Wearable photobiomodulation (PBM) device

Abstract

A wearable electronic device (1) comprising: a first radiation source (10) configured to emit a radiation beam (11) towards a skin surface of a user, the radiation beam having a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm; a drive circuit (20) configured to provide a drive current (15) to the radiation source (10) to control the irradiation intensity of the radiation beam on the surface; and an antenna (40) and / or a sensor circuit (30) having one or more sensors. The driver circuit (20) is configured to receive one or more inputs from the sensor circuit (30) and / or the antenna (40) and to control the first radiation source (10) in accordance with the one or more inputs.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a wearable electronic device that can provide radiation sufficient to induce a photo-bio-modulation (PBM) effect. BACKGROUND

[0002] Photo-bio-modulation (PBM) refers to the irradiation of a living organism with a specific energy / power level to induce a biological or biochemical response. The irradiation can be light in the visible spectrum, such as red light, or light in the non-visible spectrum, such as infrared (IR). There is a large body of research on the physiological and psychological health benefits provided by PBM therapy.

[0003] Most devices for photo-bio-modulation (PBM) provide near-field excitation of the skin or treatment area (i.e. close-range devices), or use very high power radiation for whole-body. These characteristics make the PBM effect only available in professional medical or therapeutic devices that are typically bulky and / or expensive. These factors greatly limit the availability of PBM to the public for health and wellness benefits.

[0004] In PCT applications WO2020 / 119965 and WO2021 / 099642, published by the applicant and incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, an idea is presented to incorporate photo-bio-modulation (PBM) technology into general lighting, using a lighting device to emit steady visible light, and additionally emit pulsed red or (near) infrared light radiation to induce a PBM response. By driving the radiation source using a pulsed signal rather than a continuous wave (or near-continuous wave) signal, the peak power during the pulse can be increased to achieve a PBM response. This enables a general lighting device to emit sufficient power to achieve a specific radiation intensity at a distance that can induce a PBM response. Sensors can be provided in such a lighting device to turn the PBM radiation on or off depending on the presence and / or distance of a user.

[0005] It is desirable to apply PBM functionality to more everyday, non-professional devices, such as televisions, smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. In this context, wearable electronic devices, such as smartwatches, have good potential for such applications. Users will typically use a wearable electronic device for long periods of time in their daily life. For example, as long as the user wears the watch, the device can provide PBM radiation to the user as needed. Furthermore, since these devices are close to the user’s skin, the irradiance intensity of the red or (near) infrared radiation that is provided can be accurately and reliably controlled.

[0006] However, wearable electronic devices also have some limitations in providing photo biomodulation (PBM) radiation. The radiation area of a wearable electronic device is relatively small compared to known radiation devices that project PBM radiation onto a relatively large surface, typically larger than 200 square centimeters, such as a user's face. For example, even if a PBM radiation source is arranged at the back surface of a watch, the effective irradiation area is typically less than 25 square centimeters. An effective dose can be provided based on the small effective radiation area by prolonging the exposure time; but providing PBM radiation for a long time duration causes the wearable electronic device to quickly run out of (battery) power. SUMMARY

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above limitations and to provide a wearable electronic device that can effectively induce a PBM response on a user.

[0008] A first aspect of the invention relates to a wearable electronic device, such as a watch, comprising: a first radiation source configured to emit a (first) radiation beam towards a skin surface of a user wearing the wearable electronic device, the radiation beam having a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm; a drive circuit configured to provide a drive current to the radiation source to control an irradiation intensity of the radiation beam on the surface; and an antenna and / or a sensor circuit having one or more sensors (e.g. detectors), wherein the drive circuit is configured to receive one or more inputs from the sensor circuit and / or the antenna and is configured to control the first radiation source based on the one or more inputs.

[0009] In embodiments, the one or more inputs comprise an indication of a presence of a second radiation source. For example, the drive circuit can be configured to receive an indication of a presence of a second radiation source (e.g. sunlight and / or other radiation devices) from the sensor circuit or the antenna, and wherein the drive circuit is configured to reduce the radiation intensity based on the indication.

[0010] According to embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, the drive circuit is configured to receive an indication of a presence of a second radiation source (e.g. other devices capable of photo biomodulation (PBM) radiation, the sun, etc.). The indication is indicative of an environment in which the wearable electronic device is worn, e.g. whether the user is expected to receive sufficient PBM radiation from the second radiation source. Such an indication can be implemented as one or more signals from the sensor circuit or the antenna (including from both), such that the presence of the second radiation source can be inferred, preferably the irradiation intensity of the second radiation source (e.g. the intensity of sunny day sunlight versus cloudy day sunlight). In this way, in an environment in which the user is expected to receive natural or artificial irradiation capable of inducing a PBM response, the wearable electronic device reduces its irradiation intensity, e.g. by deactivating the first radiation source and / or adjusting its target provided dose.

[0011] For example, the indication can be indicative of at least one of:

[0012] - a calculated irradiance from the second radiation source determined periodically during use of the device;

[0013] - whether the wearable electronic device is worn in an outdoor environment or an indoor environment;

[0014] - a weather condition at the time the wearable electronic device is worn;

[0015] - whether the user is receiving a second radiation beam from a second radiation device.

[0016] The present invention enables the user to continuously benefit from the PBM effect in an efficient manner, while the wearable electronic device can be used for this purpose for a long time without quickly running out of power.

[0017] In embodiments, the wearable electronic device is configured to periodically measure the irradiance of the second radiation source (e.g. using an antenna and / or one or more sensors), and to adjust the first radiation source in dependence thereon. This enables the present invention to be implemented in a simple manner. The wearable electronic device can also be configured to adjust the first radiation source based on other indicators, to optimize the system.

