PHOTOARRAY SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

Embodiments of a photoarray system are provided. In one embodiment, a photoarray system includes an array of lixels, each lixel comprising at least one electrical component supported on a respective platform, each lixel in the array electrically interconnected with at least one adjacent lixel via one or more flexible wires; and heat sink structure supported on each of the platforms for dissipating heat generated by the at least one electrical component, the heat sink structure incorporating strain resistance structure interfacing with, and imparting strain resistance to, the one or more flexible wires.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/931,771 filed on Jan. 27, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated entirely herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The following relates generally to photoarray systems, and more particularly to photoarray system construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Light therapy involves administering doses of optical radiation to the body of a recipient of the therapy. Various light therapy systems are known, including those having one or more radiation sources incorporated into a housing that is designed to be held and aimed by a therapist to direct optical radiation towards a patient during a therapy session. Other light therapy systems include a flexible substrate with which is integrated an array of radiation sources. Such flexible photoarray systems are designed to conform to a non-planar portion of the recipient's body thereby to enable the radiation sources to be proximate to a region of interest, such as against the recipient's skin, without having to be constantly held in position by the therapist for the duration of a treatment session.

A physically flexible photoarray system is generally intended to be positioned directly proximate to the body of the recipient of the optical radiation. With such a configuration, the therapist is not generally able to observe the skin or other body surface of the recipient where it is occluded by the flexible photoarray system. Furthermore, a recipient of the light therapy, typically unfamiliar with the therapy process, may not raise concerns about discomfort or may not even feel discomfort despite heat levels in various areas between the flexible photoarray system and the recipient's body with which it is directly proximate being higher than is healthy for the recipient. Similarly, the therapist and recipient are not typically able to visually gauge whether an effective amount of radiation has been administered to the region of interest.

In addition, it would be useful for a flexible photoarray system to be portable to the extent that it could remain on the recipient, unsupervised by a therapist, for extended periods while the recipient is doing some other activity. However, facilitating portability and unsupervised use raises unique challenges in how each of power management, heat management, treatment duration and dose monitoring and the like are addressed.

Furthermore, such a flexible photoarray system that is also intended to conform to the body of the recipient of optical radiation is subject to particular physical stresses associated both with its flexibility and its portability. Such stresses can lead to early failure of components, which can lead to inoperability of the entire device, and frustration by its users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect, there is provided a photoarray system comprising an array of lixels, each lixel comprising at least one electrical component supported on a respective platform, each lixel in the array electrically interconnected with at least one adjacent lixel via one or more flexible wires; and heat sink structure supported on each of the platforms for dissipating heat generated by the at least one electrical component, the heat sink structure incorporating strain resistance structure interfacing with, and imparting strain resistance to, the one or more flexible wires.

According to another aspect, there is provided a photoarray system comprising a control system; a lixel array comprising a plurality of lixels each comprising at least one radiation source that is individually controllable by the control system to emit radiation; and a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor modules distributed amongst the plurality of radiation sources, each of the sensor modules configured to communicate respective local readings to the control system, wherein each of the radiation sources is supported on a respective platform comprising a circuit board, wherein each circuit board is interconnected with at least one adjacent circuit board with a plurality of flexible wires.

According to another aspect, there is provided a lixel array for a photoarray system comprising a plurality of flexibly interconnected lixels each comprising at least one radiation source, each lixel comprising a rigid platform for supporting the at least one respective radiation source, each platform being configured to be moved with respect to an adjacent platform between a position in which an edge of the platform and a facing edge of an adjacent platform are spaced and a position in which the edge of the platform and the facing edge are in contact with each other.

Other aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a photoarray system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram better illustrating components of a main control module, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram better illustrating components of a commlink, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram better illustrating components of a lixel, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of components of a lixel in exploded view;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the top of a portion of a series of flexibly interconnected lixels curved inwardly;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the top of a portion of a series of flexibly interconnected lixels encased in flexible transparent housing; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the bottom of the portion of the series of flexibly interconnected lixels of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an isometric front view of an alternative lixel;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the alternative lixel of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an isometric front view of another alternative lixel; and

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the alternative lixel of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description relates to photoarray systems, and description is provided of a photoarray system comprising a granularly controllable lixel array having a plurality of lixels each having one or more radiation sources. The lixel array of the photoarray system preferably delivers high power optical energy from the radiation sources in close proximity over a large epidermal surface area on human or animal patients. Providing individual control over each of the plurality of radiation sources facilitates maintaining thermal energy at comfortable levels for a patient, while facilitating efficient delivery of electrically-powered radiation.

