High-performance irradiation device

Abstract

Irradiation device (1) for irradiating a user with actinic radiation, comprising a housing (11) comprising several housing surfaces (11a, 11b, 11c, ...), comprising: - a housing surface (11a) with a plurality of receptacles (12) for receiving and operating a plurality of interchangeable light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength; - a plurality of light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) each captured in a single image (12), capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength and activated for irradiating a user; and - further housing surfaces (11b, 11c, ...) forming the housing (11), including one or more openings (14) for holding (15) the housing (11) in a fixed radiation position towards a user, for connections (16) for supplying the light sources (13a, 13b, 13c ...) with electrical current, for connections (17) for controlling the operation of the light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) and for devices (18) for cooling the light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ...); wherein - individual or all light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) can be individually and / or in groups controlled with regard to their power output to the user.

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-performance irradiation device for phototherapy. In particular, the present invention relates to an irradiation device for phototherapy with which the body of a patient, i.e., a person or user requiring phototherapy, can be selectively irradiated either as a whole or (only) in parts, i.e., (only) with regard to individual body parts. For such irradiation, the irradiation spectrum or the irradiation wavelength, or even a narrow irradiation wavelength range, can be specified by inserting suitable irradiation lamps / light sources into the irradiation device of an exposure unit according to the invention.In parallel or alternatively, the irradiation power of the irradiation lamps / light sources, which are to be applied to the body of a person / patient / user to be irradiated by means of the high-performance irradiation device according to the invention, can be controlled, and / or the irradiation power of the irradiation lamps / light sources, which are to be applied to parts of the body of a person / patient / user to be irradiated by means of the high-performance irradiation device according to the invention, can be controlled.

[0002] The irradiation of the human body with actinic radiation across a broad wavelength range, as part of so-called phototherapy, to achieve a therapeutic effect, has a history dating back to the mid-20th century. In clinics and sanatoriums, but also in private homes, people, and especially children and the sick, were exposed to so-called "high-altitude sunlamps." These emitted ultraviolet and infrared radiation and thus exerted bactericidal (for example, combating acne symptoms) or vitaminogenic effects (for example, synthesizing vitamin D2 (cholecalciferol) and vitamin D3 (ergocalciferol) from their precursors 7-dehydrocholesterol and ergosterol, respectively, and promoting bone calcification).

[0003] The direct effect of actinic radiation of specific wavelength(s) on biochemical and physiological processes in or on the body, for example on the skin, of a person / patient undergoing phototherapy, as described above, was later complemented by the so-called "photodynamic therapy": In "photodynamic therapy," light of specific wavelengths (ranges) or even a narrowband spectrum or a single wavelength is directed onto the body of a person / patient undergoing phototherapy and encounters photosensitizable agents that are—in some cases even initially as precursors / prodrugs—accumulated in diseased tissue. Precursors and prodrugs are then converted into the respective photosensitizer.The radiation excites the cell to a specific state, and after a substance-specific lifetime of this excited state, it returns to its ground state, releasing therapeutically usable energy of a specific wavelength / energy. For example, actinic radiation in the visible green wavelength range (wavelengths of 540 to 550 nm) can be used to effectively treat psoriatic arthritis and other arthritic conditions with protoporphyrin IX as a photosensitizer; see EP-B 1 583 525.

[0004] A problem with such treatments, for example, in the context of state-of-the-art phototherapy, was providing a device that could be used both clinically and at home, was easy to set up, intuitive to operate, and capable of delivering suitable radiation of the desired wavelength for phototherapy. Previously known devices were not only very large (and therefore often not ideally suited even for use in clinics and sanatoriums), but were also sometimes difficult to operate, not sufficiently safe for use with radiation, and not sufficiently safe against overdoses of radiation that could be harmful to a person's / patient's body. Furthermore, they were not variable with regard to desired wavelengths or the irradiation power of the lamps / light sources required for treating skin lesions.

[0005] A whole-body irradiation unit disclosed in the prior art EP 2 792 387 A1 describes an irradiation device comprising, in principle, a vertically or horizontally arranged cuboid housing with at least one, and in particular embodiments several, light source(s) emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength. The described irradiation device can constitute a whole-body irradiation unit on its own or be combined to form a whole-body irradiation system comprising several irradiation units. However, the one or more actinic radiation-emitting light source(s) do not provide sufficient irradiation power from the irradiation lamp(s) / light source(s) for a practical distance between the light source(s) of the irradiation unit or irradiation system and a person / patient being treated.

