Portable light delivery apparatus and methods for delivering light to the human body

• US 20040138726A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron Jaccard, Daniel Adams, Kenneth Lane
• Original Assignee: Henry C. Savage Jr, Kent W. Savage, Steven D. Powell
• Inventors: Savage, Henry C. Jr., Savage, Kent W., Powell, Steven D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,811,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0636 Irradiating the whole body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0621 Hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice treatment

Abstract

A device is provided for delivering light to the blood supply of a human body through a non-ocular skin area. The device has a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) spaced apart from each other and extending through apertures for emitting light to the body and a power supply connected to the light delivery unit. The device provides wavelengths of light within a specifically-determined range of intensity and a specifically-determined angles of illumination. Devices may be included for controlling and programming the output of the LEDs. A method is provided for delivering light to a non-ocular body region for treating jaundice, breaking down bilirubin and treating other disorders.

Claims

1. A portable light-emitting device for delivering light to the blood supply of a human body of a subject through a non-ocular area of skin on the body, comprising:

(a) a light delivery unit having multiple spaced-apart apertures therein for positioning on a portion of the body;

(b) a plurality of LEDs, each extending at least partially through one of the apertures of the light delivery unit for emitting light outward away from the light delivery unit;

(c) a power supply connected to the light delivery unit for delivering power to the light sources; and

(d) a controller unit disposed between the power supply and the light delivery unit for controlling the delivery of power to the light sources.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the LEDs are through-hole LEDs each being disposed to direct light through one of the apertures.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the light sources provide light having one or more wavelengths within a specifically-determined range.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the LEDs provide light within a specifically-determined range of light intensity.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the LEDs provide light within a specifically-determined angle of light illumination.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller unit further comprises a control device to vary the power supplied to the light delivery unit.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the control device is a high-speed switching device for switching power off and on in multiple duty cycles during the time that light is provided by the light delivery unit.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the light sources LEDs are through-hole LEDs.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the control device is a programmable device to automatically vary the power supplied to the light delivery unit, according to the data provided to the control device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the light delivery unit further comprises a pad structure for disposing next to the skin of a patient.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the pad structure further comprises multiple independent strips of substrate, each substrate containing at least one light source, the strips being connected together to form the light delivery unit.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the multiple independent strips of substrate are separately disposed in a flexible pad to enable the pad to be wrapped around a portion of the body of the subject.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the pad structure is flexible to enable the pad to be wrapped around the patient'"'"'s torso, and further comprising an attachment device for holding the pad around the torso.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the pad structure forms a flexible vest to be worn on the patient'"'"'s torso, and further comprising an attachment device for holding the pad around the torso.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the pad structure is flexible to form an arcuate tent within which the patient may be placed, and further comprising an attachment device for holding the pad in the form of an arcuate tent.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of rigid strips of substrate each having at least one aperture therein for supporting an LED therein.

20. The device of claim 16, and further comprising a plurality of indentations on the flexible unit, each for supporting one of the rigid strips so that the LEDs are disposed to direct light through the apertures in the flexible unit.

21. The device of claim 14, and further comprising a controller between the power supply and the LEDs for controlling the power supplied to the LEDs.

17. A light-emitting device for delivering light to the blood supply of a human body of a subject through a non-ocular area of skin on the body, comprising:

(a) a flexible unit for positioning on a portion of the body having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therein;

(b) a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), each LED being disposed on the flexible unit to extend at least partially through each of the apertures to direct light to the body; and

(c) a power supply connected to the LEDs for delivering power thereto.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a substrate disposed on the flexible unit for supporting the LEDs.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller includes a device for controlling the amount of voltage being supplied to the LEDs.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller provides power to the LEDs in multiple duty cycles.

24. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller includes a device for shutting off the power to the LEDs in the event of an undesirable power disruption of the normal power supply to the LEDs.

25. A method using a portable light-emitting device to deliver light to the blood supply of a human body of a subject through a non-ocular area of skin on the body, comprising:

(a) positioning on a portion of the body a light delivery unit having multiple spaced-apart apertures therein;

(b) directing light to a portion of the body from a plurality of individual light sources, each being disposed at least partially within one of the apertures of the light delivery unit;

(c) providing power to the light sources from a power supply connected to the light delivery unit; and

(d) controlling the delivery of power to the light sources with a controller unit disposed between the power supply and the light delivery unit.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the light sources are through-hole light emitting diodes (LEDs), each being disposed to direct light through one of the apertures.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein light is directed to a portion of the body having one or more wavelengths within a specifically-determined range.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein light is directed to a portion of the body within a specifically-determined range of light intensity.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein light is directed to a portion of the body within a specifically-determined angle of light illumination.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the power supplied to the light delivery unit is varied using a controller unit.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the power supplied to the light delivery unit is varied using a high-speed switching device for switching power off and on in multiple duty cycles during the time that light is provided to the light delivery unit.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the power supplied to the light delivery unit is varied using a programmable device to automatically vary the power supplied to the light delivery unit according to data provided to the programmable device.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the light delivery unit is disposed around a portion of the body.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the light delivery unit is wrapped around a portion of the body in the form of a blanket.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the light deliver unit is dispose around the body in the form of a vest.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the light delivery unit is position above the infant in the form of an arcuate tent.

38. The method of claim 30, wherein the LEDs are disposed on a substrate comprising a plurality of rigid strips of substrate each having at least one aperture therein for supporting an LED.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the rigid strips of substrate are each disposed in an indentation on the flexible unit, so that the LEDs are positioned to direct light through the apertures in the flexible unit.

37. A method of using a light-emitting device to deliver light to the blood supply of a human body of a subject through a non-ocular area of skin on the body, comprising:

(a) positioning a flexible unit having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therein on a portion of the body;

(b) disposing a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) on the flexible unit, each LED being disposed on the flexible unit to extend at least partially through one of the apertures to direct light to the body; and

(c) providing power to the LEDs from a power supply connected to the LEDs for delivering power thereto.