Methods and devices for treating radiation dermatitis

Abstract

A phototherapy device is provided for treating a medical condition by providing phototherapy utilizing a pad and a light source supported by the pad. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting portions disposed at different locations on the pad to emit therapeutic electromagnetic radiation. The therapeutic characteristics of the phototherapy vary spatially based on medical characteristics of the anatomical treatment area. The medical characteristics include at least one of an anatomical structure or a medical condition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to radiation dermatitis, and more particularly to methods and systems for the treatment and / or prevention of radiation dermatitis.

Background Art

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 150,633, filed on Feb. 18, 2021. This U.S. Provisional Application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] Acute skin reactions or acute skin injuries are one of the most common side effects of radiotherapy and / or chemotherapy. Multiple factors associated with radiotherapy, such as total dose, fractionation, radiation energy, volume of the treatment area, treatment duration, and treatment location, can affect the severity thereof. Furthermore, factors associated with the patient, such as age, comorbidities, skin phototype, and genetic factors, affect skin injuries. Radiation dermatitis, which is one of the painful skin injuries, is the result of the effects of radiation on the epidermis and subcutaneous structures of the skin, and is characterized by erythema (redness accompanied by pain), dry or wet desquamation of the skin, and ulcers.

[0004] Most patients suffering from head and neck cancer or breast cancer and receiving radiotherapy develop some degree of acute radiation dermatitis. In addition, patients with melanoma also have a high probability of developing radiation dermatitis. Radiation dermatitis appears within the area receiving the focused radiation. In patients with head and neck cancer, the anterior neck and submandibular regions receive the highest radiation doses. In patients with breast cancer, the affected breast and the axilla closer thereto receive the highest radiation doses. In both head and neck cancer and breast cancer, the cancer is most likely to spread to the nearest lymph nodes (neck and axilla).

[0005] In addition to radiation therapy interventions for cancer treatment, fluoroscopically guided interventions can induce acute skin injuries when used at high doses, for long treatment times, and with high frequency.

[0006] There are no universally accepted guidelines for the treatment of acute skin injuries such as radiation dermatitis. Treatments and preventions vary significantly depending on the circumstances. Current standard approaches include frequent washing, use of specific antiperspirants, topical agents / creams, dressings, and topical antibiotics. However, several drugs, topical agents, dressings, and radiation protection appliances have been proposed for the prevention and treatment of radiation dermatitis.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] Radiation dermatitis, chemotherapy and radiotherapy disorders, and side effects of anti-cancer treatments can be treated and / or prevented using photobiomodulation. Photobiomodulation is the use of specific administrations of light (e.g., wavelength, power, and time) to stimulate biological functions including wound healing. Photobiomodulation can be performed by utilizing laser therapy, but laser therapy requires skilled medical personnel, can only treat a small area of biological tissue at a time, and takes 40 minutes per treatment per day.

[0008] The present disclosure provides a phototherapy device for treating a medical condition using a pad that includes light-emitting portions disposed at different positions such that the treatment characteristics of the phototherapy vary spatially based on the medical characteristics of the anatomical treatment area. For example, a processor circuit of the phototherapy device can separately control one or more light-emitting portions (e.g., the location of the stimulation, etc.) such that the treatment characteristics vary based on the anatomical structure and / or medical condition.

[0009] Although many features are described herein with respect to embodiments of the present invention, the features described with respect to a particular embodiment may be employed in other embodiments as well. The following description and the accompanying drawings illustrate some exemplary embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments merely show some of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention from various aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] The accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale and show various aspects of the present invention, and like reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts within the various drawings.

