FLEXIBLE, WEARABLE THERAPEUTIC LASER ARRAY
Method of producing a therapeutic laser device (TLD). The TLD includes stretchable, flexible membranes which comprise a high pressure air cavity. High air pressure is produced by fans which are speed controllable by computer. Standoff posts provide, an attachment function, and a separation function between the TLD and the patient. Semiconductor laser diodes and lens sets in a two dimensional array produce the therapeutic laser light. Cooling air tubes direct air controlled by temperature sensors from the high pressure cavity onto laser diodes. Capacitive proximity sensors in conjunction with infrared radiation sensors confirm close contact with a patient and allow lasing. Power is supplied either by battery or by connection to mains power. A touch screen computerized device with wireless communication displays information to the user and controls the therapy session. The TLD and the power supply both have stretchable straps enabling the TLD to be fixed to the patient.
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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field of Invention
Embodiments in accordance with the invention relate generally to phototherapy. Phototherapy is a therapeutic physical modality using photons from the visible and infrared spectrum for tissue wound and burn healing, pain reduction, rhytide reduction (skin wrinkle) and hair follicle growth. It has also been shown to induce adipose cell membrane pore creation thereby allowing triglycerides, glycerol and free fatty acids to transit across the membrane into interstitial space. There have been more than 4000 studies published worldwide on the benefits of low level laser therapy (LLLT) and the effects observed with therapeutic lasers. Photo-bio-modulation increases ATP synthesis by changing the oxidation/reduction status of the mitochondria and activates the sodium/potassium pump thereby altering cell membrane permeability to calcium. Cell growth has been stimulated by an increase in cell metabolism. Higher levels of cell regeneration have been documented. LLLT has been shown to stimulate nerve function and the production of nitric oxide and endorphins. The neuropeptide substance P (SP) and histamine have been shown to be reduced thereby reducing local inflammatory response. LLLT also reduces the formation of acetylcholine, and bradikynin. LLLT has also been shown to reduce fibrous tissue formation. In photodynamic therapy (PDT) a photosensitizer is mixed with antibodies that are targeted to antigens on abnormal tissue. This mixture is then administered to the patient and binds with the antigens. Radio magnetic radiation having a wavelength corresponding to the absorption wavelength of the photosensitizer is then administered to the patient. This treatment reduces the size of the abnormal tissue.
2. Description of Related Art
Low level laser therapeutic instruments (LLLTI) achieve their therapeutic effect by emitting laser radiation at a chosen frequency or frequencies at a chosen power level for a chosen period of time at a chosen distance over a chosen area. Generally laser power is measured in watts, area is measured in centimeters (cm) squared, distance is measured in centimeters and time is measured in seconds. Therapeutic dosage is measured in watts multiplied by seconds divided by area in cm squared. Watts multiplied by seconds is defined as joules so dosage then is joules/cm squared. From this we see that to apply the larger dosage to the same area we can either increase the power of the laser or the length of time the laser light is applied, or both. Small hand held LLLTI require more time for the treatment of a given area because they must be moved repeatedly. However, small hand held laser instruments are useful for treating areas which are curved or have small hollows. Larger LLLTI with many more lasers cover a greater area but require cumbersome cooling apparatus to keep the lasers from overheating. Because most large LLLTI are not flexible they do not apply an even and precise dosage to any part of the treatment area which is curved or contains small hollows. In the case of both small LLLTI and most large area LLLTI patients are required to remain still, (seated or lying), while the treatment is applied. This is so because the instruments are held in place by either the patient's or technician's hand or laid onto the patient in a horizontal manner and kept in place by gravity. In the case of scanning LLLTI the laser beam is spread over a large area and requires a high power laser applied for a long period of time to administer the same dosage. Scanning LLLTI do not apply an even and precise dosage pattern because the laser diode is not a constant distance from the entire treatment area and because a scan line contains more laser energy in the center of the scan line than at either of the ends of the scan line. None of the LLLTI designs discussed above are easily transported and none of them can be used by a patient while performing typical household or office functions. Generally LLLTI require connection to mains power at the wall and have control systems which are floor standing. This limits the ability of a patient to move about or in most cases even sit up.
