Electronic device for skin treatment, and control method therefor

A flexible skin treatment patch with adjustable light sources addresses the limitations of conventional devices by providing targeted, safe, and effective treatment for inflammatory skin diseases, enhancing treatment efficacy and accessibility.

WO2025164817A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-08-07LG ELECTRONICS INC
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/KR2024/001371
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-01-30
Publication Date
2025-08-07

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional UV and phototherapy devices for treating inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and keloids face challenges due to wide wavelength bands, limited accessibility, side effects, and inflexibility, making long-term treatment difficult, especially for infants and children.

Method used

A flexible, wearable skin treatment device in the form of a patch with a light-emitting module and control module, featuring a combination of purple and red light sources, adjustable light characteristics, and a control unit to vary light intensity and wavelength based on disease type and stage, ensuring effective and safe treatment.

Benefits of technology

The device provides effective, flexible, and safe treatment for inflammatory skin diseases by selectively irradiating optimal wavelengths, minimizing side effects, and allowing long-term use at home, with improved treatment outcomes and convenience.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a patch-type electronic device for skin treatment, which does not feel unnatural when attached to the skin and has good stretchability and flexibility. Provided is an electronic device for skin treatment and the like, the device comprising a light-emitting module and a control module, wherein: the light-emitting module includes a plurality of light source elements and a first wiring that are disposed on a rigid region, and a second wiring that is disposed on a soft region; the control module includes a user input unit and a control unit; and the first wiring on the rigid region is formed in a non-wave shape and the second wiring on the soft region is formed in a wave shape.
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Description

Electronic device for skin treatment and method for controlling the same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electronic device for skin treatment in the form of a patch attachable to the skin and a method for controlling the same.

[0002] Inflammatory skin diseases can be treated directly with medication because the lesions appear on the skin. In addition to oral medication, treatments are also available that apply medication directly to the skin to alleviate the skin problems. In addition, treatments that alleviate symptoms by irradiating the skin with lesions with infrared or ultraviolet rays are also used.

[0003] In the case of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and keloid skin diseases, it is difficult to receive continuous treatment due to the characteristics of the disease that recur repeatedly and the fear of side effects of the treatment, so the condition often becomes more severe and intractable.

[0004] In particular, treatment devices that utilize ultraviolet rays are effective in treating skin diseases, but long-term treatment is difficult to receive due to limited accessibility, such as having to visit the hospital 2-3 times a week, and use in infants and children is practically impossible due to the side effects of ultraviolet rays.

[0005] Furthermore, conventional UV treatment devices utilize traditional UV lamps, and when operating the UV treatment device near the skin to irradiate UV rays to the area of ​​skin requiring treatment, the half-width (the width of the wavelength band relative to the light intensity) of the UV rays is often quite wide. Therefore, rather than selectively irradiating UV rays of the most suitable wavelength for treatment, the skin is irradiated with UV rays of a considerably wide bandwidth, which has the side effect of excessive skin exposure to UV rays. For example, the biggest side effect of UV irradiation is that the risk of skin cancer increases with long-term UV treatment.

[0006] Meanwhile, in the case of phototherapy devices that use general visible light and infrared light, most are stationary, and the exact wavelength, light energy, and light absorption depth control required for treatment vary depending on the usage environment, making it difficult to see proper treatment effects and difficult to implement a wavelength band that is effective for treatment.

[0007] The present disclosure is proposed to solve the aforementioned problems, and aims to provide a skin treatment electronic device in the form of a patch that has no foreign feeling when attached to the skin and has good stretchability and flexibility.

[0008] In addition, the present disclosure aims to provide an electronic device for skin treatment that is more effective in treatment by making the light characteristics (e.g., light wavelength, light power, etc.) to be investigated different depending on at least one of the type of skin disease and the treatment stage.

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides an electronic device for skin treatment, comprising a light-emitting module and a control module, wherein the light-emitting module includes a plurality of light source elements and a first wiring arranged on a rigid area, and a second wiring arranged on a soft area, and the control module includes a user input unit and a control unit, wherein the first wiring on the rigid area is configured in a non-wave form, and the second wiring on the soft area is configured in a wave form.

[0010] The above light emitting module may further include a flexible substrate layer on which the first wiring and the second wiring are formed.