In this description, the term “lixel” refers to an electronic module comprising one or more radiation sources for emitting non-ionizing radiation such as visible, infrared and/or ultraviolet light and that is individually controllable to cause its one or more radiation sources to be actuated.

Turning to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of a photoarray system 10 according to an embodiment. Photoarray system 10 includes a control system A in power and data communications with a lixel array B.

In this embodiment, control system A includes a main control module 100 having microcontroller 110, and a radiofrequency transceiver 112 configured to provide wireless data communications with an external computing device 1000 such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a Smartphone or a tablet having a similar transceiver and equipped to operate according to standard communications protocols. Such protocols may includes WIFI, Bluetooth™, Bluetooth low-energy, ZigBee, ANT, ANT+, MICS, MBAN, MDDS, WMTS, Wireless USB , Z-Wave, 3G, and 4G (LTE) and other hardware/software protocols which may become adopted for short to medium range wireless communications. For example, main control module 100 may be programmed or re-programmed with instructions provided via RF transceiver 112.

Main control module 100 also includes a power section 114, a human/machine interface 116, and a rechargeable battery 118. In this embodiment, human/machine interface 116 includes touch-sensitive controls for actuation and other functions, the operation of which is well known and will not be described further herein.

Main control module 100 also includes a first power/data interface 120 that can be mated with a second power/data interface 220 with which a plurality of communication link modules, or “commlinks” 200 (which are numbered individually as 200_1, 200_2, 200_3 to 200_x in FIG. 1) of control system A are in power and data communications. In this description, a commlink 200 is an electronic module that is electrically linked to both the main control module 100 and a respective lixel or lixels 300 as will be described, and serves an intermediate control function under the control of, and in cooperation with, the main control module 100, as will be described.

In this embodiment, main control module 100 provides power through power/data interface 120 along three (3) electrical lines, namely a fixed voltage line V_s (which would typically be fixed at 5VDC or 3.3VDC though other fixed voltages can be used), a variable voltage line V_net, and a ground (GND) line. Furthermore, in this embodiment, main control module provides data communications along two (2) lines forming an I²C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) serial data bus, namely a serial clock line (I²C SCL) and a serial data line (I²C SDA).

In this embodiment, lixel array B includes a plurality of lixels 300, each of which are in power and data communications via the three (3) power lines and the two (2) data lines with a respective commlink 200. In particular, each commlink 200_1 . . . 200_x is in power and data communications with a respective subset of the plurality of lixels 300. As shown in FIG. 1, commlink 200_1 is in power and data communications with each of lixels 300_11, 300_12, . . . 300_1y, where y is an integer number representing the number of lixels in power and data communications with commlink 200_1. Similarly, commlink 200_2 is in power and data communications with each of lixels 300_21, 300_22 and so forth, and commlink 200_3 is in power and data communications with each of lixels 300_31, 300_32 and so forth. The photoarray system 10 may be configured to have up to x commlinks 200, each of which (when first and second interfaces 120 and 220 are connected) is in power and data communications with both the main control module 100 and a respective subset of the lixels 300. As such, commlink 200_x is in power and data communications with each of lixels 300_x1, 300_x2 and so forth.

The number of lixels 300 that are in power and data communications with a respective commlink 200 is not fixed, and may not be the same across all commlinks 200_1 to 200_x. Accordingly, for example, commlink 200_1 may be in power and data communications with one number of lixels 300, and commlink 200_2 may be in power and data communications with a different number of lixels 300.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram better illustrating components of the main control module 100, which are all housed in a single, preferably water-tight or water-resistant enclosure, according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, microprocessor 110 is a highly-integrated Kinetis ARM-based microcontroller package available from Freescale Semiconductor of Austin, Tex., U.S.A. having onboard computer-readable flash system memory and non-volatile data memory, in this embodiment SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and NVRAM (Non Volatile Random Access Memory). Stored in the memory devices are temporary data, along with processor-readable instructions, baseline protocols and temporary protocols for operating the photoarray system 10, along with measurement and reading data from lixels 300 as will be described. Processor-readable data embodying a lixel illumination pattern in the form of tables of electrical current values or similar data may also be stored on main control module 100. Other types of microprocessors could be used. Current control, rather than voltage control, is implemented because radiation output of the radiation sources is linear with respect to current running through the radiation sources. Microprocessor 110 is in data communications with other components of the main control module 100, including RF transceiver 112, human-machine interface 116, power section 114 having a fixed voltage regulator 114a, a variable V_net voltage regulator 114b and a battery charger/Coulomb Counter 114c, rechargeable battery 118, and the first power/data interface 120. Rechargeable battery 118 is in power communications with battery charger/Coulomb counter 114c.

