directed to an unintended recipient and/or may be rendered active for too long and/or may not be properly applied in regard to the spacing of the radiation source from the portion of the body to be treated and/or being inadvertently directed to a portion of the body of the patient which is not to be treated.

It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate, mitigate or overcome, at least one of the aforementioned problems associated with phototherapy devices. Disclosure of the Invention

Throughout the specification and claim, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phototherapy device having a face:

associated with a radiation source for projecting a first form of radiation from said face to the surface of a patient; and

the device having a controller comprising a switching means, a transmitter capable of emitting a second form of radiation and receiver capable of receiving the second form of radiation when reflected from the surface, said controller operatively coupled to said radiation source through the switching means;

said switching means is adapted to activate said radiation source wherein upon the receiver receiving a characteristic of the second radiation signal indicative of a desired range of spacings of the face from said surface and to deactivate the radiation source when the characteristic of the second radiation signal is indicative of a spacing outside the desired range of spacings.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, said transmitter transmits modulated light of a fixed range of wavelengths. According to a preferred feature of the invention the modulated light comprises a single wavelength. According to one embodiment the transmitter comprises a laser. According to an alternative embodiment the transmitter is associated with a collimator.

According to one embodiment the modulated light is in the visible spectrum. According to an alternative embodiment the modulated light is in the non-visible spectrum. According to a preferred feature of the invention, said receiver includes an amplifier filter and a band pass filter for filtering said modulated light.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, said controller further comprises a timer means, wherein said radiation source is activated for a period of time and wherein the length of the period of time can be varied.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, said timer means is associated with sensor which is capable of sensing the nature of the surface, the sensor associated with a processor which is capable of determining the desired period according the nature of the surface and the nature of phototherapy to be applied to the surface.

According to a preferred feature of the invention said phototherapy device further comprises a spacer associated with the said face said spacer in use being intended to engage the surface and maintain the face a minimum distance from the surface. According to a preferred feature of the invention, said spacer is detachable from the face.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, said controller includes a memory means which is capable of maintaining a log representative of the history of usage of said phototherapy device. According to preferred feature of the invention the log is also representative of at least some of the particulars of each treatment.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, said phototherapy device further includes a portable power source. According to a preferred feature of the invention, said portable power source includes a low voltage DC to high voltage AC inverter for activating said radiation source.

According to a preferred feature of the invention said controller includes a communications means to communicate with an external controller.

According to a preferred feature of the invention said radiation source comprises a laser; and said controller includes a laser modulator, for varying the output strength of said laser. The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of several specific embodiments

Brief Description of the Drawings

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of a phototherapy device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a lower perspective view of the phototherapy device of Figure 1, with the casing removed;

Figure 3 is an upper perspective view of the phototherapy device of Figure 1, with the casing removed;

Figure 4 is a lower perspective view of the phototherapy device of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the phototherapy device of Figure 1, with the casing removed;

Figure 6 is a lower perspective view of the phototherapy device of Figure 1 , with the spacer removed;

Figure 7 is an upper perspective view of the phototherapy device of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a lower perspective view of the phototherapy device of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments

The first embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a phototherapy device 10 having a face 12 including a radiation source in the form of a UV lamp 14, and a controller 15 including a switching means 16. The phototherapy device 10 according to the embodiment is used for treating the surface of a patient via the UV lamp 14. The radiation source could alternatively be one or more laser emission diodes, or any other suitable source. The surface of the patient may be, for example, skin, tissues, organs or cells.

The phototherapy device 10 has a handle 18. The handle 18 is to enable a user to be able to conveniently grip the device 10 to effect its operation. The handle 18 accommodates a portable power source 19 comprising a storage battery. The portable power source 19 is used to power the components of the device 10. The portable power source 19 is associated with a recharge connector 20 is provided at the base of the handle 18 to facilitate recharging of the portable power source, as would be known to a person skilled in the art.