[0011] The above light-emitting module may further include a protective layer for protecting the plurality of light source elements, and a reflective layer for increasing light efficiency through light reflection.

[0012] The above light-emitting module may further include a PAC (Photo Active Compound) layer onto which the plurality of light source elements are transferred.

[0013] The above plurality of light source elements may include a purple light source element for irradiating purple light and a red light source element for irradiating red light.

[0014] The above control unit can control the light-emitting module to repeatedly irradiate purple light and red light according to a plurality of cycles, and to time-divide and irradiate purple light and red light within one cycle.

[0015] The above control unit can control to adjust the amount of purple light and the amount of red light based on skin disease information input from a user through the user input unit.

[0016] The above control unit can control the amount of purple light to be greater than the amount of red light at the beginning of treatment, and can control the amount of red light to be greater than the amount of purple light at the end of treatment.

[0017] The above control unit can control the amount of light irradiation by controlling at least one of light power and duty.

[0018] The above control unit can control the light-emitting module so that the ratio of the amount of purple light irradiated to the amount of red light irradiated decreases as the treatment of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis progresses from the early stage to the late stage.

[0019] The above control unit can control the light-emitting module so that the ratio of the amount of purple light irradiation to the amount of red light irradiation increases as the treatment of keloid skin disease progresses from the early stage to the late stage.

[0020] In addition, to achieve the above purpose, the present disclosure can provide a method for controlling an electronic device for skin treatment, including a step of receiving skin disease information from a user through a user input unit, and a step of controlling a light-emitting module to adjust the amount of purple light and the amount of red light based on the input skin disease information.

[0021] The effects of the electronic device for skin treatment and the control method thereof according to the present disclosure are as follows.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that a skin treatment electronic device in the form of a patch can be provided that has no foreign feeling when attached to the skin and has good stretchability and flexibility.

[0023] In addition, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that treatment can be more effective by making the light characteristics (e.g., light wavelength, light power, etc.) to be investigated different depending on at least one of the type of skin disease and the treatment stage.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device for skin treatment according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0025] Fig. 2 is an example of the light emitting module of Fig. 1.

[0026] Figure 3 is an exemplary plan view of the light emitting module of Figure 2.

[0027] Fig. 4 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the light source module of Fig. 2.

[0028] FIGS. 5A to 5P are cross-sectional views of a manufacturing process of a light-emitting module according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0029] Fig. 6 illustrates an actual appearance of a light-emitting module according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 7 shows the relationship between light energy and skin treatment.

[0031] Figure 8 illustrates the principle of skin treatment using light irradiation of a specific wavelength.

[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates a principle of skin treatment using red light and purple light together according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 10 illustrates an optical power graph of purple light and red light irradiated by an electronic device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 11 illustrates examples of purple light and red light emitted by an electronic device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figures 12 and 13 illustrate experimental results of light irradiation of an electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numbers and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably only for the convenience of writing the specification, and do not in themselves have distinct meanings or roles. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0037] These components may each be implemented as separate individual hardware modules, or may be implemented as two or more hardware modules, or two or more components may be implemented as one hardware module, and in some cases, they may also be implemented as software.

[0038] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0039] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0040] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprises" or "have" are intended to indicate the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the disclosure, but should be understood not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0041] In this disclosure, the expression “at least one of A and B” may mean “A,” may mean “B,” or may mean both “A” and “B.”

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an electronic device (100) for skin treatment according to one aspect of the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device for skin treatment according to one aspect of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an example of the light-emitting module of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an example plan view of the light-emitting module of FIG. 2.

[0043] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electronic device (10) for skin treatment may include a control module (100) and a light-emitting module (200).

[0044] First, let us look at the light emitting module (200) with further reference to FIG. 2.

[0045] The above light-emitting module (200) is implemented in the form of a patch or sheet for surface light-emitting and can be flexibly formed so that it can be attached to a joint area or a curved skin surface.

[0046] The above light-emitting module (200) can be attached to the skin with the light-emitting surface facing the skin. For this purpose, the light-emitting module (200) can be mounted between, for example, a transparent hydrogel (300) and a polyurethane film (400). Both the hydrogel (300) and the polyurethane film (400) can be for medical use. The polyurethane film (400) serves to firmly maintain the light-emitting module (200) in a state of being attached to the skin.