[0006] The object of the present invention was to provide an irradiation device suitable for both whole-body and partial-body irradiation of a user / patient / person. A further object of the invention was to provide an irradiation device in which a plurality of suitable irradiation lamps or light sources can be used for the respective irradiation "task," i.e., irradiation lamps or light sources that are capable of emitting actinic radiation of the wavelength or wavelength band desired for a treatment, preferably the UV wavelength or UV wavelength band desired for a treatment.

[0007] A further object of the invention was to provide an irradiation device suitable for whole-body or partial-body irradiation of a user / patient / person, whose irradiation lamps or light sources offer high power output at a practical distance between the light sources and the patient / person being treated. A further object of the present invention was to provide an irradiation device suitable for whole-body or partial-body irradiation of a user / patient / person that is easy and safe to operate, i.e., can be switched on, programmed with respect to the irradiation time, preset for the irradiation intensity applied to the skin of the user / patient / person during a specific irradiation time, and also switched off manually if necessary.

[0008] Another objective of the invention was to provide an irradiation device that can also be used in the home environment, i.e., one that is adapted to use in a private environment with regard to the simplicity and safety of operation as well as the assembly, disassembly, transport and temporary storage of the irradiation device.

[0009] Surprisingly, it was found within the scope of the present invention that the aforementioned and further problems, which are readily apparent to a person skilled in the art and / or arise from their general knowledge, can be solved by the high-performance irradiation device according to the invention, which is primarily (but not exclusively) suitable for whole-body irradiation, for irradiating the entire body of a user / patient / person to be treated or for irradiating specific parts or sections of the body of a user / patient / person to be treated with actinic radiation as claimed in claim 1.

[0010] According to the invention, the irradiation device 1 comprises a housing 11, which includes several housing surfaces 11a, 11b, 11c, ...., wherein - one 11a of the several housing surfaces 11a, 11b, 11c, ..., which for the purposes of this description shall be referred to as "the housing surface 11a facing the user", without limiting the invention in any way, is provided with a plurality of receptacles 12 for receiving and operating one of a plurality of interchangeable light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ... capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength; wherein - the housing surface 11a facing the user comprises a plurality of light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d ... (etc.) each contained in a recess 12 in the housing surface 11a facing the user, and each light source capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength; and wherein the housing 11 further comprises: - further housing surfaces 11b, 11c, ... forming the housing, which include: one or more openings 14 for holding 15 the housing 11 in a fixed radiation position towards a user, for connections 16 for supplying the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c ..., with electrical current, for connections 17 for controlling the operation of the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ..., and for devices 18 for cooling the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ....

[0011] According to the invention, individual or all light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ..., of the irradiation device 1 are designed, installed and arranged within the irradiation device 1 according to the invention in such a way that they can be individually and / or in interconnected groups controlled with regard to their power output to the user.

[0012] The invention also relates to a whole-body exposure unit 300 or a partial-body exposure unit 400, which comprises at least one of the irradiation devices 1 described and claimed above and below according to the invention. Such a whole-body or partial-body exposure unit 300, 400 further comprises, according to the invention, one or more devices 2 for optimizing the alignment of the radiation direction of the at least one irradiation device 1 towards the skin of the user to be irradiated, and one or more devices 3 for optimizing the irradiation distance of the majority of the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ... of the irradiation device 1 from the skin of the user / patient / person to be irradiated. Furthermore, such a whole-body or partial-body exposure unit 300, 400 comprises...Partial body exposure unit 300, 400 also one or more optical devices 4, which is / are capable of optical identification and recognition of efflorescences in preparation for or accompanying irradiation and of supporting diagnosis of efflorescences on the skin of the patient / person / user to be irradiated for the modification and monitoring of a power output or therapeutic dose of the radiation from light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d on the skin of a patient / person / user to be irradiated.

[0013] Further features of the irradiation device 1 and the whole-body exposure unit 300 or partial-body exposure unit 400 according to the invention, which can be combined individually or in groups with the features of the invention specified above and described in detail below, without limiting the invention to such combinations, can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the dependent claims in combination with the following description, without this limiting the invention. The examples given below should also not be understood as limiting the invention. They merely serve to illustrate the invention and all its features or all described combinations of features and to facilitate their better understanding.

