Photon therapy method and apparatus

• US 20050085875A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Photonx Health Corporation
• Original Assignee: Photonx Health Corporation
• Inventors: Van Zuylen, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/005 for cooling the radiator
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

A system and method of administering photon therapy to a treatment site of a patient are described. The system includes a plurality of treatment modules, each treatment module including a photon emitter, and a case for housing the photon emitter. The case includes linkers for linking each of the treatment modules to form an arbitrary modular pattern to cover the treatment site.

Claims

1. A system for administering photon therapy to a treatment site of a patient, the system comprising at least one treatment module, each of the at least one treatment module including

a photon emitter, and

a case for housing the photon emitter, wherein the case includes linkers for linking treatment modules to form an arbitrary modular pattern to cover the treatment site.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the photon emitter includes at least one of a light emitting diode and a laser diode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each treatment module further includes a cooling device for cooling the treatment module.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cooling device includes a fan.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the case includes a lid having an internal bracket for securing the fan.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the internal bracket secures the fan without a screw.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising adhesive that surrounds a portion of the photon emitter and that bonds the photon emitter to a base of the case, said adhesive sealing any space between the photon emitter and the base to prevent contamination and facilitate cleaning.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment module consists of a plurality of treatment modules, and the linkers include a hook and latch system to connect the treatment modules end-to-end.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the hook and latch system includes latches on each case that form an integral part thereof.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the hook and latch system includes latches and a pair of hooks on each treatment module that enable two neighboring treatment modules to rotate about a nominal axis that connects the pair of hooks.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the linkers include a rail assembly to connect the treatment modules side-by-side.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the rail assembly is composed of a flexible material.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising a securing assembly for securing the system to the patient.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the rail assembly includes at least one slot for attaching the securing assembly.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one slot consists of a plurality of slots to provide several options for attaching the securing assembly.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the case includes a protrusion capable of displacing tissue of the patient at the treatment site.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the protrusion is a protruding cone.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the treatment module includes a plurality of photon emitters arranged in horizontal rows, such that even numbered rows are vertically aligned and odd numbered rows are vertically aligned and offset from the even numbered rows.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one counterweight to position the system on the treatment site, each counterweight weighing more than any one treatment module.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each counterweight and each treatment module is approximately the same shape and size.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein each counterweight has a hook and latch system for linking with treatment modules.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment module consists of a plurality of treatment modules, the system further comprising a holder to which the plurality of treatment modules are secured at angles to direct the light produced by the photon emitters.

23. The system of claim 22, such that the holder is dish-shaped and includes a base and a rim, wherein, in operation, the rim is in contact with the patient to maintain the photon emitters above the treatment site without touching the treatment site.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the holder is an angled bracket.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the holder is C-channeled.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising a positive feedback device that produces at least one of vibration and audible noise to indicate to the patient that the system is operating.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the positive feedback device is a fan.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller module that can perform diagnostics of the at least one photon emitter by monitoring a voltage drop.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising at least one balancing resistor electrically coupled to the at least one photon emitter, the voltage drop resulting from a drop in voltage across the at least one photon emitter and the at least one balancing resistor.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the value of the voltage drop is a function of the wavelength of light being emitted by the photon emitter, which value can be used to selectively disable or enable photon emitters emitting a particular wavelength.

31. The system of claim 1, further comprising a palette having

a slot filled with a cleaning fluid for cleaning the at least one treatment module.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a storage tank connected to the slot to replenish the slot with the cleaning fluid.

33. A system for administering photon therapy to a patient, the system comprising

a photon emitter with controllable properties;

a controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter; and

at least one personal digital assistant (PDA) in communication with the controller module for delivering operating information thereto, which information is processed by the controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter and to thereby administer the photon therapy to the patient.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the operating information is associated with a complete administration of the photon therapy, the operating information sent before the administration of treatment commences.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the operating information is sent during a time period that spans the interval during which the treatment is administered.

36. The system of claim 33, further comprising a user interface that allows at least one of patient management, ailment management, recording and monitoring of patient progress, creating and saving user defined treatment protocols and indications, accessing of a library of fixed dose treatment protocols.

37. A network for administering photon therapy to at least one patient, the network comprising

at least one photon emitter with controllable properties;

a set of controller modules, the set having at least one member, to control the properties of the at least one photon emitter; and

a set of personal digital assistants (PDAs), the set having at least one member, wherein each member of the set of PDAs is in communication with each member of the set of controller modules for delivering operating information, which information is processed by the members of the set of controller modules to control the properties of the at least one photon emitter to thereby administer the photon therapy to the at least one patient.

