PHOTOTHERAPY DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING THE PERIPHERY OF A WOUND AND PHOTOTHERAPY SYSTEM INCORPORATING THE SAME

• US 20120116485A1
• Filed: 06/02/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MedX Health Corporation
• Original Assignee: MedX Health Corporation
• Inventors: Burgmann, Tom
• Application Number:
  US13/151,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20120116485A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00051 Accessories for dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/023 wound covering film layers without a fluid retention layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00212 infrared absorbing or reflecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00429 for conducting tests
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/00919 for physical therapy, e.g. cold or magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/0094 for sensing physical parameters plasters for conducting test A61F2013/00429
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• 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

Abstract

A phototherapy device comprises a plurality of radiation emitting sources arranged at spaced locations along at least a portion of the periphery of a wound to be treated and a controller communicating with and controlling operation of the radiation emitting sources.

Claims

1. A phototherapy device comprising:

a plurality of radiation emitting sources arranged at spaced locations along at least a portion of the periphery of a wound to be treated; and

a controller communicating with and controlling operation of said radiation emitting sources.

2. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 wherein said controller illuminates said radiation emitting sources at intervals.

3. A phototherapy device according to claim 2 wherein said controller controls the intensity level of said radiation emitting sources during illumination.

4. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 said radiation emitting sources are light emitting diodes.

5. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 wherein at least some of said radiation emitting sources emit radiation having a wavelength in the range of from about 630 nm to about 690 nm.

6. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 wherein said radiation emitting sources are arranged at spaced locations generally about the entire periphery of said wound.

7. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 wherein said radiation emitting sources are embedded in a bandage sized to overlie said wound.

8. A phototherapy device according to claim 7 wherein said bandage comprises an upper breathable layer and a lower layer to contact a subject, the lower layer having a cut-out therein sized to accommodate said wound, said radiation emitting sources being trapped between said upper and lower layers.

9. A phototherapy device according to claim 8 wherein said lower layer has an adhesive thereon to affix said bandage to said subject.

10. A phototherapy device according to claim 8 wherein said radiation emitting sources are mounted on at least one printed circuit board trapped between said upper and lower layers.

11. A phototherapy device according to claim 10 wherein said radiation emitting sources are mounted on a single flexible printed circuit board and are positioned generally about the periphery of a cut-out formed in said printed circuit board that is sized to accommodate said wound.

12. A phototherapy device according to claim 10 wherein said radiation emitting sources are arranged in groups, each group of radiation emitting sources being mounted on an individual printed circuit board segment.

13. A phototherapy device according to claim 12 wherein adjacent segments are interconnected by a flexible conductive cable.

14. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 wherein said radiation emitting sources are spaced from the periphery of said wound by a distance in the range of from about 1 cm to about 3 cm.

15. A phototherapy device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor proximate said radiation emitting sources and communicating with said controller.

16. A phototherapy device according to claim 15 wherein said controller reads the at least one sensor at intervals.

17. A phototherapy device according to claim 16 wherein said controller transmits read sensor values to one or more remote computing stations.

18. A phototherapy device according to claim 15 wherein said at least one sensor is selected from the group comprising a temperature sensor, a photoreceptor, an impedance detector and a pressure sensor.

19. A phototherapy device according to claim 18 wherein said at least one sensor comprises two or more sensors selected from the group comprising a temperature sensor, a photoreceptor, an impedance detector and a pressure sensor.

20. A phototherapy device according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors positioned on said printed circuit board at spaced locations generally about the periphery of said cut-out.

21. A phototherapy device according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of photoreceptors positioned on said printed circuit board at spaced locations generally about the periphery of said cut-out.

22. A phototherapy device according to claim 11 further comprising at least one impedance detector comprising a pair of contact sensors, said contact sensors being positioned on said printed circuit board at diametric locations relative to said cut-out.

23. A phototherapy device according to claim 17 wherein said controller comprises a wireless transmitter to transmit read sensor values over a wireless communications link.