Several newer LLLTI designs have the ability to conform to the contours of a patient's body but are problematic for several reasons. These LLLTI position the lasers in contact with the patient's skin or very close to the skin. This positioning concentrates the laser beam in a small diameter at the center of the treatment area because the beam does not have room to expand over the entire treatment area. Some designs employ vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) or horizontal cavity surface emitting lasers (HCSEL) devices. These lasers project a very narrow beam with almost no beam divergence and cannot spread their light energy over the entire treatment area without optical lenses which these LLLTI do not employ. In addition these designs are made of non-breathable materials held in direct contact with the skin. In some cases these LLLTI are intended to be worn for many hours at a time and in some cases days at a time. This can cause skin rashes, be extremely uncomfortable, retard blood flow in the area, and cause sweating which can attenuate the laser light. Some of these LLLTI are programmed to energize at specific time intervals during the day and night. If the LLLTI has been removed by the patient in order to bathe or because of discomfort the LLLTI will not recognize this and run its programmed course of treatment without the patient being involved.
All LLLTI designs discussed in paragraph [0002] and paragraph [0003] above are problematic for eye safety. Laser light can damage the eye very quickly even at low power levels. Laser light in the visible spectrum is obvious to operator and patient and can be avoided with care. Laser light in the infrared spectrum is problematic because it is not obvious and does not cause pain until great damage has been done.
All semiconductor lasers produce heat when energized. Edge emitting lasers produce more heat than VCSEL or HCSEL devices because they are less efficient. Heat causes lasers to reduce their laser power output and to shift their laser light frequency to longer wavelengths. Referring to
A typical embodiment in accordance with the invention provides a method of producing a therapeutic laser device (TLD). The TLD includes a stretchable, flexible membrane. This membrane is bonded to a second narrow closed cell membrane which in turn is bonded to a flexible, non-stretchable membrane. This structure comprises a high pressure air cavity. This structure has bonded to it high pressure fans. The high pressure fans are speed controllable. The fans are regulated by a power supply and computer control coupled to an electrical cable for power and sensor data communication. The flexible, non-stretchable membrane (9) has attached to it a flexible membrane with bonded flat electrical conductors. The flexible, non-stretchable membrane (9) is attached to the flexible membrane with bonded flat electrical conductors by means of standoff posts which penetrate and hold together the two membranes. The standoff posts provide, in addition to their attachment function, a separation function between the TLD and the surface area to be treated on a patient. The flexible membrane with bonded flat electrical conductors has coupled to it semiconductor laser diodes and lens sets and automatic power control circuit electronic modules in a two dimensional array. The flexible membrane with bonded flat electrical conductors is coupled to an electrical cable for power and sensor data communication. The flexible, non-stretchable membrane (9) and the flexible membrane with bonded flat electrical conductors are pierced by cooling air tubes and spacers. The cooling air tubes and spacers direct air from the high pressure cavity onto the emission side of the semiconductor laser diode and lens sets. The cooling air tubes and spacers also provide a spacer function between the stretchable, flexible closed cell membrane and the flexible, non-stretchable membrane. The semiconductor laser diodes and lens sets are comprised of a semiconductor laser diode and a collimating lens and a plano-concave lens. To ensure that radiant laser energy is always disabled when the TLD is not in close contact with a patient's treatment area capacitive proximity sensors in conjunction with infrared radiation sensors transmit data through the electrical cable to the power supply and computer control. The standoff posts and the cooling air tube and spacer are held in place on the emission side of the semiconductor laser diode and lens sets by flexible membrane washers. The temperature of the semiconductor laser diode and lens sets is monitored by temperature sensors and this data is transmitted to the power supply and computer control via the electrical cable. The power supply and computer control can provide power either by battery or by connection to mains power at the wall. The power supply and computer control contains a key lock, a laser radiation full duration indicator light and a laser radiation momentary at start audible signal device. A touch screen computerized device with wireless communication displays information to the user, communicates with the power supply and computer control with wireless communication, initiates a laser therapy session, terminates a laser therapy session, maintains therapy duration timing, displays to the user the elapsed time and the time left in the therapy session, displays to the user battery charge level and prohibits the initiation of a therapy session if battery charge is below a prescribed level, lets a user set therapy duration, lets a user set laser power level, lets the user set the total therapy dosage, calculates the laser power level and therapy duration based on total therapy dosage, lets the user choose between continuous or pulsed laser operation, stores previous therapy session data and lets the user select a previously stored therapy regimen, lets a medical professional transmit a therapy regimen to the touch screen computerized device with wireless communication via the internet or cellular telephone and monitor the status of the TLD and the number of therapy sessions completed, sounds an audible signal when a therapy session is initiated, sounds an audible signal when a therapy session is terminated, waits a standard length of time after the audible signal before powering the lasers, determines the correct positioning of the TLD with respect to the users treatment area using data input from the capacitive proximity sensor and the infrared radiation sensors, terminates a therapy session in the case the TLD becomes separated from the users treatment area and sounds an audible alarm, warns the user of problems encountered by the TLD, shuts the TLD down in the event of malfunction, lets the user pause the therapy session and restart the therapy session, displays a standard laser warning message about laser safety, maintains a constant communication dialog with the power supply and computer control and in the event the communication dialog is broken the power supply and computer control terminates the therapy session. The communication transmission between the computerized device with wireless communication and the power supply and computer control is encrypted for security as is the transmission over the internet or cellular phone. The touch screen computerized device with wireless communication is either a made for purpose device programed to perform the functions described above and provided with the TLD or it is an application program loadable to a cellphone, touch screen tablet, lap top computer or a desk top computer which has been approved and certified as being capable of performing the stated functions. The TLD and the power supply and computer control both have stretchable straps with hook and loop fasteners. The stretchable straps with hook and loop fasteners enable the TLD to be fixed to the patient in a manner that allows movement of the area to be treated and movement of the patient within and without the treatment premises. The stretchable straps are connected to the TLD with zippers to enable quick removal for cleaning and replacement. The movement of the patient must not exceed the maximum range of the communication capability between the power supply and computer control and the touch screen computerized device or the therapy session will be terminated by the power supply and computer control.