[0014] Individual features of the invention, and where applicable, its preferred embodiments, are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying figures. The features shown in the accompanying figures do not constitute a limitation of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting the invention, either alone or in conjunction with the description. The figures merely serve to improve understanding of the invention and its preferred embodiments.

[0015] The figures show: - Fig. 1 an irradiation device 1 according to the invention, comprising an exemplary vertical arrangement of a (not equipped with a light source 13, i.e., virtually “unoccupied”) receptacle 12 provided on the housing surface 11a facing the user, which is provided for receiving a light source 13, together with four light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, each individually inserted in a receptacle 12 and prepared for irradiation; - Fig. 2a a further irradiation device 1 according to the invention, comprising an exemplary horizontal arrangement of a (not equipped with a light source 13, i.e., virtually “unoccupied”) receptacle 12 provided on the housing surface 11a facing the user, which is provided for receiving a light source 13, together with four light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, each individually inserted in a receptacle 12 and prepared for irradiation; - Fig. 2b the in Fig. 2a shown irradiation device 1 according to the invention, in which (after an imaginary rotation by 180° about an axis 20 running on the plane of the paper through the center of the surface 11c) the housing surface 11c opposite the housing surface 11a (“back”) is facing the user or viewer; - Fig. 3 a further irradiation device 1 according to the invention, comprising an exemplary arrangement on the housing surface 11a of a housing 11 facing the user, of a (not equipped with a light source 13, i.e., virtually “unoccupied”) receptacle 12, which is provided for receiving a light source 13, together with nine light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 13e, 13f, 13g, 13h and 13i, each individually inserted in a receptacle 12 and prepared for irradiation; - Fig. 4 a further irradiation device 1 according to the invention, comprising an exemplary arrangement of eighteen light sources 13a to 13r, each individually inserted in a receptacle 12, arranged in vertical columns and horizontal rows and prepared for irradiation, on the housing surface 11a facing the user of a housing 11; and - Fig. 5 a a (for example in the Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b shown) Irradiation device 1 comprising a housing 11, whole-body or partial-body irradiation unit 300 or 400, respectively, with an (exemplary, stylized) stand 2 for optimizing the irradiation direction of an irradiation device 1 according to the invention onto a viewer, and an (exemplary, stylized) device 3 for optimizing the irradiation distance of the majority of the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d from a viewer; and with an (exemplary, stylized) optical device 4, which is capable of preparatory or accompanying detection and / or identification of efflorescences on the skin of the user / patient to be irradiated for modifying and monitoring a power output or therapeutic dose of the radiation from light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d onto the skin of a patient / user to be irradiated.

[0016] The invention will now be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. However, the accompanying figures and the detailed description serve only as an exemplary illustration of the invention and are intended to facilitate its better understanding. Under no circumstances do the figures and / or the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention serve to limit the invention to the described, possibly specific, embodiments.

[0017] Furthermore, particular embodiments of the invention may involve combinations of individual features of the invention, combinations of several features of the invention, or a combination of all features of the invention. The features described in detail can be combined individually, in multiples, or all together to achieve particular advantages of the invention.

[0018] The invention relates to an irradiation device 1 according to the invention, the purpose of which is to selectively irradiate a user of the irradiation device 1 - also referred to in the context of this description as: "... a patient ..." or "... a person ..." - with actinic radiation, who desires irradiation with actinic radiation or who requires irradiation with actinic radiation or who has been prescribed irradiation with actinic radiation, for example (but not limited to) for medical reasons by a doctor.

[0019] The term "actinic radiation," as used in the present description and in the claims, and optionally also simply and briefly referred to as "radiation" or "light radiation," is understood, for the purposes of the present invention, to mean basically any light radiation of natural or artificial origin with which photochemical or, more specifically, photobiological or photomedical effects can be achieved. In more specific embodiments, which, however, do not limit the invention, "actinic radiation" is understood to mean light radiation that can achieve photochemical and / or photobiological and / or photomedical effects.Such actinic radiation can be radiation from the UV, visible, and / or IR ranges, such as that which leads to one or more beneficial photochemical, photobiological, and / or photomedical effects on the mammalian body, specifically the body of a person / patient / user being irradiated. The actinic radiation emitted by the irradiation device according to the invention is, in principle, not limited to any specific wavelengths or ranges ("bands") of wavelengths.

