Precisely Guided Phototherapy Apparatus

• US 20110218597A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Litecure, LLC (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: BWT Property, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Sean Xiaolu
• Granted Patent: US 8,518,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/89
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

A precisely guided phototherapy apparatus for treating soft tissue injury, chronic pain, and promoting wound healing for both human and animal targets. The phototherapy apparatus comprises sensor means for monitoring the intensity, position, and movement of the therapeutic light beam over the treatment area. The delivered light energy dosage is determined accordingly based on these parameters. The phototherapy apparatus further comprises a projector device for projecting markers on top of the treatment area. The markers represent the values of the delivered light energy dosage for assisting the practitioner or clinician in precisely controlling the phototherapy procedure.

Claims

1. A phototherapy apparatus for treating biological tissue, said phototherapy apparatus comprising:

at least one light source for producing therapeutic light;

light delivery means for delivering said therapeutic light onto a surface of the biological tissue;

sensor means for monitoring intensity, position, and movement of said therapeutic light over the surface of the biological tissue and determining a delivered light energy dosage; and

a projector device for projecting markers onto the surface of the biological tissue, said markers representing values of said delivered light energy dosage.

2. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said markers comprise numerals.

3. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said markers comprise graphics.

4. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said markers have different colors.

5. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprise optical, thermal, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or acoustic sensors.

6. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sensor means comprise an image sensor.

7. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 6, wherein said image sensor comprises a CCD or CMOS image sensor.

8. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source comprises a near infrared laser.

9. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source comprises a visible laser.

10. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source comprises an ultraviolet laser.

11. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said projector device comprises a digital light projector.

12. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said projector device comprises a laser or light emitting diode (LED) pointer.

13. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein said projector device projects a visible image of an intensity profile of said therapeutic light onto the surface of the biological tissue, wherein said visible image coincide with said therapeutic light on the surface of the biological tissue.

14. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 13, wherein said projector device projects markers on top of said visible image, said markers representing values of said intensity profile.

15. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the biological tissue, wherein said projector device projects markers representing the measured temperature value onto the surface of the biological tissue.

16. A phototherapy method for treating biological tissue, said phototherapy method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one light source for producing therapeutic light;

delivering said therapeutic light onto a surface of the biological tissue;

monitoring intensity, position, and movement of said therapeutic light over the surface of the biological tissue and determining a delivered light energy dosage; and

providing a projector device for projecting markers onto the surface of the biological tissue, said markers representing values of said delivered light energy dosage.