[0018] The wearable electronic device can comprise a housing configured to house at least one of a sensor circuit, a drive circuit and an antenna (on a surface of the housing and / or inside the housing), and possibly one or more other components, such as a storage device. The housing can comprise a first surface having a display screen and a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface. The wearable electronic device can further comprise a wristband configured to be wrapped around a user's skin (e.g. a wrist), such that the second surface of the housing is substantially attached to the user's skin. The first radiation source can be provided on the second surface of the housing. In addition, or alternatively, the first radiation source can also be provided on (a part of) the wristband.

[0019] In embodiments, the drive circuit is configured to switch between a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein in the first operating mode (e.g. during normal operation) the peak irradiance of the radiation beam on a surface (e.g. on a user's wrist) is higher than 0.1 mW / cm 2 In the second operating mode, the peak irradiance of the radiation beam on the surface is lower than 0.01 mW / cm 2 (e.g. turned off), wherein the drive circuit is configured to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode based on the indication.

[0020] In embodiments, the one or more inputs (e.g., indications) indicate whether the wearable electronic device is worn in an outdoor environment or an indoor environment (e.g., based on one or more sensors in the sensor circuit). Based on the indication, the wearable electronic device can be configured to emit the beam of radiation only when the user is wearing the device in an indoor environment (e.g., the user is inside a building), and not emit the beam of radiation (or reduce the irradiance of the beam of radiation or reduce the target dose) when the user is wearing the device in an outdoor environment (e.g., the user is not inside a building). In this way, in an outdoor environment where the user is expected to receive sunlight as a second source of radiation, unnecessary radiation from the wearable electronic device can be avoided, thereby conserving its power.

[0021] In embodiments, the outdoor environment is indicated based on one or more of: a sensed location, a sensed temperature, a sensed light condition, a sensed user respiration rate, a sensed heart rate, a sensed user motion, a received GPS signal strength, a received Wi-Fi signal strength, and a user input. The outdoor environment can be indicated directly based on one or more of the above factors, indirectly based on any other factor inferred from one or more of the above factors (e.g., the user’s current activity), or based on a combination of both approaches.

[0022] In embodiments, the one or more inputs (e.g., indications) indicate a weather condition when the wearable electronic device is worn. The weather condition can be indicated based on at least one of: one or more sensors in the sensor circuit, a weather forecast, and a user input. The drive circuit can adjust the irradiance of the (first) beam of radiation in accordance with the indication.

[0023] In embodiments, the one or more inputs (e.g., indications) indicate, based on a signal sent from a second radiation device or a control device to the wearable electronic device (e.g., to an antenna), whether the user is receiving a second beam of radiation from the second radiation device, and wherein the drive circuit is configured to adjust the irradiance and / or duration (exposure time) and / or target dose of the first beam of radiation in accordance with the irradiance and / or duration and / or target dose of the second beam of radiation.

[0024] The second radiation device can be a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a general-purpose lighting device, a USB-powered accessory, etc., which is itself equipped with a radiation source for emitting a second beam of radiation. The second beam of radiation can have a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm, and the second radiation device has an irradiance sufficient to induce PBM effects in the user. The wearable electronic device can be configured to communicate with the second radiation device (and / or a control device, such as a smartphone) so that the drive circuit can adjust the radiation intensity, duration, and / or target dose of the (first) beam of radiation based on the operating mode of the second radiation device.

[0025] For example, the drive circuit can be configured to decrease the irradiation intensity and / or duration and / or target dose of the (first) radiation beam when the second radiation beam has a higher radiation intensity (e.g. when the second radiation beam is on), and to increase the irradiation intensity and / or duration and / or target dose of the (first) radiation beam when the second radiation beam has a lower radiation intensity (e.g. when the second radiation beam is off).

[0026] In embodiments, the wearable electronic device further comprises a dose control unit, wherein the drive circuit is configured to adjust the irradiation intensity, duration and / or pulse conditions of the radiation beam based on input received from the dose control unit, such that the provided dose of the radiation beam over 4-8 hours is at least 140 J / cm2when the irradiation intensity is not decreased according to the one or more inputs (e.g. indications). This enables a sufficient total dose to be accumulated over a certain time on a limited area (e.g. in the range of 10-60 cm2) of the surface. The dose control unit can be configured such that the total dose of the radiation beam provided to the surface over 4-12 hours is in the range of 1-10 kJ, or in the range of 2-6 kJ, or in the range of 3-7 kJ, or in the range of 3-6 kJ, or in the range of 4-8 kJ, or in the range of 3-5 kJ, or in another range.

[0027] In embodiments, the dose control unit is configured to receive input from at least one of the sensor circuit and / or the antenna, and to control the drive circuit based on the combined dose of the wearable electronic device and the second radiation source. For example, the drive circuit can be configured to turn off the first radiation source when a predetermined combined dose is reached. The dose control unit can also be configured to adjust the target dose of the wearable electronic device according to the accumulated dose provided by the second radiation source. When the target dose is reached, the drive circuit can turn off the first radiation source.

[0028] In embodiments, the dose control unit is configured such that the irradiation intensity of the (first) radiation beam is decreased (e.g. turned off) according to the one or more inputs (e.g. indications) when a set time has elapsed or a set dose has accumulated. In this way, the dose from the second radiation source can be taken into account, while at the same time optimizing the dose received by the user from the wearable electronic device and the second radiation source.

[0029] In embodiments, the drive circuit is configured to switch between a first, a second and a third operation mode based on the one or more inputs (e.g. indications). In the first operation mode, the (first) radiation beam can have a first target dose; in the second operation mode, a second target dose; in the third operation mode, a third target dose, wherein the first target dose is lower than the second target dose, and the second target dose is lower than the third target dose. For example, the first operation mode can be used when the user is in a sunny outdoor environment; the second operation mode can be used when the user is in an overcast or rainy outdoor environment; the third operation mode can be used when the user is in an indoor environment. The dose control unit can be used to ensure that these target doses are reached.