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[0011] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, each element with a reference number is similar to other elements with the same reference number regardless of the letter attached to the reference number. In the specification, a reference number with a specific letter attached indicates a specific element having that reference number and letter, and a reference number without a specific letter attached indicates all elements having the same reference number regardless of the letter attached to the reference number in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Generally in embodiments, a phototherapy device is provided for treating a medical condition by providing phototherapy that utilizes a pad and a light source supported by the pad. The light source includes a plurality of light-emitting portions disposed at different positions on the pad to emit therapeutic electromagnetic radiation. The therapeutic characteristics of the phototherapy vary spatially based on the medical characteristics of the anatomical treatment area.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a phototherapy device 10 for treating a medical condition by providing phototherapy to an anatomical treatment region 12 of a patient through the patient's skin surface 14 is shown. The phototherapy device 10 includes a light source 16 and a pad 18. The light source 16 emits electromagnetic radiation 20. The pad 18 supports the light source 16 such that the electromagnetic radiation 20 output by the light source 16 is (1) received by the skin surface 14 as treatment electromagnetic radiation 22 and (2) interacts with the anatomical treatment region 12 by positioning the pad 18 adjacent to the skin surface 14. The light source 16 includes a plurality of light emitting portions 24 disposed at different positions on the pad 18 such that the treatment characteristics of the treatment electromagnetic radiation 22 vary spatially. For example, at least one of the wavelength, optical intensity, or optical dosage of the treatment electromagnetic radiation 22 may vary spatially. The treatment characteristics vary spatially based on the medical characteristics of the anatomical treatment region 12, such as the location of the anatomical structure 26 or the medical condition.

[0014] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the light emitting portion 24 includes at least one first type of light emitting portion 30 and at least one second type of light emitting portion 32. The treatment characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation 20 emitted by the first type of light emitting portion 30 are different from the treatment characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation 20 emitted by the second type of light emitting portion 32. For example, the total number or the position of the light emitting portions may vary between the first type of light emitting portion 30 and the second type of light emitting portion 32 such that the treatment characteristics of the treatment electromagnetic radiation vary spatially.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first type of light emitting portion 30 may emit electromagnetic radiation 20 in a first wavelength range, and the second type of light emitting portion 32 may emit electromagnetic radiation 20 in a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range. Since the number and / or position of the first type of light emitting portion is different from the number and / or position of the second type of light emitting portion, the wavelength range of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the phototherapy device varies spatially according to the positions of the first and second types of light emitting portions.

[0016] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 includes a processor circuit 34 that controls the emission of the electromagnetic radiation 20 by the light source 16 by controlling the first type of light emitting portion 30 separately from the second type of light emitting portion 32. For example, the processor circuit 34 may control the first type of light emitting portion 30 and the second type of light emitting portion 34 based on the medical condition being treated. As an example, when the first type of light emitting portion 30 emits electromagnetic radiation having a longer light wavelength (i.e., will penetrate deeper into the biological tissue) and the second type of light emitting portion 32 emits electromagnetic radiation having a shorter light wavelength (i.e., will not penetrate as deeply into the biological tissue), when treating a medical condition that primarily affects bone tissue, the processor circuit 34 may cause the first type of light emitting portion 30 to emit a greater optical dose than the second type of light emitting portion 32. Alternatively, when treating a medical condition that affects the skin, the processor circuit 34 may cause the second type of light emitting portion 32 to emit a greater optical dose than the first type of light emitting portion 30.

[0017] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the position of the light emitting portion 24 varies spatially such that the optical dose of the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation 22 varies spatially. For example, the light emitting portion 24 may be concentrated in a region that overlaps the position of the anatomical structure 26 when the pad 18 is placed at a defined position of the patient. In FIG. 2, the light emitting portion 24 is concentrated so as to overlap the patient's jawbone and at least one of the parotid gland, submandibular gland, or sublingual gland when placed on the patient's face.

[0018] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting portion 24 includes at least a first group of light emitting portions 40 and a second group of light emitting portions 42. The electromagnetic radiation emitted by the first group of light emitting portions 40 may have different or the same characteristics (e.g., wavelength range, intensity, polarization, coherence, etc.) from those of the second group of light emitting portions 42. The processor circuit 34 may control the emission of the electromagnetic radiation 20 by the light source 16 by controlling the first group of light emitting portions 40 separately from the second group of light emitting portions 42. For example, the first group of light emitting portions 40 may be positioned to treat a first type of medical condition, and the second group of light emitting portions 42 may be positioned to treat a second type of medical condition.

[0019] The processor circuit 34 can control the first group of light emitting units 40 and the second group of light emitting units 42 based on the medical condition being treated. For example, the processor circuit 34 can include a communication interface configured to receive an identifier 92 of the medical condition being treated. The processor circuit 34 can include a memory (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium) that stores a look-up table for selecting treatment characteristics (e.g., light emitting units, power settings, timing, etc.). The processor circuit 34 can then cause the first and second groups of light emitting units 40, 42 to emit electromagnetic radiation based on the received identifier 92.