The UV Lamp 14 requires a specific AC voltage to operate, but to activate and begin emitting light, a much higher voltage is required until the UV Lamp 14 activates. Alternatively, if the much higher voltage is not available, a heater in the lamp base is used to help the starting process, for example, a ballast, heater and starter is normally used in standard fluorescent lighting applications.

As the portable power source 19 has a relatively low voltage output a means for generating a much higher voltage is required to drive the UV Lamp 14. In the present embodiment, a low voltage DC to high voltage AC inverter is provided to activate the UV Lamp 14. The inverter generates a very high voltage when only a small load is present on the output, but a lower voltage when the load gets larger. The initial high voltage presented to the UV Lamp 14 from the inverter enables a relatively fast start up time, and the much higher frequency of operation of the inverter (25~30kHz as compared to mains frequency operation of 50~60Hz) improves the efficiency of the UV Lamp 14.

The UV Lamp 14 is used to project a first form of radiation onto the surface of a patent via a face of the device 10 to effect the desired phototherapy. The UV lamp 14 is housed in the device 10, and is preferably a Narrow Band UVB lamp. It could also be any other suitable radiation source or UV lamp, including for example a Wide Band UVB, UVA, UVA or LASER lamp. As examples, a Philips™ PL-S 9W/01/2P bulb can be utilised as a Narrow Band UVB radiation source, a Philips™ PL-S 9W/10/2P bulb as a UVA radiation source, or a Philips™ PL-S 9W/12 bulb as a Wide Band UVB radiation source. The suitability of a particular bulb will be dependent on the nature of phototherapy being applied to the patient treated.

The controller 15 has a switching means 16 (as shown at to Figure 9) which is used to switch the UV lamp 14 to an on or off state. The controller further comprises a transmitter for emitting a second form of radiation and which comprises a modulated LED 22. The LED 22 is modulated in a manner as determined by the controller 15.

The LED 22 is positioned and is associated with a collimator and/or light guide such that the resultant light beam emitted by the LED 22 is directed at a specific angle from the face of the device.

The controller further comprises a receiver means in the form of a photo detector 28, (see Figure 9). The photo detector 28 is spaced at a predetermined distance across from the LED 22 at a corresponding opposite angle at 30. The LED 22 and photo detector 28 are isolated from one another by the light guide 26, the sides of which are opaque.

When a surface (eg the skin of a patient) is at a specified distance from the face of the device 10 some light form the LED 22 will be reflected from the surface back towards the face. When the detector is at a predetermined distance from the surface the reflected light will be incident upon the photo detector 28. The predetermined distance is determined by angle of the light beam emitted from the LED 22 and the angle of the photo detector 28 and the distance between the LED 22 and photo detector 28. The modulation pattern of the light emitted from the LED 22 is amplified and filtered by the photo detector 28 in order to remove extraneous noise. The photo detector 28 is operatively connected to the switching means 16 by suitable circuitry in order that the switching means will only activate the UV Lamp 14 on the photo detector 28 sensing the receipt of reflected light form the surface. The circuitry associated with the switching means performs a sequence of algorithmic steps, as would be known to a person skilled in the art, to determine that the light incident on the photo detector is the reflected light from the surface which is derived from the LED 28. The switching means 16, if enabled by the circuitry, then activates the UV Lamp 14.

The controller is further provided with a timer means in the form of a programmable timer.

In addition the controller includes a control keypad 32 of the type known to a person skilled in the art which enables a user to provide input to the controller 15 to set the operating parameters for a particular treatment activity (e.g. time of exposure). The controller further includes a visual output for the user which is provided by an LCD display 34, of the type known to a person skilled in the art. Further indicator means which are representative of the functioning state of the are provided in the form of four LED indicator-lights 36 to one side of the LCD display 34.