38. A system for administering photon therapy to a patient, the system comprising

a photon emitter with controllable properties;

a controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter;

a processor in communication with the controller module for delivering operating information thereto, which information is processed by the controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter and to thereby administer the photon therapy to the patient; and

a user interface to record progress of the patient.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said progress can be used by the processor to automatically tailor the photon therapy treatment given to the patient.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the user interface can be used to query the patient regarding at least one of response to previous treatment, pain, dysfunction and quality of life.

41. A system for simulating photon therapy to a patient, the system comprising

a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a processor;

and

an interface associated with the PDA that prompts a user for information for administering photon therapy to the patient, wherein the processor outputs information that is useful for at least one of troubleshooting and learning to administer photon therapy.

42. A system for administering photon therapy to a patient, the system comprising

a photon emitter with controllable properties;

a controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter; and

a communication interface for providing communication between a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the controller module, wherein in operation the controller module receives operating information from the PDA, which information is processed by the controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter and to thereby administer the photon therapy to the patient.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of an electromagnetic wave interface and a physical connector.

44. A system for administering photon therapy to a patient, the system comprising

a photon emitter with controllable properties;

a controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter; and

a personal digital assistant (PDA) cradle for providing communication between a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the controller module, wherein in operation the controller module receives operating information from the PDA, which information is processed by the controller module to control the properties of the photon emitter and to thereby administer the photon therapy to the patient.

45. A method of delivering photon therapy to at least one patient, the method comprising

a first user applying a first at least one treatment module to a first patient;

the first user administering a first photon therapy to the first patient with a first personal digital assistant (PDA) connected to the first at least one treatment module;

recording first data pertaining to the first photon therapy on the first PDA;

downloading the first data from the first PDA to a central computing device;

a second user applying a second at least one treatment module to a second patient;

the second user administering a second photon therapy to the second patient with a second personal digital assistant (PDA) connected to the second at least one treatment module;

recording second data pertaining to the second photon therapy on the second PDA;

downloading the second data from the second PDA to the central computing device;

the central computing device forming merged data containing at least a first portion of the first data and at least a second portion of the second data; and

the central computing device sending the merged data to the first and second PDAs.

46. A heat sink assembly for a photon therapy pointer, the assembly comprising

a tube which mates with a photon emitter module of the pointer to hold the module in place;

and

a heat sink block to which the tube connects, wherein the heat sink assembly cools the pointer, wherein the tube is threaded at one end that screws into the heat sink block.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the heat sink block includes cooling fins.

48. The system of claim 46, further comprising an insulating plate disposed between the heat sink block and a shell of the pointer.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the heat sink block is mounted to a shell of the pointer with insulating screws.

50. A pointer for administering photon therapy to a treatment site of a patient, the pointer comprising

a shell;

a photon emitter module disposed within the shell;

a sensor at one end of the shell for sensing the presence of the treatment site of the patient to activate the photon emitter module; and

an insulator cap at the one end of the housing to provide isolation between the sensor and shell.

51. A method for administering photon therapy to a patient, the method comprising

applying at least one treatment module having a photon emitter to a treatment site of the patient, said at least one treatment module having controllable properties;

inputting clinical indicators into a computing device in communication with the at least one treatment module;

modifying a base treatment protocol using the clinical indicators to yield a modified treatment protocol that determines the properties exhibited by the at least one treatment module during the photon therapy; and

administering photon therapy to the patient, wherein the step of inputting clinical indicators is required to determine the properties of the at least one treatment module exhibited during therapy.

52. A method for administering photon therapy to a patient, the method comprising

applying at least one treatment module having a photon emitter to a treatment site of the patient, said at least one treatment module having controllable properties;

inputting clinical indicators into a computing device in communication with the at least one treatment module;

modifying a base treatment protocol using the clinical indicators to yield a modified treatment protocol associated with the controllable properties; and

administering photon therapy to the patient based on the modified treatment protocol, wherein the clinical indicators include at least one of tissue type, chronicity, target depth at the treatment site, and response to previous treatment.

53. A method for administering photon therapy to a patient, the method comprising

applying at least one treatment module having at least one photon emitter to a treatment site of the patient, said at least one treatment module having controllable properties;

inputting clinical indicators into a computing device in communication with the at least one treatment module;

modifying a base treatment protocol using the clinical indicators to yield a modified treatment protocol, said step of modifying resulting in a change of at least one of pulsating frequency, duty cycle, frequency of light and energy per unit area of the treatment site of the at least one photon emitter; and

administering photon therapy to the patient based on the modified treatment protocol.

54. A method for administering photon therapy to a patient, the method comprising

applying at least one treatment module having a photon emitter to a treatment site of the patient, said at least one treatment module having controllable properties;

a user inputting clinical indicators into a computing device in communication with the at least one treatment module;

modifying a base treatment protocol using the clinical indicators to yield a modified treatment protocol associated with the controllable properties; and

administering photon therapy to the patient based on the modified treatment protocol, wherein the base treatment protocol is not selectable by the user.