Skin tanning and light therapy incorporating light emitting diodes

• US 6,861,658 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 03/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter D. Fiset
• Original Assignee: Peter D. Fiset
• Inventors: Fiset, Peter D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wells, Nikita
• Application Number:
  US10/714,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 250/504.R, 250/494.1, 250/493.1, 250/461.1, 250/365, 257/88, 257/98
• US Class Current: 250/504.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/005 for cooling the radiator
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/007 for cooling the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0615 using UV light sources having a specific spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0629 Sequential activation of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0653 Organic light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0614 Tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

The invention relates to a skin tanning chamber, the improvement comprising at least one light emitting diode emitting a UVA light, such as a UVA LED that emits essentially only UVA. Additionally, multiple LEDs of varying types with various characteristic wavelengths are controlled independently to produce an arbitrary light pattern in an arbitrary sequence over time. The chamber can be rigid or flexible. It can be a bed, booth or incorporated into a flexible form, such as a garment or cloth. In one embodiment, the chamber further comprises at least one LED emitting a UVC light, whereby the UVC light sanitizes the chamber surface. Preferably the LED emitting the UVA light is under dependent control from the LED emitting UVC light.

Claims

1. A skin tanning chamber, the improvement comprising at least one light emitting diode emitting a UVA light, wherein the light emitting diode (LED) emits essentially only UVA light, and wherein the LED is incorporated into a flexible form.

2. The skin tanning chamber of claim 1 wherein the chamber is a bed or booth.

3. The skin tanning chamber of claim 1 wherein the LED is incorporated into a garment or cloth.

4. The skin tanning chamber of claim 1 further comprising at least one LED emitting a UVB and/or a UVC light.

5. The skin tanning chamber of claim 4 wherein the LED emitting the UVA light is under independent control from the LED emitting UVC light.

6. The skin tanning chamber of claim 1 the improvement comprising a plurality of LEDs emitting UVA light.

7. The skin tanning chamber of claim 6 further comprising a means for controlling the electric current to each LED to maintain a constant total radiant flux over the life time of each LED.

8. The skin tanning chamber of claim 6 further comprising a means for controlling the LEDs to allow radiation to selected portions of the skin.

9. The skin tanning chamber of claim 6 further comprising a means for controlling the period of exposure.

10. The skin tanning chamber of claim 9 further comprising a means for storing records of use.

11. The skin tanning chamber of claim 1 wherein the LED is incorporated into a form which is adapted to fit into a standard fluorescent bulb fixture.

12. The skin tanning chamber of claim 11 wherein the form further comprises an internal power converter.

13. The skin tanning chamber of claim 1 wherein the LEDs are ventilated.

14. The skin tanning chamber of claim 13 wherein the LEDs are ventilated by a fan directing air longitudinally across the LEDs.

15. The skin tanning chamber of claim 14 wherein the LEDs are disposed within a transparent tube characterized by one or more perforations which provide for air flow out of the tube.

16. The skin tanning chamber of claim 15 wherein the tube is characterized by a closed end and an open end, wherein the air is directed through the open end and out the perforations.

17. The skin tanning chamber of claim 16 wherein the density of perforations on the distal end of the tube, with respect to the open end, is greater than the density of perforations on the proximal end.

18. The skin tanning chamber of claim 16 wherein the perforations on the distal end of the tube, with respect to the open end, are larger than the perforations on the proximal end.

19. The skin tanning chamber of claim 16 comprising a bed and a circuit board characterized by an array of UVA LEDs.

20. The skin tanning chamber of claim 19 wherein the circuit board is selected form the group consisting of (a) rigid, (b) curved, and (c) flexible.