[0047] When mounted, the light-emitting surface of the light-emitting module (200) may face the hydrogel (300), and the opposite surface may face the polyurethane film (400). Accordingly, the light-emitting module (200) may irradiate light to the affected area while attached to the skin.

[0048] Although not shown, the bladder module (200) may be attached directly to the skin without a hydrogel (300) depending on the area of ​​application.

[0049] The above light emitting module (200) may include a heat dissipation layer (210) for heat dissipation of a light source, a protection layer (220, 270) for protecting a light source element and wiring, a reflection layer (230) for increasing light efficiency, a flexible substrate layer (240), a flexible wiring layer (250) for wiring the light source element, and a light source element layer (260) for light generation. At least one of the heat dissipation layer (210), the protection layer (220, 270), and the reflection layer (230) may be omitted to simplify the light emitting module (200).

[0050] The above heat dissipation layer (210) can be formed of a graphite film or a copper film.

[0051] The above protective layer (220, 270) may be formed of transparent polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).

[0052] The above reflective layer (230) can be formed by depositing aluminum (Al).

[0053] The above flexible substrate layer (240) can be formed of transparent polyimide (PI).

[0054] The above flexible wiring layer (250) can be formed by depositing aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu).

[0055] With reference to FIG. 3, the flexible wiring layer (250) and the individual light source elements connected thereto will be examined in more detail.

[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flexible wiring layer (250) and the light source element layer (260) (or individual light source elements (260R, 260V)) may be formed on the flexible substrate layer (240). The individual light source elements may include a red light source element (260R) and a purple (or blue) light source element (260V).

[0057] The flexible wiring layer (250) may include wiring in a rigid region (RA) for electrical connection with the light source element, and wiring in a soft region (SA) that enables stretching and flexibility. It may be understood that an area outside the rigid region (RA) corresponds to the soft region (SA).

[0058] The above rigid area (RA) can be arranged in a certain pattern and at a certain interval. The wiring of the above rigid area (RA) can be configured in a non-wave form and connected to the light source element.

[0059] The wiring of the above soft area (SA) is implemented in a wave shape, so that the flexible wiring layer (250) can be bent or stretched depending on an external force.

[0060] The red light source element (260R) and the purple light source element (260V) can be placed in the rigid area (RA).

[0061] The above individual light source elements may be implemented as micro LEDs (light emitting diodes). The micro LEDs may have a size of 50 μm or less. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Other types of light source elements (e.g., Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs), Quantum dot Light Emitting Diodes (QLEDs), etc.) may also be used. The red light source element (260R) may output red light (e.g., a band of 600 nm to 660 nm), and the violet light source element (260V) may output violet light (or blue light) (e.g., a band of 400 nm to 450 nm). The red light source element (260R) may be configured as a combination of a plurality of different color light source elements as long as it can output red through color synthesis. In addition, the above purple light source element (260V) may be configured as a combination of multiple different color light source elements if it can output purple through color synthesis.

[0062] Since the above individual light source elements (260R, 260V) are arranged on the flexible substrate layer (240) at fine intervals in a certain pattern, light in a form close to a surface light source can be irradiated without a separate optical diffuser.

[0063] Returning to Figure 1, let us look at the control module (100).

[0064] The above control module (100) may include a light emitting module driving unit (110), a user input unit (123), a memory (170), a control unit (180), and a power supply unit (190).

[0065] The above control module (100) is configured as a separate module from the light-emitting module (200) so as not to cause inconvenience to the movement of the user who has the light-emitting module (200) attached, but can be connected by wire or wirelessly.

[0066] The above light-emitting module driving unit (110) can provide a driving signal for driving the light-emitting module (200) to the light-emitting module (200) via wire or wirelessly under the control of the control unit (180). The driving signal can include a video signal (e.g., RGB signal) and power required for the light emission of the light-emitting module.

[0067] The user input unit (123) is for receiving information from a user. When information is input through the user input unit (123), the control unit (180) can control the operation of the electronic device (10) (or the control module (100)) to correspond to the input information. The user input unit (123) may include a mechanical input means (or a mechanical key, for example, a button located on the front / rear or side of the control module (100), a dome switch, a jog wheel, a jog switch, etc.) and a touch input means. As an example, the touch input means may be composed of a virtual key, a soft key, or a visual key displayed on a touch screen through software processing, or a touch key placed on a part other than the touch screen. The virtual key or visual key may have various forms and be displayed on the touch screen, and may be composed of, for example, graphics, text, icons, videos, or a combination thereof.