24. A phototherapy device according to claim 16 wherein said controller comprises a processor executing at least one phototherapeutic regiment program that determines the illumination sequence of said radiation emitting sources and the reading sequence of said at least one sensor.

25. A phototherapy device according to claim 24 wherein said controller comprises a wireless receiver to receive one or more phototherapeutic regiment programs over a wireless communications link.

26. A phototherapeutic device according to claim 16 wherein said radiation emitting sources and controller are releasably connected via a physical link.

27. A phototherapy device according to claim 13 further comprising at least one temperature sensor positioned on each printed circuit board segment.

28. A phototherapy device according to claim 13 further comprising at least one photoreceptor positioned on each printed circuit board segment.

29. A phototherapy device according to claim 13 further comprising at least one a pair of contact sensors, said contact sensors being positioned on diametrically opposite printed circuit board segments.

30. A phototherapy device according to claim 8 further comprising at least one pressure sensor monitoring the pressure applied to said wound through said bandage.

31. A phototherapy device according to claim 30 wherein said at least one pressure sensor is a capacitive sensor.

32. A phototherapy device accordingly to claim 31 wherein said capacitive sensor comprises a sense electrode, a reference electrode and a compressible dielectric interposed between said sense electrode and reference electrode.

33. A phototherapy device according to claim 32 wherein said dielectric is a foam dressing material positioned in said cut-out and overlying said wound.

34. A phototherapeutic device according to claim 32 wherein said reference electrode shields said sense electrode from external noise.

35. A phototherapeutic device according to claim 30 wherein said controller reads the at least one pressure sensor at intervals.

36. A phototherapy system comprising:

at least one computing station; and

one or more phototherapy devices according to claim 1 communicating with said at least one computing station.

37. A phototherapy system according to claim 36 wherein said at least one computing station communicates with one or more of said phototherapy devices over a wireless communications link.

38. A method of treating a wound comprising irradiating the skin tissue adjacent the periphery of the wound with light energy at intervals.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising monitoring the wound during said intervals.

40. A wound sensing device comprising:

a plurality of sensors for monitoring at least one wound parameter to be positioned adjacent a wound; and

a controller communicating with and reading said sensors.

41. A wound sensing device according to claim 40 wherein said sensors are selected from the group comprising temperature sensors, light sensors, impedance sensors and pressure sensors.

42. A wound sensing device according to claim 41 wherein said sensors are embedded in a bandage sized to overlie said wound.

43. A wound sensing device according to claim 42 wherein said controller reads said sensors at intervals.

44. A wound sensing device according to claim 43 wherein said controller transmits read sensor values to a remote computing location.

45. A wound sensing device according to claim 44 wherein said controller transmits read sensor values to said remote computing location over a wireless communications link.

46. A phototherapy bandage comprising:

an upper layer;

a lower layer; and

a plurality of spaced light emitting devices arranged in a ring and positioned between said upper and lower layers.

47. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 46 wherein said light emitting devices are arranged about the periphery of a cut-out formed in said lower layer, said cut-out being sized to accommodate a wound.

48. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 47 wherein said light emitting devices are light emitting diodes.

49. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 47 wherein said light emitting diodes are mounted on at least one printed circuit board trapped between said upper and lower layers.

50. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 49 wherein said upper layer is breathable.

51. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 50 wherein said lower layer has adhesive thereon.

52. A phototherapy bandage comprising:

an upper layer;

a lower layer; and

a plurality of spaced sensors arranged in a ring and positioned between said upper and lower layers.

53. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 52 wherein said sensors are arranged about the periphery of a cut-out formed in said lower layer, said cut-out being sized to accommodate a wound.

54. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 53 wherein said sensors are selected from the group comprising temperature sensors, light sensors, impedance sensors and pressure sensors.

55. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 53 wherein said sensors are mounted on at least one printed circuit board trapped between said upper and lower layers.

56. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 55 wherein said upper layer is breathable.

57. A phototherapy bandage according to claim 56 wherein said lower layer has adhesive thereon.