[0020] The phototherapy device 10 can be utilized to treat many different medical conditions. When treating a medical condition related to the neck, the light emitting unit 24 can be disposed on the pad 18 such that when the pad 18 is placed over the patient's larynx, the light emitting unit 24 is preferentially disposed between the patient's sternocleidomastoid muscles. For example, the present embodiment can be utilized to treat at least one of dysphagia, delayed swallowing reflex, pharyngeal peristalsis abnormality (PPA), voice disorder (larynx), esophagitis, pharyngitis, or dysarthria.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the pad 18 is formed based on the shape of the skin surface 14 such that when the pad 18 is pressed against the skin surface 14, the inner surface 44 (also referred to as the internal surface) of the pad 18 is adjacent to the skin surface 14. The pad 18 can include a fastener 46, a proximal end 48, and a distal end 50. The fastener 46 can maintain the position of the distal end 50 relative to the proximal end 48 such that the inner surface 44 of the pad 18 forms a channel 54 shaped to receive at least a portion of the patient's larynx.

[0022] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the pad 18 includes an inner surface 44, a front portion 56, and side portions 58. The inner surface 44 of the front portion 56 has a recess that forms a recess 60 for receiving the patient's breast. The side portions 58 are angled with respect to the front portion 56 and can be sufficiently firm so that the patient can maintain the position of the pad 18 by lowering the arm onto the pad. That is, when the front portion 56 is positioned adjacent to one breast of the patient and the adjacent arm on that side of the patient is raised, the side portion 58 of the pad 18 is disposed under the patient's adjacent arm. Also, when the patient's adjacent arm is lowered and presses on one side of the patient, the position of the front portion 56 adjacent to the patient's breast is maintained.

[0023] The pad 18 can be formed in a shape and size that covers at least from the inframammary fold (under the breast) of the patient to the axillary fold (armpit) of the patient. The pad 18 can be flexible so that when pressed against the patient's chest, the pad takes the shape of the breast.

[0024] In certain embodiments, the pad 18 can be reversible (i.e., treat both the left and right sides of the patient) and can cover one breast at a time. In other embodiments, the pad can cover both of the patient's breasts simultaneously.

[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the pad includes a slit 59 for use with different sized breasts. For example, for larger breasts, the pad 18 spreads more and the size of the slit 59 is increased. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the pad is formed in a shape that covers a region of the chest above the breast (e.g., covering lymph nodes) 61.

[0026] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the pad 18 comprises a plurality of pads 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, each of the plurality of pads 18 including at least one light emitting portion 24 and a fastener 46 configured to maintain at least one position of the plurality of pads 18 with respect to the skin surface 14. The plurality of pads 18 can share the same power source and / or processor circuit 34. For example, the plurality of pads 18 can be wired to each other as shown in FIG. 7.

[0027] To treat radiation dermatitis, the pad 18 can be formed to surround a plurality of regions around the neck based on the radiation area received by the patient during cancer treatment. Similarly, to treat dysphagia (e.g., dysphagia, delayed induction of swallowing reflex), electromagnetic radiation can be emitted to treat the upper part of the neck and under the jaw. Dysphagia is defined as a subjective or objective patient condition of difficulty in swallowing, coughing, shortness of breath, or inability to safely handle food or secretions. Delayed induction of swallowing reflex is a particular concern for swallowing of liquids because a thin liquid of a certain low viscosity can easily flow down into the larynx and trachea (leading to aspiration pneumonia, death, etc.).

[0028] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the pad 18 is formed in a shape that extends from the patient's jaw 62, around the patient's lips 64 and nose 66, reaches the patient's cheekbones 68 and temporomandibular joints 70, and then descends along the patient's jaw line 72. The light-emitting part 24 can be arranged on the pad 18 such that when the pad 18 is placed on the patient's cheek, the light-emitting part 24 is preferentially arranged along the jaw line 72 with respect to the patient's cheek 68. The light-emitting part 24 arranged along the jaw line 72 can preferentially emit therapeutic electromagnetic radiation such that the optical intensity of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light-emitting part 24 arranged along the jaw line 72 is higher than the optical intensity of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light-emitting parts not arranged along the jaw line 72.

