Method and system for therapeutic use of ultra-violet light

• US 10,149,927 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Thermotek Incorporated
• Inventors: Quisenberry, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Treyger, Ilya
• Application Number:
  US13/796,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20130281947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,100 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/7411 by changing the size of a vent in combination with changing the cross-section of the line A61M1/7413
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/053 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/005 for cooling the radiator
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0649 using suction to fix the applicator to the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a wound care system. The wound care system includes a power unit and a processor coupled to the power unit. An ultra-violet light-emitting diode array is electrically coupled to the processor. A thermoelectric element is thermally exposed to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array. A probe is optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array. The thermoelectric element cools the ultra-violet light emitting diode array thereby optimizing the ultra-violet light emitting diode array.

Claims

1. A wound care system comprising:

a power unit;

a processor coupled to the power unit;

an ultra-violet light-emitting diode array electrically coupled to the processor;

a thermoelectric element thermally exposed to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

a probe optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

a pump electrically coupled to the processor and that is fluidly coupled to the probe, the pump applying vacuum pressure to a wound area via the probe;

an exudate bottle fluidly coupled to the pump;

a probe solenoid disposed between, and fluidly coupled, to the pump and the exudate bottle;

a first pressure sensor disposed between the probe solenoid and the pump;

a second pressure sensor disposed between the probe solenoid and the exudate bottle;

wherein, when closed, the probe solenoid isolates the probe and the exudate bottle for pressure testing via the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to ensure that a seal is present between the probe and the wound area; and

wherein the thermoelectric element absorbs excess heat from the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array and transfers the excess heat to an exhaust thereby optimizing the ultra-violet light emitting diode array.

2. The wound care system of claim 1, wherein the pump operates in at least one of a high vacuum state and a low vacuum state.

3. The wound care system of claim 1, comprising:

a pump solenoid fluidly coupled to the pump and electrically coupled to the processor; and

a vent solenoid fluidly coupled to the pump and electrically coupled to the processor.

4. The wound care system of claim 3, wherein vacuum pressure is applied to the wound area via selective actuation of the pump solenoid, the probe solenoid, and the vent solenoid.

5. The wound care system of claim 1, wherein the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array comprises at least one first diode and at least one second diode.

6. The wound care system of claim 5, wherein the at least one first diode emits UV-A light and the at least one second diode emits UV-C light.

7. The wound care system of claim 6, wherein the at least one second diode emits UV-C light for a duration of approximately three minutes per approximately 12 hours.

8. The wound care system of claim 1, wherein the probe is at least one of a patch probe, a spot probe, and a point probe.

9. The wound care system of claim 1, comprising:

a UV interlock optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array and electrically coupled to the processor; and

wherein the UV interlock deactivates the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array upon disconnection of the probe.

10. A method for treating a wound area, the method comprising:

coupling a probe to a control unit via a control fiber port;

applying the probe to a wound area;

generating ultra-violet light via an ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

providing the ultra-violet light to the wound area via the probe;

cooling the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array via a thermoelectric element that is thermally exposed to the light-emitting diode array;

applying vacuum pressure to the wound area via a pump;

isolating the probe from the pump via a probe solenoid disposed between the pump and an exudate bottle; and

pressure testing the probe to ensure that a seal is present between the probe and the wound area via a first pressure sensor disposed between the pump and the probe solenoid and a second pressure sensor disposed between the probe solenoid and the exudate bottle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying vacuum pressure comprises selective actuation of a probe solenoid, a vent solenoid, and the pump solenoid.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying vacuum pressure comprises:

applying a first vacuum pressure to the wound area for a first period of time; and

applying a second vacuum pressure to the wound area for a second period of time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first period of time includes a range of approximately 24 to approximately 48 hours following a surgery.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second period of time follows the first period of time.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the first vacuum pressure is greater than the second vacuum pressure.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the generating ultra-violet light comprises:

generating UV-A light via at least one first diode; and

generating UV-C light via at least one second diode.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the UV-C light is generated for a duration of approximately 3 minutes every 12 hours.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying a probe comprises applying at least one of a patch probe, a spot probe, and a point probe.