In use, the user can use the programmable timer to limit the amount of time that the UV Lamp 14 remains in an active state. This may be a time limit as determined by the user. Provision is also made for the user to identify a patient by a patient identification number or name, select the skin-type of the patient, and the type of treatment. The controller 15 is then adapted to calculate the optimum exposure time based on these inputs. For example, skin-types may be categorised as follows:

The exposure time is adjusted to account for the sensitivity of the skin type selected, and/or the illness or ailment being treated. After selecting the desired timer limit via the programmable timer, the user inputs that the treatment should begin, at which point the controller 15 allows the switching means 16 to turn on the UV Lamp 14, if a correct signal is detected. Once the time limit has expired, the controller 15 causes the switching means 16 to adopt an inactive state, thereby deactivating the lamp 14.

The controller 15 includes a memory means that maintains a log representative of the history of usage of the UV Lamp 14. The controller also includes a clock, enabling the time and date to be included in the history of usage. This includes usage delineated by the particulars about the patient (e.g. identification number). Accordingly, usage for a particular patient can be tracked and monitored over time.

As shown at Figure 4, the device 10 can be connected to a computer via a communications means in the form of a data port 37, for the purpose of programming the device 10, upgrading the software of the device 10, or downloading the log.

The device has a spacer 38 extending from a face 12 to engage the surface of the patient and maintain the face 12 a minimum distance from the surface of the patient. The face 12 of the device 10 is a made from transparent plastic. The spacer 38 is configured to slide onto the device 10, and may be detached by sliding the spacer 38 relative to the device 10. A plurality of spacers 38 may be provided, to enable the user to vary the minimum distance between the surface and the face 12, as required.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the LED 22 of the first embodiment is modulated by an external oscillator.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the radiation source is a laser. In this embodiment, the controller further includes a laser modulator. The laser modulator can effectively vary the output power of the Laser Diodes by controlling the percentage of time the laser is turned on. For example, if a 2OmW Laser is turned on for 10OuS and subsequently off for 90OuS in a repeating pattern, the effective output power of the laser will be 2mW. In this manner, the controller can control the laser power output up to the maximum rated output of the laser diode itself. This enables the controller to limit the laser output according to relevant occupational health and safety requirements.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. The embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

Claims

The Claims Defining the Invention are as Follows:

1. A phototherapy device having a face:

2. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 , wherein said transmitter transmits modulated light of a fixed range of wavelengths.

3. A phototherapy device according to claim 2, wherein said modulated light is in the visible spectrum.

4. A phototherapy device according to claim 2, wherein said modulated light is in the non-visible spectrum.

5. A phototherapy device according to any one claims 2 to 4, wherein said modulated light comprises a single wavelength.

6. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitter comprises a laser.

7. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitter is associated with a collimator.

8. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said receiver includes an amplifier filter and a band pass filter for filtering said modulated light.

9. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, whereby said controller further comprises a timer means, wherein said radiation source is activated for a period of time.

10. A phototherapy device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said timer means is associated with a sensor which is capable of sensing the nature of the surface, the sensor associated with a processor which is capable of determining the desired period according the nature of the surface and the nature of phototherapy to be applied to the surface.

11. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said phototherapy device further comprises a spacer associated with the said face said spacer in use being intended to engage the surface and maintain the face a minimum distance from the surface.

12. A phototherapy device as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said spacer is detachable from the face.

13. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said controller includes a memory means which is capable of maintaining a log representative of the history of usage of said phototherapy device.

14. A phototherapy device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the log is also representative of at least some of the particulars of each treatment.

15. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said phototherapy device further includes a portable power source.

16. A phototherapy device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said portable power source includes a low voltage DC to high voltage AC inverter for activating said radiation source.

17. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said controller includes a communications means to communicate with an external controller.

18. A phototherapy device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said radiation source comprises a laser; and said controller includes a laser modulator, for varying the output strength of said laser.

19. A phototherapy device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the length of the period of time can be varied.

20. A phototherapy device substantially as herein before described.

21. A phototherapy device substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.