A sensor module 119 for the main control module 100 houses one or more of: an ambient temperature sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a physical orientation sensor, an acceleration sensor, an ambient light sensor, a magnetic field sensor, a proximity sensor, an audio level sensor, a video imaging device, an imaging device, one or more colour sensors, or another sensor useful for providing operating and environment data.

First interface 120 of main control module 100 is also connectable to an AC (alternating current) adaptor 2000 via an interface 220A that cooperates with first interface 120 in a similar or the same manner to interface 220, and directs incoming power V_CHG from the AC adaptor 2000 to the battery charger/Coulomb counter 114c for charging the rechargeable battery 118. Interface 220A can be configured such that V_CHG can be connected to the V_net pin, or to some other pin.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram better illustrating components of a commlink 200, according to this embodiment. Commlink 200 receives power along respective electrical lines V_s, V_net and GND via its connection to main control module 100. Furthermore, commlink 200 communicates with main control module 100 via a communication Port I²C_MCM along respective I²C serial clock (I²C SCL) and serial data (I²C SDA) lines. Each of commlinks 200_1 to 200_x is individually addressable by main control module 100, and is capable of listening to messages broadcast on the I²C data bus by the main control module 100 or by other commlinks 200.

Each of fixed voltage line V_s and data bus lines I²C_xy is connected to a local microcontroller 210, with fixed voltage line V_s being connected to local microcontroller 210 via a voltage regulator 212. The voltage regulator 212 is used for implementations in which microcontroller 210 has a different operating voltage than that of microprocessor 310. Microcontroller 210 also includes a separate communication Port I²C_L to which is connected a second set of data bus lines for each of I²C SCL and I²C SDA for its respective lixels 300. It will be noted that lines extending from each of V_s, V_net and GND are run as outputs to commlink 200, with the variable voltage line V_netf (V_net “fused”) being run as an output via a fuse 214, and fixed voltage line V_sf (V_s“fused”) being run as an output via a fuse 216.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram better illustrating components of the lixel 300, according to this embodiment. Lixel 300 receives power along respective electrical lines V_sf, V_netf and GND via lines output from the commlink 200 with which it is respectively in power and data communications. Furthermore, lixel 300 receives data along respective I²C serial clock (I²C SCL) and serial data (I²C SDA) lines, identified in FIG. 4 collectively as I²C_xy. Each of power line V_sf and data bus lines I²C_xy are connected to a local microprocessor 310. Microprocessor 310 is, in turn connected individually to each of three (3) radiation sources 312a, 312b and 312c.

Microprocessor 310 incorporates multiple internal Field Effect Transistors (FETs) for amplitude control of the current, and a brown-out detector for maintaining reliability in the event of a dip in supply voltage. Microprocessor 310 monitors the voltage and current being provided to radiation sources 312a, 312b and 312c and in addition to accordingly controlling its own levels, can report its local conditions and how it has exercised control to its associated commlink 200. Commlink 200 has electronic storage structure to locally buffer such data. In this way, the main control module 100 can receive information about how many joules of radiation energy were delivered by each lixel 300, and therefore how many total joules of radiation energy total were delivered to the area being illuminated.

In this embodiment, each of radiation sources 312a, 312b and 312c is a high efficiency Light Emitting Diode (LED). Microprocessor 310 monitors the current running through each of the LEDs 312a, 312b and 312c thereby to make adjustments to the current supply so as to maintain a regulated current and therefore a regulated radiation output.