[0030] In embodiments, the wearable electronic device is a watch, and the watch is configured to emit the radiation beam towards a part of the user's wrist when the watch is worn by the user.

[0031] In embodiments, the surface area of the user's skin that receives the radiation beam is 10 cm 2 to 60 cm 2 .

[0032] In embodiments, the wearable electronic device is configured to adjust the irradiance of the radiation beam, the irradiation time of the radiation beam and / or the target dose in dependence on one or more physiological conditions (health conditions) of the user, such as heart rate, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), breathing characteristics, body temperature, etc. These conditions can be determined based on one or more sensors and / or user input. This enables the wearable electronic device to adjust the dose delivered to the user in dependence on these conditions. The wearable electronic device can also be configured to generate the radiation beam during specific time periods of the day. For example, this can enable a photobiomodulation (PBM) treatment to be performed during the day, rather than at night. Such a treatment regime can also anticipate time zone changes and adjust the dose accordingly. Furthermore, the wearable electronic device can also adjust the radiation beam during user exercise (e.g. by communicating with a fitness application and / or fitness device, and / or based on user input). In summary, using functionality that is typically available in wearable electronic devices such as smartwatches, the PBM dose can be optimised in various ways.

[0033] A second aspect of the present application relates to a system capable of providing a photobiomodulation (PBM) effect, comprising: a wearable electronic device according to the first aspect of the present application; and a second radiation device configured to operate in a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state the second radiation device emits a second radiation beam having a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm, and in the second state the second radiation device does not emit the second radiation beam, and wherein the indication is used to indicate whether the second radiation device is operating in the first state or the second state.

[0034] The second radiating device can be a smartphone, tablet, laptop, general lighting equipment, radiating device, car, train, or other vehicle. In particular, most wearable electronic devices (such as smartwatches) can be controlled by a smartphone. Smartphone users typically view the phone screen for extended periods at a relatively short and stable distance (e.g., 30cm). Furthermore, most smartphones are equipped with facial detection / recognition capabilities. Combining these functions with the wearable electronic device according to the first aspect of the invention allows for the construction of a highly efficient PBM system, enabling both devices to operate efficiently.

[0035] In one embodiment, the second radiation device is configured to detect a predetermined area of ​​the user's body. When the predetermined area is detected within a set distance, the second radiation device is configured to operate in a first state and send a deactivation signal to the wearable electronic device as an indication of the presence of a second radiation source. When the predetermined area is not detected within the set distance, the second radiation device is configured to operate in a second state and send an activation signal to the wearable electronic device as an indication of the absence of a second radiation source. In this way, based on reliable (facial) detection / recognition, the wearable electronic device emits PBM radiation when the second radiation device does not emit PBM radiation, and vice versa, thereby avoiding radiation waste from either device.

[0036] In one embodiment, the predetermined area covers at least a portion of the user's face.

[0037] A third aspect of the invention relates to a wearable electronic device, such as a watch, comprising: a first radiation source configured to emit a (first) radiation beam toward a user's skin surface (e.g., wrist) wearing the wearable electronic device, the radiation beam having a peak emission wavelength between 610 and 1400 nm; a drive circuit configured to provide a drive current to the radiation source to control the irradiation intensity of the radiation beam on the surface; and a dose control unit, wherein the drive circuit is configured to adjust the irradiation intensity of the radiation beam based on inputs received from the dose control unit such that the total dose of the radiation beam provided over 4-8 hours is at least 1 kJ (at least when the irradiation intensity is not reduced according to said one or more inputs, such as an indication).

[0038] The wearable electronic device according to the third aspect of the invention may further include one or more elements described above in the first aspect of the invention, and may be configured to interact with the second radiation device described above in the second aspect of the invention.

[0039] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a wearable electronic device, comprising: a first radiation source configured to emit a (first) radiation beam toward a body part of a user wearing the wearable electronic device, wherein the projected area of ​​the irradiated body part is less than 200 cm². 2a radiation beam having a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm; a drive circuit configured to provide a drive current to the radiation source to control an intensity of the radiation beam impinging on the body part; and a dose control unit, wherein the drive circuit is configured to adjust the intensity of the radiation beam based on input received from the dose control unit.

[0040] A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to an electronic device comprising: a first radiation source configured to emit a (first) radiation beam towards a body part of a user; a radiation beam having a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm; a drive circuit configured to provide a drive current to the radiation source to control an intensity of the radiation beam impinging on the body part; and an antenna and / or a sensor circuit having one or more sensors (e.g. a probe); wherein the drive circuit is configured to receive an indication from the sensor circuit or the antenna regarding the presence of a second radiation source (e.g. sunlight and / or other radiation device) and / or information regarding a user body condition (e.g. by a wearable electronic device), and wherein the drive circuit is configured to reduce the radiation intensity based on said indication. The electronic device can be implemented as a second radiation device in a system according to the second aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] Embodiments are described below by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which respective reference symbols indicate respective parts, and in which:

[0042] Figures 1A to 1C An embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present invention is schematically shown.

[0043] Figure 2 A block diagram of an embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present invention is shown.

[0044] Figure 3 An embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present invention is shown, wherein the wearable electronic device 1 is configured to sense whether a user is in an outdoor environment or in an indoor environment.

[0045] Figure 4 An embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present invention is shown, wherein the wearable electronic device 1 is configured to operate in dependence of weather conditions.

[0046] Figure 5 An embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the first aspect of the present invention, and a system capable of providing a photo-bio-modulation (PBM) effect according to the second aspect of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the wearable electronic device 1 is configured to determine the presence of a second device 2 capable of emitting a second radiation beam 21.