[0029] In one embodiment, the pad is formed in a shape that is arranged only on one side of the patient's face. In another embodiment, the pad can be formed in a shape that is arranged on both the left and right sides of the patient's face. For example, the pad can be symmetric with respect to an axis.

[0030] The optical therapy device can be used to treat at least one of radiation dermatitis, xerostomia, radiation fibrosis, dysarthria, neuralgia / paresthesia, radiation osteoradionecrosis, or recovery from jaw surgery (e.g., tumor resection).

[0031] The optical therapy device can be utilized to preferentially emit therapeutic electromagnetic radiation 22 via a light emitting portion 24 that irradiates the "V" region (represented by the gray triangle in FIG. 8) between the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the sternum, and under the jaw in order to target the trachea and laryngeal regions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the light emitting portion 24 is disposed on the pad 18 such that when the pad 18 is placed on the patient's larynx 74, the light emitting portion 24 is preferentially disposed between the patient's sternocleidomastoid muscles 76. The light emitting portion 24 disposed between the patient's sternocleidomastoid muscles 76 can preferentially emit the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation 22 such that the optical intensity of the electromagnetic radiation 20 emitted by the light emitting portion 24 disposed between the patient's sternocleidomastoid muscles 74 is higher than the optical intensity of the electromagnetic radiation 20 emitted by the light emitting portion 24 not disposed between the patient's sternocleidomastoid muscles 74.

[0032] For example, when the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation 22 is emitted by a light emitting portion 24 disposed along the side of the neck, the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation 22 does not need to continuously pass through the pharynx / trachea, air, and larynx / laryngeal cavity / laryngeal mask. Instead, by coming from the side, the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation 22 can go over and under the thyroid and muscles.

[0033] When irradiating the neck, fatty biological tissue and skin conditions (e.g., melanin concentration, hair, etc.) can reduce the entry of the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation 22. The processor circuit 34 can adjust the characteristics of the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation to mitigate these issues (e.g., utilize longer wavelengths). In one embodiment, the patient's fatty biological tissue can be physically moved to improve the entry of the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation. For example, the patient's fatty biological tissue can be moved and held in place using straps, adhesives (e.g., surgical tape). When targeting the esophagus or other structures located centrally within the neck, the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation can be emitted using a light emitting portion disposed near the sternocleidomastoid muscle. For example, the light emitting portion can be concentrated near the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

[0034] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device irradiates the throat / esophagus by directing it from under the jaw towards the throat / esophagus. For example, the phototherapy device can thus treat esophagitis. Esophagitis is characterized by a reduction in the thickness of the epithelial layer, upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, infiltration of inflammatory cells into the esophagitis, and apoptosis of epithelial cells.

[0035] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pad 18 includes a ventilation passage 80 that allows ventilation across at least a portion of the skin surface 82. The ventilation passage 80 can include a contour 83 on the inner surface 44 of the pad 18 such that the inner surface 44 of the pad 18 does not physically contact at least a portion of the skin surface 82. The ventilation passage can also include a passage 84 between the inner surface 44 of the pad 18 and the outer surface 86 of the pad 18 located opposite the inner surface of the pad 18.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the phototherapy device 10 can include a printed circuit board (PCB) (e.g., a flexible PCB) 85 that supports and powers the light source 24. FIG. 3B is a side view of the embodiment of the phototherapy device 10 shown in FIG. 3A.

[0037] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the pad 18 includes a joint structure 90 to allow the pad 18 to be bent at 90 degrees (degrees). The joint structure 90 can take any form that allows the pad 18 to be bent more easily. For example, the joint structure 92 can include a thin region of the pad 18, a hinge, etc.

[0038] The light emitting unit 24 may include at least one of a light emitting diode (LED), a laser diode, an optical output end of an optical fiber, or a micro LED. The light source may emit any suitable wavelength of electromagnetic radiation. The light source 16 may emit light having a wavelength ranging from 600 nm to 1000 nm. For example, the light source 16 may emit electromagnetic radiation having substantially the same wavelength as at least one of 630 nm, 660 nm, 670 nm, 810 nm, or 880 nm. In certain embodiments, the light source may emit both therapeutic light and infrared or near-infrared light such that the penetration of the therapeutic light into oral biological tissue is improved. That is, the infrared or near-infrared light may improve the penetration of the therapeutic light into biological tissue.

