HANDHELD DEVICE FOR TREATING ORAL ULCERS AND SORES

• US 20120207184A1
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam Crowder, Richard Crowder
• Original Assignee: Adam Crowder, Richard Crowder
• Inventors: Crowder, Richard, Crowder, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/38.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/309 using white LEDs

Abstract

A device for treating oral ulcers or sores comprises a light source for illuminating a sore or ulcer to be treated; a laser diode for directing laser energy at the sore or ulcer; a regulated power supply for powering the light source and the laser diode at selected power levels; a first switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the light source; a second switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the laser diode when the switch is operated by a user to treat the located ulcer or sore; a control device configured to operate the laser diode for a selected time period each time the switch is operated and to then subsequently turn the laser diode off until the switch is operated again; and a portable, handheld housing for housing the laser diode, regulated power supply, switch, and control device.

Claims

1. A device for treating oral ulcers or sores, the device comprising:

a laser diode for emitting laser energy of a selected wavelength;

a regulated power supply for powering the laser diode at a selected power level;

a switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the laser diode when the switch is operated by a user to treat an ulcer or sore;

a control device configured to operate the laser diode for a selected time period each time the switch is operated and to subsequently turn the laser diode off until the switch is operated again; and

a portable, handheld housing for housing the laser diode, the regulated power supply, the switch, and the control device.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) for emitting a white beam of light; and

a switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the LED to locate and illuminate the ulcer or sore to be treated.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selected power level of the laser diode is approximately 4-5 mw.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selected wavelength of the laser energy is between 600-700 nm.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selected time period is approximately 30 seconds.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control device is programmable to permit selection of any time duration for the selected time period.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a hollow tubular body approximately 10-18 cm long and approximately 1-3 cm in diameter.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the regulated power supply comprises:

electrical contacts for coupling with a battery; and

a circuit for regulating a voltage and current delivered to the laser diode.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control device is a microprocessor or a microcontroller.

10. A device for treating oral ulcers or sores, the device comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED) for emitting a beam of visible light;

a laser diode for emitting laser energy having a wavelength of 600-700 nm;

a regulated power supply for powering the LED and the laser diode at selected power levels;

a switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the LED to locate and illuminate an ulcer or sore to be treated;

a switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the laser diode when the switch is operated by a user to treat the located ulcer or sore;

a control device configured to operate the laser diode for a selected time period each time the switch is operated and to then subsequently turn the laser diode off until the switch is operated again; and

a portable, handheld housing for housing the laser diode, regulated power supply, switch, and control device.

11. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the selected power level of the laser diode is approximately 4-5 mw.

12. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the selected time period is approximately 30 seconds.

13. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the control device is programmable to permit selection of any time duration for the selected time period.

14. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a hollow tubular body approximately 10-18 cm long and approximately 1-3 cm in diameter.

15. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the regulated power supply comprises:

electrical contacts for coupling with a battery;

a circuit for regulating a voltage and current delivered to the laser diode; and

a current for regulating a voltage and current delivered to the light source.

16. The device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the control device is a microprocessor or a microcontroller.

17. A device for treating oral ulcers or sores, the device comprising:

a light source;

a laser diode for emitting laser energy having a wavelength of 600-700 nm;

a regulated power supply for powering the light source and the laser diode at selected power levels;

a first switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the light source to locate and illuminate an ulcer or sore to be treated;

a second switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the laser diode to treat the located ulcer or sore;

one or more timers configured to operate the laser diode for a selected time period each time the first switch is operated and to then subsequently turn the laser diode off until the first switch is operated again; and

a portable, handheld housing for housing the light source, laser diode, regulated power supply, first switch, second switch, and control device.

18. The device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the housing comprises a hollow tubular body approximately 10-18 cm long and approximately 1-3 cm in diameter.

19. The device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the regulated power supply comprises:

electrical contacts for coupling with a battery;

a circuit for regulating a voltage and current delivered to the laser diode; and

a circuit for regulating a voltage and current delivered to the light source.

20. The device as set forth in claim 17, wherein the one or more timers are incorporated in a control device such as a microprocessor or a microcontroller.