[0020] The actinic radiation emitted by the irradiation device 1 according to the invention onto a user can be radiation of a single wavelength, or it can be radiation of a more or less broad band of wavelengths, or it can also comprise bands of wavelengths extending over a more or less large range of wavelengths, which may originate from one or more of the aforementioned ranges: UV light radiation, visible light radiation, and IR light radiation. The wavelengths of actinic radiation emitted onto a user in preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below.

[0021] The irradiation device 1 according to the invention comprises, as one of the components according to claim 1, a housing 11 comprising several housing surfaces 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, etc. For the purposes of this description, the housing surface of the housing 11 that is directed towards the patient / person / user to be irradiated during irradiation sessions is referred to as "the housing surface facing the user"; it is designated in the figures by the reference numeral "11a". In the context of this description, the housing surface opposite the user-facing housing surface 11a is referred to as the "rear" and is designated by reference numeral 11c in the figures. Further housing surfaces 11b, 11d, etc., together with housing surface 11a and housing surface 11c, form the housing 11. The shape of the housing is not limited to a single (e.g., cuboid) housing shape. By way of example, but not limiting the invention, the figures (e.g., 11a, 11c ...B. in the . Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 5) An irradiation device 1 with a cubic or cuboid basic shape is shown. According to the invention, irradiation devices 1 with other housing shapes – for example, curved housings or housings with irregular shapes – are also familiar to those skilled in the art and can solve the problems of the present invention.

[0022] As described in detail below, the housing surface 11a of the housing 11, which faces the user or patient to be irradiated during practical use of the irradiation device 1 according to the invention, comprises a plurality of recesses 12 and – if provided – a plurality of light sources 13, each of which is one light source 13 housed in a recess 12 and capable of emitting actinic radiation onto the patient / user. Several further housing surfaces 11b, 11c, 11d ... (etc., depending on the total number of housing surfaces 11, apart from the housing surface 11a facing the user or patient to be irradiated) together with the housing surface 11a form the entire housing 11 of the irradiation device 1 according to the invention.

[0023] Of these further housing surfaces 11b, 11c, 11d, ..., the housing surface 11c includes, according to the invention: one or more openings 14 for: holding 15 the housing 11 in a fixed radiation position towards a user; for connections 16 for supplying the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c ... with electric current; for connections 17 for controlling the operation of the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ..., for example, for controlling the level of power output or therapeutic dose of the radiation to be applied by the light sources 13 to the user or to the person being irradiated, and for devices 18 for cooling the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, .... as required at high power output. The devices 18 for cooling the light sources 13 can be any cooling devices known to those skilled in the art for this purpose and are preferably air-based cooling devices.

[0024] The housing surfaces or walls 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11f .... (etc.) of the housing 11 of the irradiation device 1 according to the invention, as shown by way of example - and without limiting the invention - in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b and Fig. The housings shown in Figure 5 can be made of any material known to those skilled in the art for the purpose of constructing such a radiator housing and which appears suitable to them. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the housing 11 comprises housing surfaces or walls 11a, 11b, 11c, etc., made of a material selected from lightweight materials and combinations of materials that provide stability and sturdiness for a robust housing 11. These materials are selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, and light metal(s), and may more preferably be plastic(s) and light metal(s). In principle, it is possible to manufacture different walls from different materials. However, for the sake of simple and efficient manufacturing of the housing 11 of the irradiation device 1 according to the invention, it is preferred to manufacture the housing surfaces of the housing 11 from one material or a combination of materials.Particularly preferred as material(s) for the housing surfaces 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11f etc.... of the housing 11 of the irradiation device 1 are plastics and light metals and composites or combinations thereof, which a person skilled in the art can select as suitable in the field of healthcare based on their expertise, for example because they should be or even must be disinfected in their area of ​​use in cosmetics or medical treatment or healthcare.

[0025] According to the invention, the housing 11 of the irradiation device 1 comprises a housing surface 11a (“the housing surface facing the user”) with a plurality of receptacles 12 for receiving and operating a plurality of interchangeable light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ..., capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength. Each receptacle 12 of a housing surface 11a facing a user / patient / person, as exemplified in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows exactly one light source 13a, 13b, 13c, ... provided, without this being mandatory: According to the invention, it is also conceivable, for example (without limiting the invention), that one or more receptacles 12 are not equipped with a light source 13 during operation.