[0047] Figure 6An embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present application is shown, wherein the wearable electronic device 1 comprises a dose control unit 50 for controlling a dose. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] A specific embodiment of the present application is described below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0049] Figure 1A A perspective view of an embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1, such as a watch, according to the present application is shown.

[0050] The wearable electronic device 1 can comprise a housing 102 containing one or more internal components, such as one or more integrated circuit chips, circuit boards, display devices, batteries, storage devices, one or more sensors, one or more antennas, or other functional components. The wearable electronic device 1 is configured to emit a beam of radiation 11 towards a skin surface of a user. The wearable electronic device 1 is designed to be worn by a user for long periods of time during daily activities, such as as a watch, clothing, jewelry, etc.

[0051] The housing 102 can comprise a first surface 102a (e.g., a front surface) including a display screen and a second surface 102b (e.g., a back surface) facing and abutting a skin of a user (e.g., at a wrist of the user). The housing 102 can be implemented in any suitable structure for enclosing these internal components and can be directly or indirectly coupled to a wristband 103 to enable the housing 102 to be worn on a wrist of a user. Although Figure 1A A (smart) watch is shown, but other types of wearable electronic devices (e.g., smart bands, jewelry, clothing, etc.) can also be used. Furthermore, although Figure 1A The wearable electronic device 1 shown is generally rectangular in structure, but the housing 102 can have any suitable size or shape, such as circular, hexagonal, square, or other shapes. Furthermore, although Fig. 1 shows the beam of radiation 11 being emitted from the back surface of the wearable electronic device 1, it can additionally or alternatively be emitted from other parts of the wearable device 1, such as the wristband 103.

[0052] Figure 1B A perspective view of an embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present application is shown. Figure 1A Another perspective view of the embodiment shown. The wearable electronic device 1 contains a first radiation source 10 configured to emit a beam of radiation 11. For example, as Figure 1B shown, the first radiation source 10 can be disposed on the second surface (e.g., back surface) 102b of the wearable electronic device 1. Additionally or alternatively, the first radiation source 10 can also be disposed on another part (not shown) of the wearable electronic device, such as on a portion of the wristband 103.

[0053] The wearable electronic device 1 is preferably configured to emit the radiation beam 11 only to the user's skin in the area underneath the watch and / or wristband worn by the user (e.g. exposing the user's wrist to the radiation beam 11) and not to other parts of the user's body. The wearable electronic device 1 is preferably configured to maintain the first radiation source in a substantially fixed position in close proximity to the user's skin when the device is worn by the user, e.g. the distance between the wearable device surface where the radiation source 10 is located and the user's skin is 3 mm or less.

[0054] The radiation source 10 can comprise a plurality of LEDs and / or one or more edge emitting laser diodes (EELD) and / or vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) to emit the radiation beam. In the following description, the term "LED" is used for brevity, but it is understood to encompass LEDs, EELDs and / or VCSELs, all of which can be used for the first radiation source 10. The radiation beam has a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm. In embodiments, the peak emission wavelength is in the (near) infrared ((N)IR) region, such as 700-1400 nm. In embodiments, the range can be 760-1400 nm or 800-1100 nm. Another option is the range 800-870 nm. The peak emission wavelength can also be in the red light spectral range, such as 610-700 nm. Radiation in these ranges is referred to herein as "PBM radiation". Preferably, almost all of the radiation emitted by the radiation source 10 is in the peak emission wavelength range, e.g. 90%, 95% or 99% of the radiation is in the range 610-1400 nm, 700-1400 nm, 760-1400 nm or 800-1100 nm. Irradiating a predetermined area (e.g. the user's face) with radiation in these spectral ranges can induce a beneficial PBM response. Some embodiments can utilize devices that emit radiation in different wavelength ranges simultaneously. The LEDs, EELDs and / or VCSELs can comprise semiconductor light sources based on AlGaInP, InGaP, InGaAsP, InAlGaAsP, AlGaAs, GaAs, InGaAs and related material systems known in the art.

[0055] Some embodiments can use optical components, such as diffusers, lenses and / or waveguides, to distribute the red or (near) infrared light onto the target surface in order to achieve the desired irradiance level and / or dose in an efficient and economical manner.

[0056] Figure 1C It is shown Figure 1A A variant of the embodiment, wherein the first radiation source 10 comprises a plurality of LEDs, EELDs and / or VCSELs, is arranged on a first portion 10a of the second surface 102b (e.g. the back surface) of the wearable electronic device 1 and on a second portion 10b of both portion surfaces of the wristband 103.

[0057] Part 10b may include multiple low-power LEDs disposed over a large portion of the electronic watch strap 103, such that they face and are in close contact with the user's skin when the watch is worn. This can be achieved, for example, by integrating the LEDs into a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) embedded in or attached to the strap 103, although other mounting methods are also possible. For example, the QBLP601-IR3 model LED from the QT-Brightek chip LED series is suitable. These LEDs are small (1.6 x 0.8 mm²) and can provide approximately 3 mW of radiated power at a wavelength of 850 nm when driven by a 20 mA current (1.4 V forward voltage).

[0058] The area on surface 102b available for arranging the LEDs of the first radiation source 10, and the skin irradiation area determined therefrom, typically 1 cm² on a small watch. 2 25cm to the large watch 2 It varies. When both surface 102b and wristband 103 can be used to arrange LEDs, the area increases significantly, typically from 10cm in small watches and narrow wristbands. 2 Up to 60cm for large watches and wide wristbands 2 No. LEDs can be arranged in various series and parallel combinations to provide a suitable driving voltage for the DC-DC drive circuit powered by the watch battery, which in turn drives the LEDs.