In this embodiment, radiation source 312a is an LED that outputs radiation having a wavelength of about 455 nanometers (nm) (Δλ 25 nm typical), radiation source 312b is an LED that outputs radiation having a wavelength of about 660 nm (Δλ 25 nm typical), and radiation source 312c is an LED that outputs radiation having a wavelength of about 850 nm (Δλ 30 nm typical). The about 455 nm wavelength of radiation is provided with a view to treating bilirubin associated with jaundice and for reducing bacteria contamination in wounds. Furthermore, while visible red having wavelength near to 632 nm has been commonly used from the earliest He—Ne lasers to treat topical wounds and other musculoskeletal conditions, more recently wavelengths between 650 to 670 nm have been commonly used. Manufacturers have been able to create effective strategies in doping semiconductor materials and optical packaging to increase the conversion rate from electrical to optical power.

The about 850 nm wavelength of radiation is provided with a view to achieving deeper penetration into the muscle and circulatory tissues because these are more transparent to the longer wavelength of near-infrared. Wavelengths between 800 and 870 nm approach what is currently considered to be near the optimal window of transmission where red cells and water allow transmission into tissue.

It will be noted that the 455 nm blue wavelength is a higher photonic energy device, and its penetration is low compared to that of the red and near-infrared wavelengths.

Depending upon the instructions sent from main control module 100 via its respective commlink 200, microprocessor 310 of lixel 300 actuates any or all of radiation sources 312a, 312b and 312c. It will be understood that radiation sources 312a, 312b and 312c may require respective, different voltage levels to operate. In this embodiment, the main control module establishes the appropriate voltage level for whichever of radiation sources 312a, 312b and/or 312c by automatically setting the V_net voltage level to a level appropriate to the radiation source(s) to be activated during a particular treatment regimen, or phase thereof. Because the main control module 100 controls V_net voltage level in concert with its instructions to commlinks 200 as to which radiation source(s) is/are to be actuated, each lixel 300 does not have to include respective voltage divider components for each radiation source. This configuration can provide cost savings, particularly for larger lixel arrays, and can also reduce the amount of heat that would have to otherwise be dissipated through the lixel array B via step-down resistors.

A therapist may program the microprocessor 110 of the main control module 100 to operate radiation sources 312 on fewer than all lixels 300 in the lixel array B. For example, radiation sources 312 on all lixels 300 of a large lixel array B may not be required, for example in implementations where the photoarray is being used in order to provide phototherapy to a relatively small target area on a patient. Due to the individual addressability of the lixels 300 provided by the configurations described herein, individualized activation and de-activation of the radiation sources 312 is possible such that power can be preserved more readily than photoarray systems that do not provide individual addressability.

In this embodiment, actuation of each radiation source on each lixel 300 is controlled by the main control module 100 providing instructions to each of the commlinks 200 to begin a timed sequence of messaging with the individual lixels 300 to actuate one or more of its radiation sources 312 in accordance with a protocol. The radiation sources 312 may be cycled ON and OFF in a predefined manner so as to prevent generating sudden electrical transients which can cause noise in the photoarray system 100 itself due to electromagnetic interference (EMI), or in nearby devices. For example, power to radiation sources 312 can be tailored as a sinusoidal or linear ramped increase to the desired holding level and then decreased similarly back to fully off. The ability to reduce the intensity or rapidly modulate the output is also a mechanism for controlling the temperature by reducing the average ON time of the radiation source 312. Pseudo random modulation, such as is provided by stochastic signal density modulation, an example of which is a technology provided by Cypress Semiconductor known as Precision Illumination Signal Modulation (PrISM), or pulse width modulation (PWM) may be employed to achieve this. As would be understood, an LED driven below 100 milliAmperes (mA) will not provide reliable or any radiation output. For example, in the event that the equivalent of 50 mA worth of radiation is desired for a particular treatment or treatment phase, the LED is driven at 100 mA but modulated at an averaged 50% duty cycle so as to produce the radiation to compensate for the operating characteristics and produce output as though it were being steadily operated at 100% duty cycle at half of 100 mA (i.e. 50 mA). Above this point the duty cycle can be adjusted until 100% duty cycle is reached at the 100 mA level, and then the actual current level can be increased to produce increases in the radiation output. In general, the relationship between current and radiation output is linear above this point and within a range, such that 200 mA of current will produce twice the light of 100 mA. This is effectively the PRISM technology being used within the PSoC (Programmable System on Chip), which is implemented as a FET current driver of LEDs with programmable tables stored therein.