[0039] As described above, the pad 18 mechanically supports the light source 16. In certain embodiments, the pad 18 additionally receives light from an external light source 16 (i.e., not mechanically supported by the pad 18). The pad 18 receives at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation 20 emitted by the light source 16 and propagates the received electromagnetic radiation to the light exit slope of the pad via total internal reflection such that the received electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the light exit surface of the pad and interacts with the skin surface 14, thereby functioning as an optical waveguide.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3C, the light emitting unit 24 may be coated or may include an optical extraction structure configured to affect the distribution of the emitted electromagnetic radiation 20. For example, at least a portion of the light emitting unit 24 may be embedded within the pad 18 such that a portion of the pad 18 covers the light emitting unit 24 that includes the optical extraction structure. The optical extraction structure may be a fine cutoff, a lens structure, a corrugated surface of the pad 18, a varying cross-sectional area of the pad 18, or a varying surface finish along the surface of the pad configured to extract light along the length of the pad 18. The optical extraction structure may be selected such that the emitted electromagnetic radiation 20 has a selected pattern (also referred to as a distribution).

[0041] Pad 18 can be made of any suitable material and can have any suitable shape. In some embodiments, pad 18 is flexible (i.e., deformable) so that pad 18 can be customized to different skin surfaces 14 and the contours of different patients. In some embodiments, at least a portion of pad 18 is made of a soft and / or flexible material that has a Shore A durometer of 60 or less and an elongation rate greater than 100%. For example, the surface of pad 18 can have a Shore A durometer of 60 or less and an elongation rate greater than 100%. In some embodiments, pad 18 is made of at least one of acrylic, glass, silicone, or a polymeric material. By way of example, pad 18 is made of different materials such as polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, nylon, ABS resin, polyolefin, or other biocompatible thermoplastic elastomer materials.

[0042] In some embodiments, pad 18 includes a temperature sensor configured to monitor the surface temperature of pad 18 or skin surface 14. Processor circuit 34 can also control the emission of electromagnetic radiation 20 by light source 16 such that the emission of electromagnetic radiation 20 by light source 16 is reduced when the temperature sensor detects a temperature higher than a predetermined level. For example, the predetermined level can be a threshold temperature (e.g., determined by causing damage to biological tissue, damage to a part of light therapy device 10, or discomfort to the patient).

[0043] The characteristics of electromagnetic radiation 20 that vary spatially (e.g., controlled by processor circuit 34) for treatment electromagnetic radiation 22 can include at least one of intensity, wavelength, emission duration, coherence, temporal modulation of emission, or distance of emission from the target region.

[0044] Pad 18 may include sensors arranged to detect abnormalities (such as wounds, differences in pigmentation, etc.) within the skin surface 14. For example, the processor circuit 34 may determine the positions of one or more target regions based on the abnormalities detected by the sensors. The processor circuit 34 may then adjust the emission of the electromagnetic radiation 20 by the light source 16 based on the detected positions of the abnormalities such that the detected positions are preferentially irradiated compared to other positions. In other embodiments, the phototherapy device 10 may avoid irradiating regions of detected pigmentation (such as freckles, moles, etc.). In this example, the detected regions of pigmentation may receive a lower optical dosage than other regions of the skin surface 14. The sensor may be a photosensor configured to identify abnormalities based on visual characteristics (such as color, hue, etc.).

[0045] The phototherapy device 10 may further include a power source. The power source may be composed of a plug for connection to a battery and / or an external power source (such as an electrical outlet). For example, the phototherapy device 10 may include a battery configured to supply power to the light source 16 and / or the processor circuit 34. The power source may be supported by the pad or may be disposed externally such that the power source is not supported by the pad.

[0046] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, a method 100 is shown for treating a medical condition by providing phototherapy to an anatomical treatment region of a patient through the patient's skin surface 14. In step 102, a phototherapy device 10 including a pad 18 supporting a light source 16 is placed adjacent to the patient's skin surface 14. In step 104, an identifier of the medical condition 92 is received by a processor circuit 34 of the phototherapy device. In step 106, the processor circuit 34 causes the light source 16 to emit electromagnetic radiation 20 as treatment electromagnetic radiation 22 based on the received identifier of the medical condition 92. The treatment electromagnetic radiation 22 can be controlled such that the treatment characteristics of the treatment electromagnetic radiation 22 vary spatially based on the medical characteristics of the anatomical treatment region 12. In some embodiments, the processor circuit 34 determines the medical characteristics of the anatomical treatment region 12 based on the received identifier of the medical condition 92.