[0059] The drive circuit 20 can be configured to switch between a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode (e.g., during normal operation), the peak irradiance of the radiation beam on the user's wrist surface is higher than 0.1 mW / cm²; in the second operating mode, the peak irradiance of the radiation beam on that surface is lower than 0.01 mW / cm². The drive circuit is configured to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode based on a control indication (such as indication 16 described below). The irradiance on the user's wrist surface can be uniform or can exhibit some degree of variation on the surface. In the latter case, the specific value of the irradiance can be measured at the center of the radiation beam 11, for example, at the center point C of the rear surface 102b of the wearable electronic device 1. Figure 1B As shown. Similarly, cumulative dose (see below) Figure 6 The same method can also be used to derive it.

[0060] Figure 2A block diagram of an embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present invention is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the wearable electronic device 1 includes a radiation source 10; a driving circuit 20 configured to provide a driving current 15 (which may be a pulse or a continuous wave) to the radiation source 10 to control the intensity of the radiation beam irradiated onto the user's skin surface; a sensor circuit 30 having one or more sensors; and an antenna 40. One or more of these components may be contained in a housing 102, a wristband 103, or other locations on the wearable electronic device.

[0061] Sensor circuit 30 includes one or more sensors, such as motion sensors (e.g., accelerometers or velocity sensors), gyroscopes, pulse (heart rate) sensors, respiratory rate sensors, blood oxygen sensors, capacitive sensors, electromagnetic field sensors, light sensors, infrared or near-infrared radiation sensors, image sensors, pressure or force sensors, touch sensors, vibration sensors, thermal or temperature sensors, orientation sensors, position sensors (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS) devices), communication devices (e.g., wireless communication devices, such as Wi-Fi chips), resistive sensors, etc. Wearable electronic devices such as smartwatches typically use such sensors to influence their operation. Utilizing such sensors, the present invention enables wearable electronic device 1 to control the radiation beam 11 according to the surrounding environment.

[0062] like Figure 2 As shown, the drive circuit 20 is configured to receive an indication 16 from the sensor circuit 30 and / or the antenna 40. Based on this indication, the drive circuit 20 adjusts the irradiance or duty cycle of the radiation beam 11 on the user's wrist, for example, by adjusting the drive current 15, such as adjusting the amplitude, pulse width, and / or frequency of the drive current 15. The indication 16 can indicate the environment in which the wearable electronic device is located, including the received irradiance level from sources other than the first radiation source 10. That is, it indicates whether the user expects to receive sufficient PBM radiation from the second radiation source, or at least a portion of the desired amount of PBM radiation from the second radiation source.

[0063] Figure 3 An embodiment is illustrated in which the wearable electronic device 1 is configured to sense whether the user's environment is outdoor or indoor. The detection of the outdoor environment can be based on a variety of factors, such as sensed location, temperature, lighting conditions, user activity based on sensed motion, sensed user respiratory rate or heart rate and / or user input, GPS signal strength, Wi-Fi signal strength, etc., or a combination of one or more of these factors.

[0064] In this embodiment, the wearable electronic device 1 is configured to reduce the irradiance of the radiation beam 11 when the user is wearing it in an outdoor environment (where the user is expected to receive sunlight as a natural PBM source). For example, the first radiation source 10 can be turned off when an outdoor environment is detected. By reducing the irradiance of the radiation beam 11 when it is not needed, battery power can be saved for use when required (such as when the user enters a building or when the weather deteriorates, as described below).

[0065] Figure 4 An embodiment is shown in which the drive circuit 12 is configured to adjust the irradiance of the radiation beam 11 based on the detection of environmental and weather conditions. Weather conditions can be sensed by one or more sensors, or based on weather forecasts obtained from the Internet via GPS or wireless communication devices, user input, or a combination of the above methods.

[0066] In sunny, clear weather, the primary radiation source can be switched off. Conversely, in situations like... Figure 4 In the case of a cloudy (or rainy) day with weak sunlight, the first radiation source 11 can be turned on, but the radiation intensity will be reduced, the duration shortened, the pulse mode adjusted, or the duty cycle reduced to compensate for the reduced sunlight. When the user is inside a building, the radiation source 10 can generate the radiation beam 11 at normal radiation intensity. In other words, based on indication 16, the drive circuit 12 can be operated to control the radiation intensity, pulse mode, or on / off time of the radiation beam 11, thereby using only sufficient power to continuously provide the user with the desired PBM effect.

[0067] System of multiple PBM devices working in coordination

[0068] Figure 5 An embodiment of a wearable electronic device 1 according to the present invention is shown, configured to determine the presence of a second device 2 capable of emitting a second radiation beam 21. As shown, the second device 2 may be a smartphone.

[0069] Most smartwatch users also typically own smartphones, and most smartwatches are capable of communicating with smartphones, which are themselves suitable devices for providing photobiological modulation (PBM) effects, such as via the second radiation beam 21. Many users typically spend extended periods of time on the screen of such devices and maintain a relatively short and stable distance from the screen (e.g., 30 cm). Furthermore, many smartphones are equipped with facial detection / recognition capabilities, enabling them to emit the second radiation beam 21 when a user is detected.

[0070] Figure 5The illustrated embodiment is based on the insight that combining the 'intelligence' of a smartphone with a wearable electronic device 1, such as a smartwatch, can result in a very efficient system. In this embodiment, the indication 16 is a signal received via an antenna 40 of the wearable electronic device 1 that indicates whether the second device 2 is currently radiating a second radiation beam 21 or not. This can be achieved using the face detection / recognition functionality of the smartphone. For example, when the smartphone detects that the user's face is within an effective range (e.g. a range of 20-50 cm, such as 30 cm), the smartphone can start emitting the second radiation beam 21 and send a deactivation signal to the wearable device 1. Upon receiving the deactivation signal by the antenna 40 of the wearable electronic device 1, the wearable electronic device 1 can turn off the radiation source 10. Conversely, when the smartphone detects that the user's face is not within the effective range, the smartphone can stop emitting the second radiation beam 21 and send an activation signal to the wearable device 1. Upon receiving the activation signal by the antenna 40 of the wearable electronic device 1, the wearable electronic device 1 can activate the radiation source 10. In this way, neither the wearable electronic device 1 nor the smartphone 2 waste energy on unnecessary PBM radiation, while the user can continuously benefit from the PBM effect.