[0026] Accordingly, the irradiation device 1 of the invention further comprises a plurality of light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ...., each mounted in one of the receptacles 12, capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength and activated for irradiating a user. In preferred embodiments of the invention, which, however, do not limit the invention, in practical irradiation operation each of the plurality of receptacles 12, which are arranged on the housing surface 11a facing the user, is equipped with a light source 13a or 13b or 13c (....).

[0027] According to the invention, a further component of the irradiation device 1 according to the invention is a plurality of light sources or irradiation lamps 13a, 13b, 13c, .... Each of the provided light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, .... is capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength and is further activated for irradiating a user / patient with actinic radiation. According to the invention, neither the number of the plurality of light sources 13 included in an irradiation device 1 nor the wavelength or wavelength range of the radiation emitted by the plurality of light sources 13 onto a user is limited. With a view to achieving the desired high efficiency of irradiating a patient using the provided light sources 13 of an irradiation device 1 according to the invention, the number of light sources 13 included in an irradiation device 1 according to the invention is in any case a plurality of light sources 13.High efficiency, especially for medical or cosmetic treatments, is preferably achieved by having the majority of light sources 13 comprised of an irradiation device 1 according to the invention emit light of the same wavelength band or even light of the same wavelength. However, this is not to be considered as limiting the invention.

[0028] In preferred embodiments of the invention, which enable broad applicability and high efficiency of irradiation by the irradiation devices 1 and the whole-body and partial-body exposure units 300, 400 equipped with them, an irradiation device 1 according to the invention preferably comprises a plurality of ≥ 5, preferably a plurality of ≥ 10, light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, ... capable of emitting actinic radiation, as shown by way of example, but not by way of limitation, in the Fig. 3 and Fig. As shown in Figure 4. Advantageously, for example to achieve beneficial effects in the treatment of a large number of practically occurring skin lesions, an irradiation device 1 according to the invention comprises a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, ... capable of emitting actinic radiation of a wavelength range. Unexpectedly good results are achieved when using irradiation devices 1 with a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources 13 capable of emitting actinic radiation in the UV wavelength range, with irradiation devices 1 being particularly advantageous whose light sources 13 are capable of emitting light in the UV-B wavelength range.

[0029] Pathological changes or lesions of the human skin (“efflorescences”), the number of which has recently increased sharply and which include, for example, psoriasis (“psoriasis”), Bowen’s disease, and mycosis fungoides, can – according to recent research results – be successfully treated with irradiation devices 1 according to the present invention, which comprise a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, ...) capable of emitting actinic radiation in the wavelength range of 285 to 450 nm. Even more successful and therefore even more preferred are irradiation devices that include a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, ...) capable of emitting actinic radiation in the UV wavelength range of 285 to 350 nm.

[0030] In the context of cosmetic and medical applications on the skin of patients or users, it is highly advantageous if individual or all light sources of an irradiation device 1 are individually and / or in groups of two light sources 13 or in groups of more than two (i.e., a majority of) light sources 13a, 13b, 13c... can be controlled with regard to their therapeutic dose or power output to the user or the patient being treated. This requires higher power outputs from the light sources 13 to the user or the patient being treated compared to the prior art and is therefore particularly advantageous.However, this does not prevent a person skilled in the art from regulating one (or more) light sources 13 to a higher power output value (therapy dose) according to the invention, in such a way that their irradiation output / therapy dose is lower or even almost zero or even zero, for example in cases where one or more light sources 13 irradiate a part of the patient's / user's body that shows fewer or no efflorescences.

[0031] Particularly preferred according to the invention are irradiation devices 1 which have a plurality of light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, ... capable of emitting actinic radiation in the wavelength range advantageous for the respective treatment, with a regulated power output of ≥ 0.5 mW / cm for a single light source 13 and / or for one and / or more group(s) of light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ... 2 further preferred are irradiation devices 1 with regulated power output in the range of ≥ 0.8 to ≥ 1.0 mW / cm² for a single light source 13 and / or for one and / or more groups of light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ... 2 . The information regarding the regulated power output of the light source(s) 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ... refers to a distance between a user / patient to be irradiated and the radiation-emitting light source(s) (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) of approximately 50 cm.