Such individualized control provided by the photoarray system 10 described herein allows for a balanced or increased thermal conduction rate to the lower ambient temperature at the heat sink side of the lixel which prevents an increase in temperature on the patient side of the device.

Also connected to microprocessor 310 of lixel 300 is a temperature sensor, in this embodiment a thermistor 314, and a photo sensor, in this embodiment a photodiode 316. Thermistor 314 provides microprocessor 310 with a reading of the ambient temperature level local to the lixel 300. Similarly, photodiode 316 provides microprocessor 310 with a reading of the ambient radiation intensity level local to the lixel 300. One or more additional sensors 326 may be provided in order to sense ambient motion, humidity, physical orientation, acceleration, magnetic field, proximity, audio level, video, images, one or more colours, or other ambient physical quantities for providing operating and environment data. The provision of such sensors in association with each or some lixels 300 enables the sensors to be distributed amongst the radiation sources. In this embodiment, as each lixel 300 includes sensors, the sensors are distributed generally uniformly amongst the lixels 300. Other configurations for distributing sensors generally uniformly amongst the radiation sources, such as for example by providing only every second lixel 300 with one or more such sensors, or for providing one type of sensor on one lixel 300 and another type of sensor on the next lixel 300, and so forth, are possible. Other configurations including non-uniform distribution of sensors amongst the radiation sources 300 may be employed in particular implementations.

Because sensors 314, 316 and 326 are local to lixel 300, microprocessor 310 is able to communicate local temperature and radiation intensity readings to a respective commlink 200 when polled by the commlink 200 to collect and store the readings for each of the subset of the plurality of lixels 300 with which it is associated. Such polling may be initiated by the main control module 100, so as to collect local readings for restructuring and/or buffering at respective commlinks 200 for subsequent provision to main control module 100 and to, in turn, modify actuation of any or all radiation sources 312 of any or all lixels 300 in the lixel array B should local radiation intensity be too high or too low, or should local temperature be too high, for example. In this manner, high-resolution temperature and intensity feedback is available to the main control module 100 so that it may, in turn, modify the sequencing and/or provide granular control over the operation of each individual radiation source 312 in order to provide heat management and to accurately determine the amount of radiation actually being delivered to a patient. More particularly, it is preferred that maximum temperature at a particular location in the lixel array B be 45° C. or lower. Furthermore, such local readings collected in this way, along with any automatic modifications in operation by lixel 300 or main control module 100 may be stored and/or compressed and/or made available in raw or pre-processed form to a therapist or other user via the human-machine interface 116, or output via RF transceiver 112 to external computing device 1000 for further processing or data collection.

The multiple-tier structure provided by main control module 100, commlinks 200 and lixels 300 further facilitate efficient field-upgrades of the firmware on lixels 300. The main control module 100 can update the firmware on a commlink 200 and then instruct the commlink 200 to, in turn, handle upgrading the firmware on its respective lixels 300. In particular, the main control module 100 does not have to remain occupied updating firmware on individual lixels 300 as it has delegated this task to its commlinks 200.

Turning now to FIG. 5, there is shown an isometric view of components of a lixel 300 in exploded view. A platform 318, in this embodiment a hexagonal-shaped printed circuit board, supports and interconnects on a patient-facing side of the lixel 300 surface-mount LEDs 312a, 312b and 312c, the microprocessor 310, and other components such as photodiode 316, thermistor 314 (which are not shown in FIG. 5), and other sensor 326. A radiation diffuser 324, which in this embodiment is a translucent plastic dome, is affixed over top of at least the radiation sources 312 in order to provide diffusion of the radiation being emitted over a wider area thereby to enable wider coverage on the patient. On the side of the platform 318 opposite the patient-facing side are five (5) insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) 322a to 322e for providing connectivity, without line termination, to the five (5) power and data lines V_sf, V_netf, GND, I²C SCL and I²C SDA, respectively. Due to the use of IDCs, spacing of lixels 300 and overall length and shape of lixel array B can be established and/or specified during assembly without drastic modifications to tooling. In particular, lixel arrays B with different sizes and spacing can be easily established by simply establishing the length of the five (5) power and data lines V_sf, V_netf, GND, I²C SCL and I²C SDA and affixing the lixels 300 with the IDCs accordingly.