[0071] The second device 2 can also be any device that can be equipped with a suitable red or (near) infrared radiation source, such as a laptop, a tablet, a general lighting device as described in WO2020 / 119965 and WO2021 / 099642, etc. In these embodiments, the operating state of the second device 2 can be similarly indicated to the wearable electronic device 1 based on communication between these devices, or can be indicated by way of another control device, such as a smartphone.

[0072] The second device 2 can comprise its own radiation source (not shown), which can comprise a plurality of LEDs and / or one or more EELDs or VCSELs (including VCSEL arrays) to emit the second radiation beam 21. Similar to the (first) radiation beam 11, the second radiation beam 21 can have a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm. In one embodiment, the peak emission wavelength of the second radiation beam 21 is in the (near) infrared ((N)IR) region, such as 700-1400 nm. In one embodiment, the range can be 760-1400 nm or 800-1100 nm. Another option is 800-870 nm. The peak emission wavelength can also be in the red light spectral range, such as 610-700 nm. Preferably, almost all of the radiation of the second radiation beam 21 is in the peak emission wavelength range, e.g. 90%, 95% or 99% of the radiation falls within this range. Irradiating a predetermined area (e.g. the user's face) with radiation in these spectral ranges can induce a beneficial PBM response. Some embodiments can make use of devices that emit radiation in different wavelength ranges simultaneously.

[0073] Dose control

[0074] Figure 6 Embodiments are shown in which the wearable electronic device 1 further comprises a dose control unit 50 to control the dose of PBM radiation received by the user.

[0075] The dose control unit 50 can comprise a timer and / or logic circuitry for calculating the cumulative dose and / or the dose rate. The dose control unit 50 can be implemented as a hardware logic circuitry or a combination of hardware and software or firmware, and can be combined with other circuitry performing other functions of the wearable electronic device 1.

[0076] Dose is typically expressed in units of energy per square centimeter, i.e. J / cm2, or in total dose values expressed in kilojoules (kJ). It is generally accepted that once the cumulative dose exceeds a certain optimal level, the overall effect of PBM starts to decrease and continued accumulation of dose can even be harmful to the body. Currently, there is still some debate as to what the optimal dose level should be. This discussion is hampered by a number of factors, such as often not well-defined irradiation area, variations in wavelength and other light properties, and the various outcome parameters monitored. Nonetheless, the inventors have established that a cumulative dose of a few to tens of J / cm2(e.g. 5-50 J / cm2) can have a positive effect (see M.C. Gimenez et al., “Effects of near-infrared light on health and well-being in patients with mild sleep-related disorders: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study”, Biomedicines 2023, 12(1), 60).

[0077] When calculating the cumulative dose, the dose control unit 50 preferably takes into account the photo-bio-modulation (PBM) radiation received by the user from the radiation source 10 of the wearable device 1, as well as any PBM radiation received from one or more other sources, such as the sun and / or a second device 2 emitting PBM radiation. The cumulative dose from the radiation source 10 can be calculated based on the area of the user’s skin exposed to the PBM radiation of the radiation source 10, the exposure time (i.e. the period of time during which the user wears the wearable device and the radiation source 10 emits PBM radiation), and the duty cycle and irradiance (mW / cm2) of the LEDs of the radiation source 10. In a simple embodiment, the cumulative dose from the radiation source 10 can be calculated based on the period of time during which the user wears the wearable device and the radiation source 10 is on.

[0078] The cumulative dose can be calculated based on estimates or measurements of the received dose from other PBM radiation sources. For example, the estimated received dose can be based on indications 31 and / or 41 from sensor circuitry 30 and / or antenna 40 (as described above) regarding the detected environment, and the duration of exposure to that environment (e.g., determined by timing circuitry in dose control unit 50). In a simplified embodiment, the cumulative dose can be calculated based on the time period during which the user wears wearable device 1 in an external environment. For example, the measured received dose can be based on indications 31 from sensor circuitry 30 (e.g., from an infrared or near-infrared radiation sensor measuring the received PBM radiation irradiance), and the time period of radiation exposure (e.g., determined by timing circuitry in dose control unit 50).

[0079] The dose control unit 50 can provide an indication 51 for controlling the radiation source 10. The indication 51 can be a signal indicating when a predetermined dose has been reached, or a signal with a variable value, such as an indication of the current cumulative dose, the dose accumulation rate, a control signal for controlling the intensity of radiation emitted by the radiation source 10, or other dose-related indication or control signals. The drive circuit 20 can be configured to receive the indication 51 and, in response to the signal, stop supplying the drive current 15 to the radiation source 10, or change the drive current 15 to change the intensity of the radiation beam 11. For example, when a user wears the wearable device 1 in an outdoor environment, the indication 51 can control the drive circuit 20 to reduce the drive current 15; when the dose control unit 50 calculates that a predetermined cumulative dose has been reached, the indication 51 can control the drive circuit 20 to stop the drive current 15.

[0080] In this way, the contribution of any PBM radiation from sources other than wearable device 1 can be taken into account to control the radiation source 10 of the wearable device. This allows wearable device 1 to reduce the radiation output of radiation source 1 when not needed, thereby saving power.