The following references to the drawings are discussed in the narrative below.
1 Stretchable, flexible closed cell membrane
2 Stretchable straps with hook and loop fasteners
3 High pressure fan with speed control and air filter
4 Power supply and computer control with wireless communication
5 Touch screen computerized device with wireless communication
6 Standoff post
7 Semiconductor laser diode and lens set
8 Cooling air tube and spacer
9 Flexible, non-stretchable membrane
10 Flexible membrane with bonded flat braided and/or non-braided electrical conductors
11 Narrow, stretchable, flexible closed cell membrane
12 Flexible membrane washer
13 High pressure air cavity
14 Electrical cable for power and sensor data communication
15 Capacitive proximity sensor
16 Infrared radiation sensor
17 Collimating lens
18 Plano-concave lens
19 Semiconductor laser diode
20 Temperature sensor
21 Automatic power control circuit electronic modules
22 Key lock
23 Laser radiation full duration indicator light
24 Laser radiation momentary at start audible signal device
25 Flat braided and/or non-braided electrical conductors
26 Holes in flexible, non-stretchable membrane
27 Zipper attachment for stretchable straps with hook and loop fasteners
The present disclosure relates to producing a therapeutic laser device. Specific examples of membranes, layer configuration, materials, and other arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention from that described in the claims.
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Claims
15. A touch screen computerized device with wireless communication which has the following functions:
- displays information to the user;
- communicates with the power supply and computer control with wireless communication via wireless communication using encryption;
- initiates a laser therapy session;
- terminates a laser therapy session;
- maintains therapy duration timing;
- lets a user set up therapy duration;
- displays to the user the elapsed time and the time left in the therapy session;
- displays to the user battery charge level and prohibits the initiation of a therapy session if battery charge is below a prescribed level;
- lets a user set laser power level;
- lets the user set the total therapy dosage;
- calculates the laser power level and therapy duration based on total therapy dosage;
- lets the user choose between continuous or pulsed laser operation;
- stores previous therapy session data and lets the user select a previously stored therapy regimen;
- lets a medical professional transmit a therapy regimen to the touch screen computerized device with wireless communication via the internet or cellular telephone and monitor the status of the laser device and the number of therapy sessions completed using encryption;
- sounds an audible signal when a therapy session is initiated;
- sounds an audible signal when a therapy session is terminated;
- waits a standard length of time after the audible signal before initiating laser power;
- sounds an audible alarm in the case the laser device becomes separated from the patient's treatment area and terminates the laser radiation;
- warns the user of problems encountered by the laser device;
- shuts the laser device down in the event of malfunction;
- lets the user pause the therapy session and restart the laser therapy session;
- displays a standard laser warning message about laser safety;
- maintains a constant wireless communication dialog with the power supply and computer control with wireless communication and in the event the communication dialog is broken the power supply and computer control with wireless communication terminates the therapy session;
- provides secure encrypted communication transmission between the computerized device with wireless communication and the power supply and computer control as well as the transmission over the internet or cellular phone;
- is either a made for purpose device programed to perform the functions described above and provided with the laser device or it is an application program (computer code) loadable to a cellphone, touch screen tablet, lap top computer or a desk top computer which has been approved and certified as being capable of performing the stated functions.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 25, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 5, 2014
Inventor: RICHARD OGDEN DEROBERTS (WARDENSVILLE, WV)
Application Number: 14/036,739
International Classification: G06F 3/0484 (20060101); G06F 3/0488 (20060101);