Phototherapy apparatus for hair, scalp and skin treatment

• US 20100076529A1
• Filed: 09/18/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gavin Tucker, Jeffrey Braile, Morgan Pepitone, Nicholas Brox
• Original Assignee: Gavin Tucker, Jeffrey Braile, Morgan Pepitone, Nicholas Brox
• Inventors: Brox, Nicholas, Pepitone, Morgan, Braile, Jeffrey, Tucker, Gavin
• Application Number:
  US12/586,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20100076529A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0617 Hair treatment

Abstract

A wearable hands-free apparatus for providing phototherapy treatment to a number of hair, scalp and skin related conditions includes a head unit (e.g., a headset, headphones, headband, or helmet unit) with earphones to allow the user to listen to an audio program during a treatment. The head unit supports a light emitting canopy band or plate fitted with an array of light generating sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes, infrared lights or other light sources, that emit light within a particular wavelength range correlating with the treatment of one or more specific hair, scalp and/or skin-related conditions. The light emitting canopy band or plate is specifically designed to conform to the shape of the human scalp for providing complete light coverage to the areas of the scalp that are most commonly affected by hair loss in men and women. In a further embodiment, a fixed or detachable face plate connects to the head unit and houses an array of the light generating sources for treating various facial skin-related conditions. A control system, preferably in a handheld device, allows the user to select the desired treatment program and audio operations.

Claims

1. A wearable hands-free apparatus for providing phototherapy treatment to a user, said apparatus comprising:

a head unit adapted to be worn on the user'"'"'s head and including a pair of audio emitting earphones positionable on the user'"'"'s ears;

at least one canopy band supported on said head unit, and said at least one canopy band including an inner facing side that is positionable in spaced, opposing relation to a select area of the user'"'"'s head;

an array of light generating sources on said inner facing side of said at least one canopy band and being structured and disposed for producing a light pattern that is directed onto the select area of the user'"'"'s head, and each of said light generating sources being further structured and disposed for emitting light within a wavelength range according to a particular condition being treated by phototherapy;

at least one control on said apparatus for controlling operation of said array of light generating sources.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said light generating sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said light generating sources are laser diodes.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said light generating sources are intense pulse lights (IPLs).

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said light generating sources are infrared lights.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said head unit includes an LCD timer and function display system.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a face plate structured and disposed for connecting to each of said at least one canopy band, and said face plate being further structured and disposed for housing said array of light generating sources.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one control is a hand held device with an LCD display, and said hand held device including a programmable memory for storing an algorithm that controls the timing and pulse rate of said array of light generating sources in accordance with a plurality of specific phototherapy treatments.

9. A wearable hands-free phototherapy apparatus for treatment of a region of skin cells and layers of a user'"'"'s dermis, comprising:

a head unit adapted to be worn on the user'"'"'s head;

at least one canopy band removably attachable to said head unit and including an inner facing side that is positionable in spaced, opposing relation to a select area of the user'"'"'s face and scalp;

a pivot point on said apparatus structured and disposed for allowing rotation of each said at least one canopy band to a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the user'"'"'s head;

an array of light generating sources on said inner facing side of said at least one canopy band and being structured and disposed for producing a light pattern that is directed onto the select area of the user'"'"'s face and scalp, and each of said light generating sources being further structured and disposed for emitting light within a selected wavelength range according to a particular condition being treated by phototherapy; and

at least one control on said apparatus for controlling operation of said array of light generating sources.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said light generating sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said light generating sources are laser diodes.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said light generating sources are intense pulse lights (IPLs).

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said light generating sources are infrared lights.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said head unit includes an LCD timer and function display system.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a face plate structured and disposed for connecting to each of said at least one canopy band, and said face plate being further structured and disposed for housing said array of light generating sources.

16. A wearable hands-free phototherapy apparatus for treatment of a region of skin cells and layers of a user'"'"'s dermis, comprising:

a head unit adapted to be worn on the user'"'"'s head;

a plurality of canopy bands removably attachable to said head unit and including an inner facing side that is positionable in spaced, opposing relation to a select area of the user'"'"'s face and scalp;

a pivot point on said apparatus structured and disposed for allowing rotation of each said plurality of canopy bands to a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the user'"'"'s head;

an array of light generating sources on said inner facing side of said plurality of canopy bands and being structured and disposed for producing a light pattern that is directed onto the select area of the user'"'"'s face and scalp, and each of said light generating sources being further structured and disposed for emitting light within a selected wavelength range according to a particular condition being treated by phototherapy;

a first of said plurality of canopy bands having said array of light generating sources adapted for emitting light within the selected wavelength ranges of 405 nm-476 nm;

a second of said plurality of canopy bands having said array of light generating sources adapted for emitting light within the selected wavelength ranges of 514 nm-543 nm;

a third of said plurality of canopy bands having said array of light generating sources adapted for emitting light within the selected wavelength ranges of 568 nm-590 nm;

a fourth of said plurality of canopy bands having said array of light generating sources adapted for emitting light within the selected wavelength ranges of 628 nm-694 nm;

a fifth of said plurality of canopy bands having said array of light generating sources adapted for emitting light within the selected wavelength ranges of 700 nm-1090 nm; and

at least one control on said apparatus for controlling operation of said array of light generating sources.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said light generating sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said light generating sources are laser diodes.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said light generating sources are intense pulse lights (IPLs).

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said light generating sources are infrared lights.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said head unit includes an LCD timer and function display system.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising a face plate structured and disposed for connecting to each of said plurality of canopy bands, and said face plate being further structured and disposed for housing said array of light generating sources.