[0081] Wearable device 1 can adjust its radiation dose based on the user's physical condition. For example, if wearable device 1 senses that the user's physical condition is poor (e.g., based on resting heart rate, VO2 max, respiratory characteristics, or other indicators), it can increase the radiation dose to help the user recover. Wearable device 1 can also adjust the radiation dose based on other characteristics of the user (e.g., age, sex, pregnancy, nutritional status, hormonal cycle, menstrual cycle, or genetics). In addition, wearable photobiomodulation (PBM) devices can communicate with other devices (e.g., smartphones or laptops) to instruct these devices to adjust their own PBM radiation dose to (temporarily) increase the daily radiation dose.

[0082] In another embodiment, the wearable device 1 is configured (e.g., programmed) such that the optimal PBM dose is delivered at a certain time of day, before or after. This can be advantageous to enhance the user's circadian rhythm, or to avoid disturbing the circadian rhythm, or to adjust the circadian rhythm. When the device senses a time zone change, or based on user input, the optimal time to provide PBM can be adjusted. In addition, the device can also change the optimal time to provide PBM before a time zone change occurs, to help the user adapt to the new time zone in advance.

[0083] The optimal time to provide PBM can also be adjusted according to the user's lifestyle, for example, depending on shift work and its associated (social) jetlag, and / or the user wishes to work at night without sleep. In addition, the optimal time to provide the dose can also be adjusted according to the user's personal physiological conditions, such as age, gender, pregnancy, nutritional status, hormonal cycle, menstrual cycle, or genes.

[0084] In another embodiment, the PBM device can communicate with fitness applications and / or fitness devices, or respond to user input, to help the user achieve optimal athletic performance. For example, the time to provide the dose can be adjusted according to the user's exercise plan. For example, depending on the type of exercise (aerobic or anaerobic, training or competition day, etc.), the dose can be provided before exercise for preparation, or during exercise to enhance performance, or after exercise to help recovery.

[0085] In the context of using a wearable electronic device 1 to induce PBM effects, since the surface area affected by the radiation beam is very limited, the inventors realized that the cumulative dose of the entire irradiated area can be the actual determining factor. This cumulative dose can be only a few kJ. To achieve this goal, a higher dose (per square centimeter) than the typical configuration is required, i.e., 50-140 kJ / cm 2 or higher. Table 1 shows several embodiments in which the cumulative total dose of the user's wrist irradiated area is about 4 kJ in an 8-hour exposure time:

[0086]

[0087] Table 1

[0088] For example, the irradiated area of a large watch and wristband is 60 cm 2 , 3 cm 2 per LED, a total of 20 LEDs, with a total radiation power of 60 mW, an average irradiance of 1 mW / cm 2 . If the LED works continuously (duty cycle 100%) for 8 hours, the average dose is 28.8 J / cm 2, for a total energy of 1.73 kJ. This is equivalent to approximately 43% of the total energy delivered for a dose of 6.5 J / cm2on a typical human face, neck, and hand, which has been demonstrated by the inventors to produce positive benefits to the human body. The total power supplied to the LEDs in this example is approximately 0.6 W, and the total energy consumption over 8 hours is approximately 4.8 Wh. In order to power the LEDs at this level, the battery capacity in the watch must be greater than this value (e.g., a total capacity of approximately 5 to 7 Wh) to also operate the watch functions.

[0089] The above example highlights the importance of LED efficiency, and increasing LED efficiency helps to reduce power consumption and extend battery life. In another example, a single high-power, high-efficiency infrared LED is placed on the back surface of an electronic watch, facing directly toward the user's skin. This can be accomplished by integrating the LED onto a PCB board facing the back surface of the watch, although other means of mounting can also be employed. A suitable LED for this application is the SFH4170S product of the OSLON® P1616 series by OSRAM. This LED is small in size (1.6 x 1.6 mm2) and outputs approximately 70 mW of radiant power at 850 nm wavelength when driven at 70 mA current (forward voltage of 2.7 V). Assuming an optical system (lens and / or diffuser) is mounted over the LED such that the emitted radiation covers an area of 5 x 5 mm2on the skin, the average irradiance of this single LED is approximately 280 mW / cm2, which is below the maximum exposure limit for human skin to radiation at 850 nm wavelength (approximately 400 mW / cm2)(see M. H. Smith et al., "Safe Transport of Optical Power from Space," Optics Express, Vol. 8, No. 10, p. 537, May 7, 2001). If the LED is operated continuously (duty cycle of 100%) for 8 hours, a dose of 8.1 kJ / cm2is achieved, for a total energy output of 2 kJ. This is equivalent to approximately 50% of the total energy delivered for a dose of 6.5 J / cm2on a typical human face, neck, and hand. The total power of the LED light is approximately 0.19 W, and the total energy consumption over 8 hours is approximately 1.5 Wh. In order to power the LED light at this level, the total capacity of the watch battery must be greater than this value (approximately 2.5 to 3.5 Wh) to also operate the watch functions.

[0090] Of course, especially in cases where the wearable electronic device 1 provides the PBM radiation dose in conjunction with one or more other sources of radiation, such as other devices or the sun, the total energy output required from the radiation source 10 is lower, thereby saving energy and extending the battery life of the wearable electronic device 1. For example, in the second example above, the total output energy can be reduced to 20% of the total energy provided to administer a 6.5 J / cm2dose on a typical human face, neck, and hand. This can be achieved by reducing the LED current, for example, to 22.5 mA, thereby allowing the use of smaller, lower cost LED chips. In this case, the total energy consumed over 8 hours is approximately 0.5 wh, which is within the range of battery capacities of many electronic watches currently available on the market. Of course, over time, battery capacities will improve and allow for more options, such as integrating infrared LEDs or laser diodes into wearable PBM applications, as contemplated by the present invention.