[0047] In some embodiments, the phototherapy device 10 can be utilized to treat medical conditions primarily presented in patients who have received chemoradiation therapy as a treatment for head and neck cancer, such as radiation dermatitis, lymphedema (neck), radiation fibrosis, neuralgia / paresthesia, and surgeries (e.g., neck flaps).

[0048] In some embodiments, the phototherapy device 10 can be utilized to treat lymphedema. Lymphedema (e.g., head and neck cancer and breast cancer) is the enlargement of lymph nodes with fluid. In this embodiment, the pad can emit treatment electromagnetic radiation that preferentially targets the lateral neck (e.g., this region often has the most affected lymph nodes). Since the lymphatic system is closer to the surface, treatment electromagnetic radiation that penetrates more shallowly can be emitted by the phototherapy device 10. For example, the treatment light can have a shorter wavelength range (such as 630 nm - 660 nm, 630 nm - 670 nm, etc.).

[0049] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be used for the treatment of radiation fibrosis. Radiation fibrosis after radiotherapy is characterized by increased collagen deposition (from increased fibroblast differentiation to myofibroblasts), poor angiogenesis, and scarring. In this embodiment, the pad can emit therapeutic electromagnetic radiation from a light-emitting portion that targets the sternocleidomastoid muscle and other neck rotator muscles. The light source can also be controlled such that the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation is directed towards the skin tissue within the direct path of the radiation that the patient received during radiotherapy. The more shallowly penetrating therapeutic electromagnetic radiation can also be emitted by the phototherapy device 10 when treating radiation fibrosis. For example, the therapeutic light can have a shorter wavelength range (e.g., 660 nm).

[0050] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be used to treat neuralgia / paresthesia. Neuralgia / paresthesia is chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. The light source therapy device can utilize red light (660 nm) to treat neuralgia / paresthesia. In this embodiment, the phototherapy device can emit therapeutic electromagnetic radiation that widely targets the neck. For example, the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation can have a shorter wavelength range (e.g., 660 nm).

[0051] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be used to treat a surgically-induced neck flap by irradiating the surgical position of the flap (e.g., by using a more deeply penetrating light-emitting portion).

[0052] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be used to treat radiation dermatitis by generally targeting the buccal region. For example, the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength that includes 700 nm.

[0053] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be utilized to treat xerostomia by preferentially irradiating from the zygomatic peak to the angle of the jaw (e.g., using a group of light-emitting parts that penetrate shallowly) and by including the parotid gland and / or submandibular gland. Xerostomia, i.e., dry mouth, can be a side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to the head and neck. Xerostomia is the result of improper functioning of the salivary glands (parotid gland, submandibular gland, and sublingual gland). The phototherapy device 10 can also include a light-emitting part that is disposed under the jaw and directs treatment light from below the lower jaw / under the jaw.

[0054] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be utilized to treat radiation fibrosis. For example, the phototherapy device can irradiate the entire buccal region. The phototherapy device can preferentially irradiate the facial muscles used for conversation and chewing (which are often affected by radiation fibrosis).

[0055] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be utilized to treat dysarthria by irradiating at least one of the masseter muscle, the depressor anguli oris inferior muscle, and the depressor labii inferior muscle. A person with dysarthria may have problems controlling the pitch, loudness, rhythm, and voice quality of their speech. Dysarthria is caused by paralysis, muscle weakness, or the inability to coordinate the muscles of the mouth. The phototherapy device can utilize therapeutic electromagnetic radiation with a longer wavelength and higher intensity to reach deeper biological tissues.

[0056] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be utilized to treat neuralgia / paresthesia by irradiating the entire cheek.

[0057] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be used to treat osteonecrosis of the jaw (also referred to as radiation osteonecrosis) or to improve the recovery of patients after jaw surgery. Radiation osteonecrosis is a complication that becomes a problem when the irradiated bone weakens. In this embodiment, the phototherapy device can preferentially generate therapeutic electromagnetic radiation using a light-emitting portion arranged along a line that extends downward from the temporomandibular joint and thickens as it reaches the jaw. The phototherapy device can similarly utilize a light-emitting portion that penetrates deeper to reach the bone living tissue (for example, including wavelengths of 850 nm or more and having a greater optical intensity at 660 nm, etc.).