A heat transfer structure, in this embodiment a heat sink 320, also extends from the side of the platform 318 opposite the patient-facing side for drawing heat away the patient-facing side of the platform 318.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the top of a portion of a series of flexibly interconnected lixels 300. As can be seen, the lixels 300 in this series have been concavely flexed with respect to each other such that facing edges of platforms 318 of adjacent lixels 300, which are spaced from each other when the series is not flexed, come into contact with each other at a contact point C, thereby to limit further flexing in a concave manner. The flexing is provided in order to enable the lixel array to be wrapped around or otherwise conformed to a subject's body, and the limiting provided by the physical configuration and positioning of platform 318 and other physically interacting components reduces the potential for undue stress on the power and data lines, the IDCs, and other components. This concave flexing is enabled by the flexible insulated wires for each of the five (5) power and data lines V_sf, V_netf GND, I²C SCL and I²C SDA each having a small amount of slack at slack regions S, as can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. The concave flexing is further limited by a fabric, non-woven material, flexible metal band or other thermally conductive material of sufficient strength as a control strip 400 that is affixed to the heat sinks 320 and that extends the length of the subset of lixels 300 in a given strip. The hexagonal shape of the printed circuit boards provides compact nesting of lixels 300 in rows and columns in combination with the ability to physically move with respect to each other in multiple directions (for example not just concavely and, to a lesser degree, convexly along strips of lixels 300 sharing the same data and power lines, but concavely and convexly across strips with respect to adjacent lixels 300, ie. laterally and/or longitudinally). This enables conforming the overall lixel array B to the region of the patient being treated with a view to providing uniform emission of radiation towards the area to be treated.

In an alternative embodiment, an additional control strip is provided and configured with respect to the lixels 300 to limit the degree of convex movement that is permitted, so as to limit the stress placed upon power and data lines, the IDCs and other components that may otherwise occur if the power and data lines are permitted to easily become taut during convex flexing.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the top of a portion of a series of flexibly interconnected lixels 300 encased in flexible transparent housing 500. In this embodiment, flexible transparent housing 500 is a length of flexible plastic tubing that can be cut from a roll to a particular desired length to completely enclose and protect the lixel array B, and sealed to inhibit the ingress of water or other contaminants. FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the bottom of the portion of the series of flexibly interconnected lixels of FIG. 7.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings, those of skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

For example, other local conditions beyond temperature and radiation intensity can be measured by sensors associated with a given lixel, such as current, voltage, orientation, acceleration, gyroscopic, ambient light, magnetic field, proximity, audio level, video image and colour.

Furthermore, while a photoarray system has been described herein that includes a main control module 100, a plurality of commlinks 200 and a plurality of lixels 300, other configurations are possible. For example, the three-level hierarchy could be reduced to two levels (i.e., main control module 100 and respective lixels 300), provided that semiconductors are employed that can reliably communicate over a short range (0.1 to 3 meters) communication channel at high speed (125 kbit to 12 Mb or faster).

Furthermore, while embodiments have been described in which each lixel 300 controls the power directly to the local radiation sources 312a, 312b and 312c, embodiments are contemplated in which an alternative lixel structure having a microprocessor 310 is capable of controlling one or more adjacent lixels that may not have a respective microprocessor.

While embodiments have been described in which the lixels 300 have three radiation sources that are LEDs, embodiments are contemplated in which lixels have fewer or more radiation sources, emit different wavelengths of light than those that have been described by way of example herein (such as ultraviolet radiation, violet radiation, other visible or infrared radiation) and those in which the radiation sources are other or various types of radiation sources such as solid state laser diodes, OLEDs (Organic Light Emitting Diodes), or FIPEL (Field-induced polymer electroluminescent) radiation sources, with corresponding respective operating characteristics and supporting circuitry, for example.

Furthermore, while in embodiments described an aluminum block heat sink 320 has been shown as part of lixel 300, other configurations are contemplated. For example, due to the open-backed nature of the lixel 300, where lines for V_sf, V_netf, GND, I²C SCL and I²C SDA run along the sides of the underside of the platform 318 rather than across the middle of platform 318, adequate heat dispersion may be provided without a heat sink.

