IRRADIATION APPARATUS

• US 3,648,706 A
• Filed: 11/23/1970
• Issued: 03/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean Holzer
• Original Assignee: Jean Holzer
• Inventors: Holzer, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Trapp, L. W.
• Application Number:
  US05/091,904
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24.1,1C,76.5,395-398 240/1A
• US Class Current: 607/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light

Abstract

An irradiation device for thermotherapy whereby there is provided at least one series of light sources which are arranged one next to the other and intended to be placed over a portion of the human body. A control circuit means serves to switch-in the light sources of the series one after the other and during a predetermined time in order to generate a light wave which moves from one end to the other end of the series of light sources. Additionally, means are provided in order to again switch-in the first light source and to trigger a new operation cycle as soon as the last light source of the series of light sources has extinguished.

Claims

1. An irradiation apparatus for thermotherapy, comprising at least one series of light sources arranged next to one another and intended to be placed selectively over a portion of a human body to be treated, control circuit means electrically coupled with said light sources in order to switch in the light sources of the series one after the other and for a predetermined period of time in order to generate a light wave which travels from one end to the other end of the series of light sources, and said control circuit means incorporating means for again switching-in the first light source of said series and for triggering a new operating cycle as soon as the last light source of the series has extinguished.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including frame means for carrying said light sources, a support for said frame means, means connecting said frame means to said support such that said frame means can be placed in a predetermined position with respect to a portion of the body to be radiated.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said frame means is equipped with two series of light sources arranged next to one another along a respective axis such that the light sources are disposed in pairs behind one another.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, further including means for adjustably positioning the light sources of each series transverse to the associated lengthwise axis of each such series of light sources.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the spacing between both axes of said light sources is fixed and the direction of radiation of one series of light sources forms a fixed angle with respect to the direction of radiation of the other series of light sources so that a body can be radiated from two sides.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said frame means comprises three pivotably mounted components, said three components being positionable at an optional orientation with respect to one another, each of said three components carrying at least one series of light sources.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said frame means comprises a substantially circular-shaped support, said light sources being arranged at the region of the periphery of said support.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said frame means comprises a substantially circular-shaped support, said light sources being arranged along a spiral, the center of which substantially coincides with the center of said support.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including reflector means for each light source.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each reflector means includes mechanism for attaching a filter thereto.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said light source radiate radiation in the visible spectrum.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said light sources radiate infrared radiation.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said light sources radiate ultraviolet radiation.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control circuit means incorporates relays and a plurality of relay tube means for switching-in via an associated relay the light sources in succession and again switching-out each such light source after a predetermined period of time.

15. The apparatus as defied in claim 14, wherein said means for again switching-in the first light source at the end of each operating cycle is controlled by the last relay tube of the aforementioned plurality of relay tubes, said switching-in means further including an adjustable element for preselecting the time-constant between two successive cycles.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said means for again switching-in the first light source at the end of each operating cycle comprises a device responsive to a physiological periodic function of the human body, said device delivering a pulse which again switches-in the first relay tube associated with the first light source after the expiration of a predetermined fraction or predetermined multiple of the period.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said relay means for controlling said light sources comprise triacs.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said control circuit means further includes reversing circuitry between said relay tubes and said light sources in order to reverse the sequence of operation of switching-in of the light sources.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, further including means for adjusting the time-interval existing between switching-in and switching-out of each light source.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said adjusting means provide for the existence of a light wave generated by three successively arranged light sources.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, further including switch means between said relay tube means and said relays which control switching-in of the light sources, and which switch means serve for selectively switching-out one or more light sources.