[0032] The invention also relates to whole-body exposure units 300 and partial-body exposure units 400. These differ essentially in that the former are designed and configured to irradiate (more or less) the entire body of a user or patient, or at least substantial parts thereof, with actinic radiation. In contrast, the latter are designed and configured to irradiate individual body parts of a user or patient, or smaller areas or regions of the body, with actinic radiation. In specific cases, choosing one of the two exposure units may offer advantages over using the other.These can include energy savings (compared to increased energy expenditure), a better possibility of controlling the power output of the light emitters, a limitation of the area to be irradiated to individual areas compared to large-area irradiation, and other advantages that are familiar to the expert and are relevant to solving the problem.

[0033] Whole-body or partial-body exposure units 300, 400 according to the invention comprise at least one irradiation device 1, as described above in detail with its features and claimed in claims 1 to 5. Advantageously, whole-body or partial-body exposure units 300, 400 according to the invention comprise an irradiation device 1 according to the invention.

[0034] Inventive whole-body or partial-body exposure units 300, 400 are described below, for a better understanding of the invention also by way of exemplary and non-limiting reference to Fig. 5, described.

[0035] As a central component, a whole-body or partial-body exposure unit 300, 400 according to the invention comprises an irradiation device 1, as described above with its features in detail and claimed in claims 1 to 5. In principle, a whole-body or partial-body exposure unit 300, 400 according to the invention can also include an irradiation device and perform its function with it, which differs from the irradiation device 1 according to the invention. However, a whole-body or partial-body exposure unit 300, 400 comprising an irradiation device 1 according to the invention is preferred.

[0036] The whole-body or partial-body irradiation unit 300, 400, comprising an irradiation device 1 according to the invention, further comprises one or more devices 2 for optimizing the alignment of the irradiation direction of the at least one irradiation device 1 towards the skin of the user to be irradiated. Devices 2 for optimizing the alignment of the irradiation direction of the at least one irradiation device 1 towards the skin of the user to be irradiated are known to those skilled in the art as an essential element of such a whole-body or partial-body irradiation unit 300, 400. This is because optimizing the alignment of the irradiation direction of irradiation devices 1 can be crucial for the interaction between the light beam and the skin surface and thus for the treatment procedure to be influenced by radiation.The precise application of radiation is crucial to the healing process: Inaccurate irradiation can result in a lack of interaction or insufficient interaction between light and the affected skin area, and an excess of interaction between light and adjacent healthy skin. This is undesirable and hinders or even counteracts the treatment and healing process.

[0037] The whole-body or partial-body irradiation unit 300, 400, comprising an irradiation device 1 according to the invention, further includes one or more devices 3 for optimizing the irradiation distance of the majority of the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ... of the irradiation device 1 from the skin of the user being irradiated. This parameter is also important for the success of an irradiation treatment with the whole-body or partial-body irradiation unit 300, 400 according to the invention and requires optimization before the start of irradiation. According to the inverse square law, the power emitted by the irradiation lamps / light sources onto the skin of a patient / user varies with the square of the distance between the light source and the area / skin of the patient / user irradiated by the light source. Thus, small fluctuations in the distance result in comparatively large losses in the emitted power output or therapeutic dose.Such losses can be prevented with the devices 3 for optimizing the irradiation distance of the majority of the light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, ... of the irradiation device 1 to the skin of the patient / the person to be irradiated.

[0038] Furthermore, whole-body and partial-body exposure units 300, 400 according to the invention comprise one or more optical devices 4, which are capable of optically detecting and / or identifying efflorescences on the skin of the person / user / patient to be irradiated in preparation for or accompanying irradiation, for modifying and monitoring a power output or therapeutic dose of the radiation from light sources 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d onto the skin of a patient / person / user to be irradiated.This preferred feature of the whole-body and partial-body irradiation units 300, 400 according to the invention is based on the consideration that pathological changes in the skin of a user or patient, called "efflorescences," differ from healthy skin in form, color, manifestation on specific areas of the skin, and surface structure. This manifested difference allows the treating physician to select and mark the areas of skin to be treated with irradiation in contrast to the healthy skin of the patient / person being treated, and to determine the therapy dose or power output of the irradiation lamps or light sources 13 to be used. Optical devices 4 of the whole-body and partial-body irradiation units 300, 400 according to the invention allow optical documents (e.g., scans or photographs) to be created and documented in data collections (patient records).This allows monitoring in the event of a successful radiation treatment or, in the event of the need for further radiation treatment with the whole body and partial body exposure units 300, 400 according to the invention, enables recourse to existing treatment data.