Furthermore, other embodiments of heat sink may employ a rectangular block or a block with a cutaway portion having a rectangular, oval or circular cross-section for receiving a heat conveyance structure such as a rigid or flexible heat pipe that can convey heat away from several lixels 300 in a row. Flexible phase change material or materials may be employed to assist with drawing heat away from the patient-facing side of the lixel 300. Additional or auxiliary cooling systems may be provided.

Furthermore, while platform 318 has been described as hexagonal-shaped printed circuit board, other shapes such as square, circular or irregular-shaped platforms may be employed.

While microprocessors 110, 210 and 310 operating at 5V are employed in the embodiments described above, alternatives are possible. For example, microprocessors that operate at 3.3V or lower could be employed.

Furthermore, while embodiments have been described in which each lixel incorporates a temperature sensor and a radiation sensor, variations are possible. For example, every other or third lixel could be provided with one or both such sensors. It will be understood however that local temperature and radiation intensity can vary widely across short distances due to the physical attributes of the patient, clothing, adjacency, and effectiveness of local heat sinking.

Furthermore, while the main control module in embodiments described above provides data communications along a two-line I²C serial data bus, an alternative data communications scheme may be employed, such as LINbus (Local Interconnect Network bus), 1-Wire or some other widely available or proprietary bus technology.

Furthermore, an alternative embodiment of a lixel array B could incorporate a wireless communication link for very short range and a wireless power transfer scheme such as WiTricity or Qi to accomplish the same individual control of each lixel without the hardwired links for even greater flexibility limited only by the typical range of the wireless power transfer.

Furthermore, an alternative embodiment of a lixel array B could include sensors 326 dispersed at relevant locations throughout the lixel array B. For example, for wound monitoring, a photoarray system for use in phototherapy could be provided with colour sensors distributed throughout the lixel array B in such a way as to have colour sensing both peripherally and centrally with respect to a wound being treated. Emission of radiation from particular radiation sources 312 could be used to cause the wound area to, in turn, emit radiation depending upon its healing state, such that the data collected by the colour sensors could show rate and progress of the healing.

FIG. 9 is an isometric bottom view of an alternative lixel 600 for a photoarray system, and FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the alternative lixel 600. Like in other embodiments, lixel 600 includes one or more than one electrical component supported on a respective platform 618, and is interconnected with at least one adjacent such lixel 600 via flexible wires. In this embodiment, a heat sink structure 620 is supported on the platform 618 for dissipating heat generated by the components, and the heat sink structure 620 further incorporates strain resistance structure that is interfacing with, and imparting strain resistance to, the flexible wires.

In this embodiment, the strain resistance structure incorporated into the heat sink structure 620 includes two channels 602A and 602B extending along the heat sink structure 620. Channel 602A is defined by sidewalls 604A_1 and 604A_2, while channel 602B is defined by sidewalls 604B_1 and 604B_2.

Each of channels 602A and 602B are open-ended, but each also has multiple entryways through a respective sidewall. In particular, channel 602A has two entryways 606A_1 and 606A_2 through sidewall 604A_2, whereas channel 602B has three entryways 606B_1, 606B_2 and 606B_3 through sidewall 604B2. Each of the entryways 606A_1, 606A_2, 606B_1, 606B_2 and 606B_3, as well as channels 602A and 602B are dimensioned to receive the flexible wires. The entryways are each just a small amount larger than the width of the wires so that the wires can bear against them when under strain.

The combination of the channels and the entryways through their sidewalls provide indirect pathways for the flexible wires such that, under strain, the flexible wires bear against the structures defined by the combination of the channels, sidewalls and entryways thereby to provide strain resistance. These structures may be seen as posts against which the flexible wires can bear when under strain. As such, if the lixel 600 is moved with respect to an adjacent lixel, the resultant strain on the flexible wires interconnecting lixel 600 with the adjacent lixel causes the flexible wires to bear against the structures rather than transmit all of the strain along the flexible wires to the point at which each wire is electrically connected to the platform 618. In this way, the electrical connections are somewhat relieved from strain and thereby are somewhat protected from breakage, facilitating longer service intervals. By incorporating strain resistance structure into the heat sink structure itself, significant strain resistance can be achieved in combination with heat sinking, without increasing the overall size of the lixel 600.

In this embodiment, alternative lixels 600 and 600A in an array are not arranged adjacent to each other such that their platforms come into contact with each other when flexed concavely to a particular point.