[0058] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be used to treat radiation dermatitis of the breast and / or chest wall (for example, depending on the location of the cancer or the condition caused by cancer treatment). For example, radiation dermatitis often worsens in the inframammary fold and axillary creases, but radiation dermatitis is not limited to these areas. The phototherapy device can treat radiation dermatitis by irradiating the affected area using therapeutic electromagnetic radiation having a shorter wavelength range (for example, 660 nm).

[0059] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device 10 can be used to treat lymphedema (for example, after mastectomy). The phototherapy device can irradiate an area known to have a high density of lymph nodes (for example, the lateral chest wall, under or inside the axilla).

[0060] The phototherapy device can include a power storage device such as a battery. Alternatively or additionally, the phototherapy device can receive power from an external power source (for example, plugged into a wall) or a battery that is not mechanically supported by a pad (for example, a separate battery pack).

[0061] In one embodiment, the phototherapy device includes a plurality of pads. The pads may be individually controllable. Alternatively, the pads may be electrically connected to share power. The pads may also be individually controlled by a processor circuit disposed on each pad or a processor circuit disposed on a subset (e.g., one) of the pads.

[0062] The pads may include a light extraction structure (e.g., a lens) for diffusing or concentrating light over a large surface. A ridged structure may also prevent contact between lines to the skin and allow for additional breathability.

[0063] The phototherapy device may further include a support configured to maintain the position of the pads relative to the patient. For example, the support may be a harness and / or straps for securing the pads to the patient. The support may also be an adhesive such as surgical tape.

[0064] The processor circuit 34 can have various embodiments. For example, the processor circuit 34 can include any suitable device such as a processor (e.g., CPU), programmable circuit, integrated circuit, memory and I / O circuits, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), microcontroller, CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), other programmable circuits, etc. The processor circuit 34 can also include a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EPROM (EEPROM or flash memory), or other suitable media. Instructions for implementing the methods described below can be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executed by the processor circuit 34. The processor circuit 34 can be communicatively connected to a computer-readable medium and a network interface via a system bus, motherboard, or any other suitable structure known in the art. The processor circuit 34 can receive parameters for controlling the light source 16 via the network interface.

[0065] All ranges and ratio limitations disclosed within the specification and claims can be combined in any way. References to "a", "an", and / or "the" can include one or more, and references to singular items can also include the plural of those items, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0066] Although the present invention has been disclosed and described with respect to one or more embodiments, those skilled in the art will conceive of equivalent alternatives and modifications by reading and understanding this specification and the accompanying drawings. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the above elements (parts, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms used to represent the above elements (including references to "means") are, unless otherwise specified, intended to correspond to any element that performs the specific function of the described element, even if it is not structurally equivalent to the structures disclosed in the exemplary embodiment or embodiments of the present invention as performing that function (i.e., functional equivalence). Further, although a particular feature of the present invention may be described in only one or more of several embodiments, such a feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments as desired and advantageous for any or particular applications.

Claims

1. A phototherapy device for treating a medical condition by providing phototherapy to an anatomical treatment area of a patient through the patient's skin surface, comprising: a light source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; a pad configured to support the light source, wherein positioning the pad adjacent to the skin surface causes the electromagnetic radiation output from the light source to be received by the skin surface as treatment electromagnetic radiation and interact with the anatomical treatment area; the light source includes a plurality of light emitting portions arranged at different positions on the pad such that the treatment characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation vary spatially based on the medical characteristics of the anatomical treatment area; the light emitting portions are concentrated and arranged on a triangular region on the pad such that when the pad is placed on the supraclavicular area of the patient, the light emitting portions are preferentially arranged between the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the patient; the light emitting portions target the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the patient to treat medical conditions affecting the pharynx, larynx, or esophageal regions; the medical characteristics include at least one of an anatomical structure or the medical condition; a phototherapy device.

2. The spatially varying treatment characteristics include at least one of wavelength, optical intensity, or optical dosage. The phototherapy device according to claim 1.

