Phototherapy of jaundiced newborns using garments containing semiconductor light-emitting devices
First Claim
1. A phototherapy garment comprising:
- a) a flexible shell having an inside surface and an outside surface;
b) a liner sealed to said inside surface of said flexible shell and defining a pocket between said shell and said liner;
c) a flexible printed circuit sheet having a printed circuit and a plurality of surface-mounted light-emitting diodes electrically connected to said printed circuit, said printed circuit sheet being secured inside said pocket with said light-emitting diodes facing said liner, wherein said liner is substantially transparent to an emission wave length of said light-emitting diodes; and
d) a power supply in electrical communication with said printed circuit, wherein said power supply intermittently provides power to said light-emitting diodes at a predetermined frequency and with a predetermined duty cycle.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A phototherapy garment contains a flexible backing material, a transparent liner, and a flexible printed circuit sheet containing surface-mounted light-emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned between the backing material and the liner. An infant is placed inside the garment so that the LEDs illuminate a large portion of the infant'"'"'s skin for phototherapy. The LEDs preferably emit high-intensity blue light, suitable for treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or Crigler-Najjar syndrome. The LEDs are arranged in a densely packed array facing the liner and emit uniform, high intensity light. A power supply, which may be portable, supplies adjustable power to the LEDs, preferably pulsed with a duty cycle of approximately 10%, and preferably to overdrive the LEDs to maximize light output. A two-way communications device incorporated into the garment allows a physician or computer to control the garment remotely and gather relevant information periodically or continuously. The garment may also contain a feedback system with skin bilirubin sensors, so that the intensity level and duration of light therapy can be based on bilirubin in the skin, which is a reflection of the newborn'"'"'s serum bilirubin concentration. The garment can be of any type, including sacs, hats, sweaters, jackets, and rompers, and is lightweight and portable, allowing an infant to be treated at home, in the hospital, or when in transit. The garment provides high light intensity over a larger surface area of the newborn than allowed with existing techniques, thus providing very efficient phototherapy.
245 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A phototherapy garment comprising:
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a) a flexible shell having an inside surface and an outside surface;
b) a liner sealed to said inside surface of said flexible shell and defining a pocket between said shell and said liner;
c) a flexible printed circuit sheet having a printed circuit and a plurality of surface-mounted light-emitting diodes electrically connected to said printed circuit, said printed circuit sheet being secured inside said pocket with said light-emitting diodes facing said liner, wherein said liner is substantially transparent to an emission wave length of said light-emitting diodes; and
d) a power supply in electrical communication with said printed circuit, wherein said power supply intermittently provides power to said light-emitting diodes at a predetermined frequency and with a predetermined duty cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A phototherapy garment comprising:
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a) a flexible backing material having an inside surface, an outside surface, and an edge;
b) a liner sealed to said inside surface of said backing material and defining a pocket between said backing material and said liner;
c) a printed circuit sheet having a printed circuit and a plurality of surface-mounted light-emitting diodes electrically connected to said printed circuit, said printed circuit sheet being secured inside said pocket with said light-emitting diodes facing said liner, wherein said liner is substantially transparent to an emission wavelength of said light-emitting diodes; and
d) a power supply in electrical communication with said printed circuit, wherein said power supply intermittently provides power to said light-emitting diodes at a predetermined frequency and with a predetermined duty cycle. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of treating a neonate for hyperbilirubinemia comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a garment having a plurality of surface-mounted light-emitting diodes that emit light at a wavelength suitable for treating hyperbilirubinemia;
b) covering a skin region of said neonate with said garment such that said light-emitting diodes face said skin region;
c) intermittently providing sufficient power at a predetermined frequency and with a predetermined duty cycle to said light-emitting diodes to activate said light-emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of treating a patient for Crigler-Najjar syndrome comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a garment having a plurality of surface-mounted light-emitting diodes that emit light at a wavelength suitable for bilirubin conversion;
b) covering a skin region of said patient with said garment such that said light-emitting diodes are facing said skin region; and
c) intermittently providing sufficient power at a predetermined frequency and with a predetermined duty cycle to said light-emitting diodes to activate said light-emitting diodes. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification