Phototherapy bandage

Abstract

A phototherapy bandage capable of providing radiation to a localized area of a patient for accelerating would healing and pain relief, photodynamic therapy, and for aesthetic applications. The phototherapy bandage may include a flexible light source that is continuous across the bandage for providing a selected light, such as a visible light, a near-infrared light, or other light, having substantially similar intensity across the bandage. The bandage may also be flexible and capable of being attached to a patient without interfering with the patient's daily routine. The phototherapy bandage may easily conform to the curves of a patient and may come in a variety of exterior shapes and sizes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 732,086, filed Dec. 10, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 170,942, filed Jun. 12, 2002, and which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 432,284, filed Dec. 10, 2002.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention is directed generally to phototherapy, and more particularly, to methods and devices for administering radiation to a targeted site on a patient. BACKGROUND [0003] Phototherapy is the therapeutic use of light that has been recognized as an effective method of treating wounds and reducing pain in humans. External phototherapy has been effective in treating various medical conditions, such as, but not limited to, bulimia nervosa, herpes, psoriasis, seasonal affective disorder, sleep disorders, acne, skin cancer, hyperbilirubinemia in infants, and other conditions. Phototherapy is typically administered to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] An advantage of this invention is that the phototherapy bandage is flexible and capable of being attached to a patient to accelerate wound healing and providing pain relief without interfering with the patient's daily activities.

[0027] Another advantage of this invention is that the EL source is rugged and capable of absorbing the stresses commonly placed on a bandage.

Problems solved by technology

While light sources having light banks are still being used, such devices are not without their disadvantages.

For instance, phototherapy devices using light banks require that patients wear eye protection that is often uncomfortable.

Furthermore, these devices are typically large and immobile, which thus, require patients to visit the locations of the light sources each time a dosage is needed.

Light sources using light banks are disadvantageous for at least these reasons.

Fiber optic light sources were developed as a substitute for phototherapy devices containing light banks but have not eliminated all of the drawbacks associated with these devices.

Often times, the geometries of the fiber optic mats are compromised when forces are placed on the fiber optic mats in order to place the fiber optic mats in contact with patients' skin surfaces.

This undesirably results in greater light intensity being concentrated near the light source than at other portions of the fiber optic mat.

Because diffusers are used, the LEDs cannot be placed in contact with a surface.

Thus, the amount of light that an LED emits is not the same amount of light that reaches the surface because a portion of the light produced by the LED is lost when the LED is not placed in contact with a surface.

These conductors significantly add to the overall weight and complexity of the mats.

Use of the plurality of LEDs in such close proximity to each other produces high amounts of heat that can pose potentially dangerous conditions.

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