DEVICE FOR IRRADIATING AN OBJECT, IN PARTICULAR HUMAN SKIN, WITH UV LIGHT

• US 20100114264A1
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andreas Lechthaler
• Original Assignee: Andreas Lechthaler
• Inventors: LECHTHALER, Andreas
• Application Number:
  US12/636,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114264A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2025 with a pilot laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for irradiating an object, in particular human skin, with UV light. Said device comprises a UV light source and an irradiation head containing imaging optics, UV light being projected from the irradiation head onto the object. A light source that emits visible light is provided in addition to the UV light source, the light from said additional source being projected onto the object by means of the imaging optics of the irradiation head. According to the invention, a preferably electronically controlled unit for the variable adjustment of the light distribution on the object is located in the irradiation head and UV light from the UV light source and/or visible light from the light source emitting visible light can be selectively or simultaneously supplied to said unit.

Claims

1. A device for irradiating an object, in particular human skin, with UV light, having a UV light source and an irradiation head which contains imaging optics from which UV light is projected onto the object, wherein in addition to the UV light source a light source which emits visible light is provided, the light of which can be projected onto the object via the imaging optics of the irradiation head, wherein arranged in the irradiation head is a means which is preferably electronically controlled for adjustably setting the light distribution on the object, and that means can optionally or simultaneously be subjected to UV light from the UV light source and/or to visible light from the light source which emits visible light.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein colored light and/or white light can be emitted by means of the light source which emits visible light.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the light source which emits visible light comprises an RGB-unit which preferably contains light diodes.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the light source which emits visible light is controllable by an electronic control unit, wherein the light intensity and/or the light color is adjustable.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the means for adjustably setting the light distribution on the object comprises an electronically controllable modulator for spatial light (EASLM).

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the electronically controllable modulator for spatial light (EASLM) has a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) or a Liquid Crystal on Silicon Unit (LCOS).

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein a visible color pattern—

preferably in the form of a regular grid—

can be projected onto the object (FIG. 4) by the means for adjustably setting the light distribution on the object.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein an electronic control device is provided which comprises a screen, and that a visible image which is correlated with the current display on the screen can be projected onto the object by the means for adjustably setting the light distribution on the object, appropriately controlled by the electronic control unit.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the screen and the region of the object to be irradiated are offset alongside each other or one behind the other so that they can both be viewed from the same position of observation.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein arranged in the irradiation head there is a camera, preferably a CCD camera.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the camera is configured in such a way that it converts into corresponding electrical image signals UV light emitted by the UV light source and/or visible light emitted by the visible light emitting light source.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the camera detects light which comes directly from the light source (FIGS. 8, 10) and/or light which is reflected by the object (FIGS. 5, 11).

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein an irradiation head, a switch-over device, preferably a rotatable beam-splitter, is provided, by means of which light which comes directly from the light source or light which is reflected by the object, can be deflected onto the camera.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein arranged in or on the irradiation head is a means for detecting the distance away and/or spatial course of the surface of the object.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the UV light source is situated in a separate light source housing outside the irradiation head, and located between the light source housing and the irradiation head is at least one flexible fiber optic cable, via which UV light can be fed from the UV light source to the irradiation head.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the flexible fiber optic cable contains at least one quartz glass fiber.

17. A device according to claim 15, wherein the flexible fiber optic cable is enclosed in a light-proof manner.

18. A device according to claim 15, wherein the flexible fiber optic cable is connected by means of a releasable connection to the UV light source housing and/or the irradiation head.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein provided in the light source housing, at the output side, and in the irradiation head, at the input side, are respective collimating lenses for respectively inputting and outputting UV light into and out of the fiber optic cable.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation head is adjustably mounted on a carrier device.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the irradiation head is displaceably and/or rotatably mounted.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the irradiation head is adjustable by means of a motor.

23. A device according to claim 1, wherein the object is adjustably mounted, preferably rotatably mounted about a vertical axis, on an object carrier device.

24. Use of a device according to claim 1 for irradiating human skin.