[0039] The invention has been described in detail above with reference to the features according to the invention and the preferred features. The features according to the invention can be combined individually, in groups, or all together with the preferred features without limiting the invention. The indication of preferred embodiments of the invention, the provision of examples, and references to the figures are intended to serve better understanding and do not limit the invention. The scope of protection of the invention is defined in the following claims. List of reference symbols 1 Irradiation device 2. Device for optimizing the alignment of the irradiation direction 3. Device for optimizing the irradiation distance patient → lamp 4 Optical devices for the detection and identification of effluents 11 Housing of the irradiation device 1 11a Housing surface with mountings 12 and / or light sources 13a, 13b, ... 11b, 11c, 11d, ... further housing surfaces of the irradiation device 1 12 shots for recording light sources 13, 13a, 13b, 13c..... 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, ... Light sources 14 Passage(s) 15 devices for modulating the direction of radiation from light sources 16 devices for supplying electricity to the irradiation device 1 17 Devices for controlling the operation of a light source 18 devices for cooling a light source 20 Axis of rotation of Fig. 2a → Fig. 2b 300 whole-body irradiation units 400 partial body irradiation units QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP-B 1 583 525

[0003] EP 2 792 387 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Irradiation device (1) for irradiating a user with actinic radiation, comprising a housing (11) comprising several housing surfaces (11a, 11b, 11c, ...), comprising: - a housing surface (11a) with a plurality of receptacles (12) for receiving and operating a plurality of interchangeable light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength; - a plurality of light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) each captured in a single image (12), capable of emitting actinic radiation of at least one wavelength and activated for irradiating a user; and - further housing surfaces (11b, 11c, ...) forming the housing (11), including one or more openings (14) for holding (15) the housing (11) in a fixed radiation position towards a user, for connections (16) for supplying the light sources (13a, 13b, 13c ...) with electrical current, for connections (17) for controlling the operation of the light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) and for devices (18) for cooling the light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ...); wherein - individual or all light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) can be individually and / or in groups controlled with regard to their power output to the user. [2] Irradiation device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (11) comprises walls (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, ...) made of a material or a combination of materials selected from the group consisting of wood, plastic, light metal(s), preferably from the group consisting of plastic and light metal(s). [3] Irradiation device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a plurality of ≥ 5, preferably a plurality of ≥ 10, light sources capable of emitting actinic radiation (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, ...), preferably a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources capable of emitting actinic radiation of a wavelength range (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, ...), more preferably a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources capable of emitting actinic radiation of the UV wavelength range, most preferably of the UV-B wavelength range, (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, ...). [4] Irradiation device (1) according to one or more of claims 1, 2 and / or 3, comprising a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, ...) capable of emitting actinic radiation in the wavelength range of 285 to 450 nm, further preferably comprising a plurality of ≥ 10 light sources (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, ...) capable of emitting actinic radiation in the UV wavelength range of 285 to 350 nm. [5] Irradiation device (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, in particular according to one or more of claims 3 and 4, comprising a plurality of light sources (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e, ...) capable of emitting actinic radiation in the claimed wavelength range, with a regulated power output of ≥ 0.5 mW / cm for a single light source (13) and / or for one and / or more group(s) of light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ...). 2, preferably with regulated power output in the range of ≥ 0.8 to ≥ 1.0 mW / cm² for a single light source (13) and / or for one and / or more group(s) of light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ...). 2 , where the specifications of the regulated power output of the light source(s) (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) are based on a distance of approximately 50 cm between the user to be irradiated and the radiation-emitting light source(s) (12a, 12b, ...). [6] Whole-body exposure unit (300) or partial-body exposure unit (400), comprising at least one irradiation device (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, and further comprising - one or more devices (2) for optimizing the alignment of the irradiation direction of the at least one irradiation device (1) towards the skin of the user to be irradiated, and one or more devices (3) for optimizing the irradiation distance of the majority of the light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, ...) of the irradiation device (1) from the skin of the user to be irradiated; and further comprising - one or more optical devices (4) capable of optically detecting and / or identifying lesions on the skin of the user / person / patient to be irradiated in preparation for or during irradiation, for modifying and monitoring the power output or therapeutic dose of radiation from light sources (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, ...) to the skin of a patient / person / user to be irradiated. [7] Whole-body exposure unit (300) or partial-body exposure unit (400) according to claim 6, wherein the one or more optical device(s) (4) comprises a camera (4) and / or a scanner (4) for optical detection and / or identification of efflorescences.

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