Phototherapeutic treatment methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. An electroluminescent phototherapy apparatus, comprising:
- a thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) panel that produces light radiation when a voltage greater than a prescribed voltage is applied thereto;
the TFEL panel having a light emitting surface that produces light radiation for delivery to a patient; and
control means, for controlling a time that the patient is exposed to the light radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) phototherapy device based on high field electroluminescence (HFEL) or from organic light emitting devices (OLED), consistent with certain embodiments of the present invention has a battery and a charging circuit coupled to the battery, so that when connected to a source of current acts to charge the battery. A TFEL panel produces light when voltage from the power source (battery or AC source) is applied. A processor such as a microprocessor is used to control the application of voltage from the power source to the TFEL panel under control of a control program. A housing is used to contain the battery, the charging circuit and the processor and carry the TFEL panel on an outer surface thereof. In one embodiment, the housing incorporates a removable cover that uncovers a household electrical plug useful for supplying charging current to the charger. In use, a method of carrying out phototherapy, consistent with certain embodiments of the invention involves diagnosing a condition of an affected area of tissue that can be treated with phototherapy. A treatment protocol is determined including, for example, a treatment light intensity, a treatment time, a light modulation characteristic and a treatment light wavelength suitable for treating the condition. The affected area is then irradiated with light from the TFEL panel in accord with the treatment protocol.
131 Citations
52 Claims
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1. An electroluminescent phototherapy apparatus, comprising:
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a thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) panel that produces light radiation when a voltage greater than a prescribed voltage is applied thereto;
the TFEL panel having a light emitting surface that produces light radiation for delivery to a patient; and
control means, for controlling a time that the patient is exposed to the light radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An electroluminescent phototherapy apparatus, comprising:
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a thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) panel having a plurality of electrodes on one surface thereof that are individually addressable to produce light from an addressed segment of the panel when a voltage greater than a prescribed voltage is applied thereto;
the TFEL panel having an electroluminescent core that is doped using a first dopant in a first segment thereof and doped using a second dopant in a second segment thereof;
the TFEL panel having a light emitting surface that produces light radiation for delivery to a patient; and
a controller that addresses the multiple electrodes in order to produce light from the first segment at a first wavelength and from the second segment at a second wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A hand held electroluminescent phototherapy device, comprising:
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a battery;
a charging circuit coupled to the battery, so that when connected to a source of current acts to charge said battery;
a thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) panel that produces light when voltage from said battery is applied thereto;
a processor that controls the application of voltage from the battery to the TFEL panel under control of a control program;
a housing containing said battery, said charging circuit and said processor therein and carrying said TFEL panel on an outer surface thereof. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of carrying out phototherapy, comprising:
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diagnosing a condition of an affected area of tissue that can be treated with phototherapy;
determining a treatment protocol for the condition; and
irradiating the affected area of tissue with light from a thin film electroluminescent (TFEL) panel in accordance with the treatment protocol. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification