PHOTOTHERAPY DEVICE THERMAL CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A phototherapy device includes an outlet end to be placed in contact with a person'"'"'s skin, a heat exchanger, an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure. The heat exchanger may include a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source, and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure for dissipating heat from the optical structure. The first and second heat transfer portions of the heat exchanger may be substantially thermally isolated from each other, e.g., partially or completely physically separated from each other.
2 Citations
39 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A phototherapy device comprising:
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an outlet end configured to be placed in contact with a person'"'"'s skin; a heat exchanger; an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end of the device; a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end of the device, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure; wherein the heat exchanger comprises; a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source; and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure for dissipating heat from the optical structure; wherein the first heat transfer portion and the second heat transfer portion are substantially thermally isolated from each other. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A phototherapy device comprising:
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an outlet end configured to be placed in contact with a person'"'"'s skin; a heat exchanger; a conductive support structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end of the device; a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end of the device, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the conductive support structure; wherein the heat exchanger comprises; a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source; and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the conductive support structure for dissipating heat from the conductive support structure; wherein the first heat transfer portion and the second heat transfer portion are substantially thermally isolated from each other.
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36. A phototherapy device comprising:
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a handheld body including an outlet end and a distal end, the outlet end configured to be placed in contact with a person'"'"'s skin; an optical structure arranged near the outlet end of the body; a light source configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure; a battery compartment configured to receive one or more batteries for powering the light source; a heat exchanger configured to remove heat from the light source and the optical structure; a fan configured to generate air flow across the heat exchanger; wherein the light source and the optical structure are arranged on the same side of the heat exchanger; wherein the heat exchanger is arranged between the fan and the light source; and wherein the battery compartment is arranged between the heat exchanger and the distal end of the body. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A phototherapy method, comprising:
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using a device comprising an outlet end, a heat exchanger, an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end of the device, and a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end of the device, activating the light source to emit light such that the light is delivered through or adjacent the optical structure and through the outlet end of the device; using a heat exchanger comprising (a) a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source and (b) a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure and substantially thermally isolated front the first heat transfer portion; dissipating heat from the light source via the first heat transfer portion; and dissipating heat from the optical structure via the second heat transfer portion; and operating a fan to generate air flow across the heat exchanger to facilitate heat transfer away from both the first and second heat transfer portions of the heat exchanger.
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Specification