Back to results
US 6,290,713 B1Granted
Flexible illuminators for phototherapy
OwnerThomas A. Russellinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flexible illuminators for external phototherapy are disclosed each having at least one light generating source, preferably a plurality of light-generating sources, on a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate may be a circuit board, and the light-generating source may be surface mount LEDs. Structures for diffusing light emitted from the discrete light-generating sources and/or for transferring heat away from a skin contact surface are provided. The illuminators may be formed so as to be wrapped around an infant or a limb of an adult, or may be provided in larger configurations, such as a mat. The illuminators may be passively or actively cooled so that the skin contact surface remains below a desired temperature.
Claims54
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherary, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight flexible substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one discrete light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- and
- a covering at least partly surrounding the substrate and having an exterior surface that is spaced apart from the light-generating source, the exterior surface being adapted to contact the skin of a patient, wherein the exterior surface is defined by a disposable overwrap sized to at least partly cover the illuminator and provide a contamination barrier between the illuminator and the skin of the patient.
2 more elements
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherapy, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface providing heat transfer means to transfer heat generated by the light-generating source so that an external surface of the illuminator can safely contact the skin of a patient, wherein the interface defines spaces between the external surface and the substrate;
- and
- at least one fin positioned to provide increased transfer of heat produced by the light-generating sources away from the skin of the patient relative to a substantially identical illuminator without the fin.
3 more elements
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherapy, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface providing heat transfer means to transfer heat generated by the light-generating source so that an external surface of the illuminator can safely contact the skin of a patient wherein the interface defines spaces between the external surface and the substrate;
- and
- wherein the spaces comprise channels for convective heat transfer, and further including means for actively cooling the at least one light-generating source using the channels.
3 more elements
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherary, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface providing heat transfer means to transfer heat generated by the light-generating source so that an external surface of the illuminator can safely contact the skin of a patient, wherein the interface defines spaces between the external surface and the substrate;
- and
- wherein there are a plurality of the light-generating sources, and the spaces are adjacent to the light-generating sources.
3 more elements
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherary, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface providing heat transfer means to transfer heat generated by the light-generating source so that an external surface of the illuminator can safely contact the skin of a patient, wherein the interface defines spaces between the external surface and the substrate;
- and
- wherein the spaces are in communication with apertures provided through the external surface of the illuminator.
3 more elements
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherary, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface providing heat transfer means to transfer heat generated by the light-generating source so that an external surface of the illuminator can safely contact the skin of a patient, wherein the interface defines spaces between the external surface and the substrate;
- and
- diffusing means for diffusing light emitted from the at least one light-generating source.
3 more elements
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin for phototherapy,the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one discrete light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- and
- an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface diffusing the light emitted from the discrete light-generating source, the illuminator being adapted to contact the skin of a patient, wherein the interface comprises a combination of at least two materials having different refractive indices.
2 more elements
A wearable photo therapeutic illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient, comprising:
- a flexible substrate;
- a plurality of light-generating sources disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a flexible, polymeric layer covering the light-generating sources, the layer permitting light energy to penetrate therethrough and adapted to substantially conform to the skin of a patient, the layer comprising a matrix with glass bubbles dispersed therein to diffuse the light emitted from the light-generating sources.
1 more element
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherary, the illuminator comprising:
- at least one discrete light-generating source disposed on one side of a substrate and facing the skin of the patient;
- a diffusive reflector on the substrate and positioned to reflect light emitted from the light-generating source in a diffusive manner toward the skin of the patient;
- and
- an exterior surface adapted to contact the skin of a patient.
1 more element
A method of phototherary, comprising:
- providing a flexible illuminator comprising at least one discrete light-generating source and a covering at least partly surrounding the light-generating source, the covering having an exterior surface that is spaced apart from the light-generating source and adapted to contact the skin of a patient;
- interposing a disposable wrap between the exterior surface and the patient;
- applying the flexible illuminator to the skin of a patient having a disorder;
- and
- emitting light from the light-generating source sufficient for therapeutic treatment of the disorder.
2 more elements
A method of phototherary, comprising:
- providing an illuminator comprising at least one discrete light-generating source disposed on one side of a substrate and facing the skin of the patient and a diffusive reflector, the illuminator having an exterior surface adapted to contact the skin of a patient, the diffusive reflector on the substrate and positioned to reflect light emitted from the light generating source in a diffusive manner toward the skin of the patient;
- applying the illuminator to the skin of a patient having a disorder;
- and
- providing light from the light-generating source sufficient for therapeutic treatment of the disorder.
1 more element
A method of phototherary, comprising:
- providing an illuminator comprising at least one discrete light-generating source on a substrate and an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface providing internal channels to transfer heat generated by the light-generating source so that the illuminator is cooled and can safely contact the skin of a patient;
- applying the illuminator to the skin of a patient having a disorder;
- and
- providing light from the light-generating source sufficient for therapeutic treatment of the disorder.
1 more element
A wearable photo therapeutic illuminator for delivering the light energy to the skin of a patient, comprising:
- a flexible substrate;
- a plurality of light-generating sources disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a flexible, polymeric layer covering the light-generating sources, the layer permitting light energy to penetrate therethrough and adapted to substantially conform to the skin of a patient, the layer comprising a matrix with titania dispersed therein to diffuse the light emitted from the light-generating sources.
1 more element
A wearable phototherapeutic illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient, comprising:
- a flexible substrate;
- a plurality of light-generating sources disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a flexible, polymeric layer covering the light-generating sources, the layer permitting light energy to penetrate the therethrough and adapted to substantially conform to the skin of a patient, the layer comprising a blend of at least two materials having different refractive indexes to diffuse the light emitted from the light-generating sources.
1 more element
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin for phototherary, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- a plurality of discrete light-generating sources disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- and
- an interface covering the substrate and the light-generating sources thereon, the interface having a diffusive layer that diffuses the discrete points of light emitted from the sources to result in a more uniform overall emittance, the illuminator being adapted to contact the skin of a patient.
2 more elements
An illuminator for delivering light energy to the skin of a patient for phototherary, the illuminator comprising:
- a thin, lightweight substrate;
- a plurality of conductive traces affixed to the substrate and being adapted to connect to an electrical power source;
- at least one light-generating source disposed on the substrate and coupled to the conductive traces;
- an interface at least partly covering the light-generating source on the substrate, the interface providing heat transfer means to transfer heat generated by the light-generating source so that an external surface of the illuminator can safely contact the skin of a patient, wherein the interface defines spaces between the external surface and the substrate;
- and
- wherein the interface includes a generally planar member defining on a side facing the substrate a plurality of spacers positioned between the planar member and the substrate to create the spaces, the spaces being in fluid communication to permit cooling of the light-generating source.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.