3. The light emitting portions include at least one first type of light emitting portion and at least one second type of light emitting portion; the treatment characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one first type of light emitting portion are different from the treatment characteristics of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the at least one second type of light emitting portion; at least one of the total number or position of the at least one first type of light emitting portion is different from the at least one second type of light emitting portion such that the treatment characteristics of the treatment electromagnetic radiation vary spatially. The phototherapy device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The at least one first type of light emitting portion is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in a first wavelength range; the at least one second type of light emitting portion is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in a second wavelength range; the first wavelength range is different from the second wavelength range. The phototherapy device according to claim 3.

5. The device further comprises a processor circuit configured to control the emission of the electromagnetic radiation by the light source by controlling the at least one first type of light emitting portion separately from the at least one second type of light emitting portion. The phototherapy device according to claim 3 or 4.

6. The processor circuit is configured to control the first type of light emitting unit and the second type of light emitting unit based on the medical condition being treated. The phototherapy device according to claim 5.

7. The arrangement of the plurality of light emitting units varies spatially such that the optical dose of the therapeutic electromagnetic radiation varies spatially. The phototherapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The light emitting unit includes at least a first group of light emitting units and a second group of light emitting units. The device further comprises a processor circuit configured to control the emission of the electromagnetic radiation by controlling the first group of light emitting units separately from the second group of light emitting units. The phototherapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The first group of light emitting units is positioned to treat a first type of medical condition. The second group of light emitting units is positioned to treat a second type of medical condition. The phototherapy device according to claim 8.

10. The processor circuit is configured to control the first group of light emitting units and the second group of light emitting units based on the medical condition being treated. The phototherapy device according to claim 9.

11. The pad is formed based on the shape of the skin surface such that the inner surface of the pad is adjacent to the skin surface when the pad is pressed against the skin surface. The phototherapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The pad includes a fastener, a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface. The fastener is configured to maintain the position of the distal end relative to the proximal end so as to form a channel in which the inner surface of the pad is shaped to receive at least a portion of the patient's throat. The phototherapy device according to claim 11.

13. The pad is composed of a plurality of pads, each of the plurality of pads including at least one of the plurality of light emitting units. The device further comprises a fastener configured to maintain the position of at least one of the plurality of pads relative to the skin surface. The phototherapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The light-emitting part arranged between the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the patient preferentially emits the electromagnetic radiation such that the optical intensity of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light-emitting part arranged between the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the patient is higher than the optical intensity of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light-emitting part not arranged between the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the patient. The light therapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The pad includes a ventilation path configured to allow ventilation over at least a part of the skin surface. The ventilation path includes at least one of a contour on the inner surface of the pad that prevents the inner surface of the pad from physically contacting at least a part of the skin surface, or a passage between the inner surface of the pad and the outer surface of the pad arranged opposite to the inner surface of the pad. The light therapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The pad includes a joint structure configured to allow the pad to be bent at 90 degrees. The light therapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. Each of the plurality of light-emitting parts is at least one of a light-emitting diode or a laser diode. The light therapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. The pad receives at least a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light source, and functions as an optical waveguide by propagating the received electromagnetic radiation to the light-emitting surface of the pad through total internal reflection so that the received electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the light-emitting inclined surface of the pad and interacts with the anatomical treatment area. The light therapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. The device further includes a power source configured to supply power to the light source. The power source is supported by the pad or is arranged externally so that the power source is not supported by the pad. The light therapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. The pad includes a temperature sensor configured to monitor the surface temperature. The device further includes a processor circuit configured to control the emission of the electromagnetic radiation by the light source such that the emission of the electromagnetic radiation by the light source is reduced when the temperature sensor detects a temperature higher than a predetermined level. The light therapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. The light source is configured to emit both the therapeutic light and infrared or near-infrared light so that the entry of the therapeutic light into the anatomical treatment area is improved. The phototherapy device according to any one of claims 1 to 20. **Claim 22** The medical condition includes at least one of radiation dermatitis, dysphagia, delayed induction of swallowing reaction, pharyngeal peristalsis disorder, esophagitis, pharyngitis, dysarthria, lymphedema, radiation fibrosis, neuralgia, or abnormal sensation. The phototherapy device according to claim 1. **Claim 23** The medical condition includes at least one of radiation dermatitis, xerostomia, radiation fibrosis, dysarthria, neuralgia / abnormal sensation, or radiation osteoradionecrosis. The phototherapy device according to claim 1.

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