[0091] As mentioned above, the wearable electronic device 1 can take into account the PBM effect provided by a second source of radiation (the sun, a smartphone, etc.). The dose control unit 50 can be configured to control the radiation source 10 so that the wearable electronic device 1 and the second source of radiation collectively provide the dose. For example, the dose control unit 50 can be configured to turn off or reduce the irradiance of the radiation beam 11 according to instructions when a set time has elapsed or a set dose has been accumulated. In this way, the dose provided by the second source of radiation can be taken into account and at the same time the dose received by the user from the wearable electronic device and the second source of radiation can be optimized.

[0092] Certain embodiments described above relate to logical operations or calculations. These can be implemented in software (e.g., code stored in machine-readable medium or transmitted signals), hardware, or a combination of both. In software embodiments, one or more processors can be used. Hardware embodiments can involve the use of special purpose circuitry or logic configured to perform certain operations. For example, a hardware module can be a programmable logic device such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). It will be appreciated that a choice can be made to implement using software, hardware, or a combination of both, depending on cost and time considerations.

[0093] The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Alternative and equivalent embodiments of the present invention can be conceived and implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A wearable electronic device (1), comprising: A first radiation source (10) is configured to emit a radiation beam (11) onto the skin surface of a user wearing the wearable electronic device (1), the radiation beam having a peak emission wavelength between 610 and 1400 nm; The driving circuit (20) is configured to provide a driving current (15) to the radiation source (10) to control the irradiation intensity of the radiation beam on the surface; as well as Antenna (40) and / or sensor circuit (30) having one or more sensors; The driving circuit (20) is configured to receive one or more inputs from the sensor circuit (30) or the antenna (40), and is configured to control the first radiation source (10) based on the one or more inputs.

2. The wearable electronic device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The driving circuit (20) is configured to receive an indication (16) of the presence of a second radiation source from the sensor circuit (30) or the antenna (40), and The driving circuit (20) is configured to reduce the radiation intensity based on the instruction (16).

3. The wearable electronic device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The driving circuit (20) is configured to switch between a first operating mode and a second operating mode, wherein, in the first operating mode, the peak irradiance of the radiation beam on the surface is higher than 0.1 mW / cm². 2 In the second operating mode, the peak irradiance of the radiation beam on the surface is less than 0.01 mW / cm². 2 The driving circuit is configured to switch from the first operating mode to the second operating mode based on the one or more inputs.

4. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more inputs indicate whether the wearable electronic device (1) is worn in an outdoor or indoor environment, wherein the outdoor environment is preferably indicated based on one or more of the following: sensed location, sensed temperature, sensed light conditions, sensed user breathing rate, sensed heart rate, sensed user movement, received GPS signal strength, received Wi-Fi signal strength, and user input.

5. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The one or more inputs indicate the weather conditions when the wearable electronic device (1) is worn.

6. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The radiation beam is a first radiation beam, and the one or more inputs are based on signals sent from the second radiation device (2) or control device to the wearable electronic device (1) to indicate whether the user is receiving a second radiation beam (21) from the second radiation device (2), and wherein the driving circuit is configured to adjust the irradiance of the first radiation beam according to the irradiance of the second radiation beam (21).

7. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims further includes a dose control unit (50), wherein, The drive circuit (20) is configured to adjust the irradiation intensity of the radiation beam (11) based on an input (51) received from the dose control unit (50) such that, when the irradiation intensity is not reduced according to the one or more inputs, the dose provided by the radiation beam (11) is at least 140 J / cm² within 4-8 hours.

8. The wearable electronic device (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The dose control unit (50) is configured to receive input from at least one of the sensor circuit (30) and the antenna (40) to control the drive circuit (20) based on the combined dose of the wearable electronic device (1) and the second radiation source.

9. The wearable electronic device (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein, The dose control unit (50) is configured to reduce the irradiation intensity of the radiation beam (11) according to one or more inputs when a specified time has elapsed or a specified dose has accumulated.

10. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The driving circuit (20) is configured to switch between a first operating mode, a second operating mode and a third operating mode based on one or more inputs, wherein the radiation beam (11) has a first target dose in the first operating mode, a second target dose in the second operating mode and a third target dose in the third operating mode, wherein the first target dose is lower than the second target dose and the second target dose is lower than the third irradiation intensity level.

11. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The wearable electronic device (1) is a watch, which is configured to emit the radiation beam (11) toward a portion of the user's wrist when the user wears the watch.

12. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The surface area of ​​the user's skin receiving the radiation beam (11) is 10 cm². 2 Up to 60cm 2 .

13. The wearable electronic device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The wearable electronic device (1) is configured to adjust the irradiation intensity of the radiation beam (11) and / or the exposure time of the radiation beam (11) according to one or more physiological conditions of the user, such as heart rate, maximum oxygen uptake and / or respiratory characteristics.

14. A system capable of providing photobiological modulation (PBM) effects, comprising: Wearable electronic device (1) according to any of the preceding claims; as well as The second radiation device (2) is configured to operate in both a first state and a second state. In the first state, the second radiation device (2) emits a second radiation beam (21) with a peak emission wavelength between 610-1400 nm, and in the second state, the second radiation device (2) does not emit the second radiation beam (21). The indication is used to indicate whether the second radiation device (2) is operating in the first state or in the second state.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein, The second radiation device (2) is configured to detect a predetermined area of ​​the user's body. Wherein, when the predetermined area is detected within a set distance, the second radiation device (2) is configured to operate in the first state and send a deactivation signal to the wearable electronic device (1) as an indication of the presence of the second radiation source; and When the predetermined area is not detected within the set distance, the second radiation device (2) is configured to operate in the second state and send an activation signal to the wearable electronic device (1) as an indication that the second radiation source does not exist.

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