Handheld device for treating oral ulcers and sores

• US 8,882,819 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adam Crowder, Richard Crowder
• Original Assignee: Adam Crowder, Richard Crowder
• Inventors: Crowder, Richard, Crowder, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nganga, Boniface N
• Application Number:
  US13/028,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20120207184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 607/89, 607/88, 372/38.04
• US Class Current: 607/89
• 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 handheld device for treating an oral ulcer or sore, the device comprising:

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

a first pushbutton switch;

a laser diode for emitting a collimated coherent beam of laser energy of a wavelength of between 600-700 nm;

a regulated power supply for powering the laser diode at between 4 and 5 mw for treating the oral ulcer or sore at a power of as close to 5 mw as possible without exceeding 5 mw;

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

a control device configured to operate the laser diode for a pre-programmed duration of 5, 10, or 30 seconds each time the second pushbutton switch is operated and to subsequently turn the laser diode off until the second pushbutton switch is operated again, the first pushbutton switch being operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the LED to locate and illuminate the oral ulcer or sore while the laser energy is directed at the oral ulcer or sore and to continue to illuminate the oral ulcer or sore for a pre-programmed amount of time after the laser diode is turned off; and

a portable, handheld housing comprising a hollow tubular body between 10-18 cm long and between 1-3 cm in diameter for housing the laser diode, the regulated power supply, the first and the second pushbutton switches, the light emitting diode, and the control device, the second pushbutton switch being located near the first pushbutton switch on a sidewall of the housing so that the user can quickly operate the pushbutton switches with the same finger without re-gripping the handheld device.

2. A handheld device for treating an oral ulcer or sore, the device comprising:

a laser diode for emitting a collimated coherent beam of laser energy of a wavelength of between 600-700 nm;

a regulated power supply for powering the laser diode at between 4 and 5 mw for treating the oral ulcer or sore at a power of as close to 5 mw as possible without exceeding 5 mw;

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

a single dual-switching pushbutton switch operable to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the LED to locate and illuminate the oral ulcer or sore while the laser energy is directed at the oral ulcer or sore and to continue to illuminate the oral ulcer or sore for a predetermined amount of time after the laser diode is turned off, and to selectively deliver power from the regulated power supply to the laser diode when the dual-switching pushbutton switch is operated by a user to treat the ulcer or sore;

a control device configured to operate the LED and the laser diode for a pre-programmed duration of 45 seconds or less each time the dual-switching pushbutton switch is operated and to subsequently turn the LED and the laser diode off until the dual-switching pushbutton switch is operated again, the dual-switching pushbutton and the control device being cooperatively configured such that the dual-switching pushbutton switch does not terminate power to the LED and the laser diode when the LED and the laser diode are on and the dual-switching pushbutton switch is operated; and

a portable, handheld housing comprising a hollow tubular body between 10-18 cm long and between 1-3 cm in diameter for housing the laser diode, the regulated power supply, the dual-switching pushbutton switch, the light emitting diode, and the control device.