Phototherapeutic apparatus for focused UVB radiation and vitamin D synthesis and associated systems and methods
AssigneeBeneSol, Inc.
InventorWilliam A. Moffat, IV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a phototherapeutic apparatus for focused UVB radiation and vitamin D synthesis and associated systems methods. In one embodiment a phototherapeutic apparatus can include a housing at least partially defining an irradiation zone, and an ultraviolet (UV) radiation source carried by the housing. The irradiation zone can be configured to accommodate at least a portion of a human patient. The phototherapeutic apparatus can further include a filter between the UV radiation source and the irradiation zone. The filter can be configured to at least substantially remove UV radiation outside of a predetermined spectrum centered at about 297 nm and having a bandwidth of at most 10 nm.
Claims20
A phototherapeutic apparatus, comprising:
- an ultraviolet (UV) radiation assembly comprising:
- a UV radiation source carried by a housing;
- and
- a reflector positioned forward of the UV radiation source to direct UV energy emitted by the UV radiation source forward toward an irradiation zone, the UV energy contacting the reflector forward of the UV radiation source,
- wherein the UV radiation source is configured to emit UV radiation having wavelengths between 290 nm and 310 nm to stimulate vitamin D production in skin;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the UV radiation source and configured to cause the phototherapeutic apparatus to limit UV radiation of the phototherapeutic apparatus to less than a user-specific minimum erythemal dose (“MED”) based on a skin tone associated with a user in the irradiation zone by adjusting a duration of an exposure period.
A method of delivering ultraviolet (UV) radiation to stimulate vitamin D production via irradiation of skin, the method comprising:
- emitting UV energy with one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by a housing of a phototherapeutic apparatus;
- directing, via one or more reflectors, the UV energy forward from the one or more LEDs toward an irradiation zone, wherein the UV energy transmitted from the phototherapeutic apparatus to the irradiation zone is within a predefined spectrum between 290 nm and 310 nm;
- terminating the transmission of the UV energy after a user has been exposed to less than a user-specific minimum erythemal dose (“MED”) based on user-specific information.
A phototherapeutic apparatus, comprising:
- an ultraviolet (UV) radiation assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a UV radiation source carried by the housing and positioned to emit UV radiation toward an irradiation zone, wherein the UV radiation assembly is configured to emit the UV radiation at wavelengths between 290 nm and 310 nm to stimulate vitamin D production in skin;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the UV radiation assembly and configured to cause the phototherapeutic apparatus to limit UV radiation of the phototherapeutic apparatus to less than a user-specific minimum erythemal dose (“MED”) based on a skin tone associated with a user in the irradiation zone by adjusting a duration of an exposure period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.