In alternative embodiments, the strain resistance structure incorporated into the heat sink structure may include one or more posts without elongate channels. In other embodiments, the strain resistance structure may include only one channel, may include two channels each with only one entryway, or other such combinations of strain resistance structure incorporated into the heat sink structure.

FIG. 11 is an isometric bottom view of another alternative lixel 600A, and FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the alternative lixel 600A. Lixel 600A is very similar to lixel 600. However, lixel 600A differs in that its heat sink structure 620A incorporates a strain resistance structure with channels 602A and 602B that both have three entryways, namely 606A_1, 606A_2, and 606A_3 for channel 602A, and 606B_1, 606B_2 and 606B_3 for channel 602B. As can be seen particularly in FIG. 12, the heat sink structure 620A is symmetrical. It will be understood that, as illustrated by the embodiments showing heat sink structures 620 and 620A, numerous configurations of heat sink structure having various numbers of entryways, either the same for each channel or different, may be employed in numerous configurations in order to provide strain resistance to flexible wires extending from connection points towards adjacent lixels.

Claims

1. A photoarray system comprising:

an array of lixels, each lixel comprising at least one electrical component supported on a respective platform, each lixel in the array electrically interconnected with at least one adjacent lixel via one or more flexible wires; and

heat sink structure supported on each of the platforms for dissipating heat generated by the at least one electrical component, the heat sink structure incorporating strain resistance structure interfacing with, and imparting strain resistance to, the one or more flexible wires.

2. The photoarray system of claim 1, wherein the strain resistance structure comprises one or more posts against which the one or more flexible wires are positioned to bear when subjected to strain.

3. The photoarray system of claim 1, wherein the strain resistance structure comprises:

at least one open-ended channel extending along the heat sink and defined by sidewalls; and

each channel having an least one entryway through a respective sidewall;

wherein each channel and entryway is dimensioned to receive at least one of the one or more flexible wires.

4. The photoarray system of claim 3, wherein the strain resistance structure comprises two of the open-ended channels.

5. The photoarray system of claim 4, wherein each of the two open-ended channels has at least two entryways through respective sidewalls.

6. The photoarray system of claim 5, wherein each of the two open-ended channels has three entryways through respective sidewalls.

7. The photoarray system of claim 4, wherein a first of the two open-ended channels has a different number of entryways than the second of the two open-ended channels.

8. A photoarray system comprising:

a control system;

a lixel array comprising a plurality of lixels each comprising at least one radiation source that is individually controllable by the control system to emit radiation; and

a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor modules distributed amongst the plurality of radiation sources, each of the sensor modules configured to communicate respective local readings to the control system,

wherein each of the radiation sources is supported on a respective platform comprising a circuit board, wherein each circuit board is interconnected with at least one adjacent circuit board with a plurality of flexible wires.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein each platform supports only one radiation source.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein each platform supports at least two radiation sources.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein each platform comprises a circuit board.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board has a shape selected from the group consisting of: a hexagon, a square, a circle and an irregular shape.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the flexible wires are connected to circuit boards with a respective insulation displacement connector.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein each circuit board is in contact with a heat transfer structure.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein each heat transfer structure comprises a heat sink supported by the circuit board and configured to draw heat away from one or more radiation sources.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the heat transfer structure comprises one or more tubes incorporating a liquid coolant, each tube being associated with a plurality of the circuit boards to transfer heat away from one or more lixels along the one or more tubes.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the heat transfer structure comprises a flexible phase change material within a rigid or flexible container.

18. A lixel array for a photoarray system comprising:

a plurality of flexibly interconnected lixels each comprising at least one radiation source, each lixel comprising a rigid platform for supporting the at least one respective radiation source, each platform being configured to be moved with respect to an adjacent platform between a position in which an edge of the platform and a facing edge of an adjacent platform are spaced and a position in which the edge of the platform and the facing edge are in contact with each other.

19. The lixel array of claim 18, wherein the lixel array comprises sections of lixels, and each of the lixels in a section of lixels is flexibly interconnected with a plurality of wires.

20. The lixel array of claim 19, wherein the wires have a slack region between adjacent platforms.

21. The lixel array of claim 19, wherein each section of lixels comprises a control strip associated with the lixels for limiting the extent of movement of lixels with respect to each other.