[0068] The memory (170) stores data that supports various functions of the electronic device (10) (or the control module (100)). The memory (170) can store a plurality of application programs (or applications) that run on the electronic device (10), data for the operation of the electronic device (10), and commands. At least some of these application programs can be downloaded from an external server via wireless communication. The application programs can be stored in the memory (170), installed on the electronic device (10), and driven by the control unit (180) to perform the operation (or function) of the electronic device (10).

[0069] In addition to operations related to the application program, the control unit (180) typically controls the overall operation of the electronic device (10). The control unit (180) can process signals, data, information, etc. input or output through the components discussed above, or can drive an application program stored in the memory (170).

[0070] The power supply unit (190) receives external power and internal power under the control of the control unit (180) and supplies power to each component included in the electronic device (10). The power supply unit (190) includes a battery, and the battery may be a built-in battery or a replaceable battery.

[0071] Hereinafter, the light emitting module (200) will be examined in more detail with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the light source module of Fig. 2.

[0072] The rigid region (RA) for protecting the light emitting element (260R, 260V) and the wiring connected thereto can be formed of SU-8.

[0073] The first metal (250-1) may be the (+) and (-) power wiring of the red light-emitting element (260R).

[0074] The second metal (250-2) may be the (+) and (-) power wiring of the purple light-emitting element (260V).

[0075] The third metal (250-3) is a wave-shaped wiring that exists in the soft area (SA), and may be a wiring that extends from the first metal (250-1) and the second metal (250-2).

[0076] The first metal (250-1), the second metal (250-2), and the third metal (250-3) may each be composed of copper (Cu) or aluminum (Al).

[0077] The first metal (250-1) and the third metal (250-3) can be deposited on the flexible substrate layer (240).

[0078] After the first metal (250-1) is deposited on the flexible substrate layer (240), a PAC (Photo Active Compound) (P1, P2) layer is applied, and then the light source elements (260R, 260V) can be transferred onto the rigid region (RA). It can be understood that the PAC (P1, P2) and a plurality of light source elements (260R, 260V) form the light source element layer (260).

[0079] The above light source element (260R, 260V) and the power wiring can be connected via a connection wiring (250-4). The connection wiring (250-4) can be made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide).

[0080] When the light-emitting module (200) is configured in this way, the total thickness can be made ultra-thin to the extent that there is no foreign feeling when attached to the skin, with a thickness of 1 mm or less.

[0081] Hereinafter, the entire manufacturing process including the substrate process and transfer process of the light emitting module (200) will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5P. FIGS. 5A to 5P are cross-sectional views of the manufacturing process of the light emitting module according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 5a, after depositing a sacrificial layer (SL) on a glass substrate (GB), transparent polyimide (PI) can be coated to form the flexible substrate layer (240).

[0083] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5b, the first metal (250-1) and the third metal (250-3) can be deposited on the flexible substrate layer (240). In FIG. 5b, the deposition of the first metal (250-1) is omitted.

[0084] Next, as shown in FIG. 5c, a first PAC (P1) can be applied to flatten the deposited first metal (250-1) and third metal (250-3).

[0085] Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 5d and 5e, a plurality of light source elements (260R, 260V) in a COW (chip on wafer) state can be first transferred to a donor substrate (DB).

[0086] Next, as illustrated in FIGS. 5f and 5g, the plurality of light source elements (260R, 260V) first transferred onto the donor substrate (DB) can be secondarily transferred onto the glass substrate (GB) as illustrated in FIG. 5c. That is, the plurality of light source elements (260R, 260V) can be transferred onto the first PAC (P1) prepared on the glass substrate (GB).

[0087] Next, as shown in FIGS. 5h and 5i, etching of the first PAC (P1) is performed to form a via hole for connection with the first metal (250-1), while the second metal (250-2) can be deposited on the first PAC (P1).

[0088] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5j, a second PAC (P2) can be applied to protect the plurality of light source elements (260R, 260V).

[0089] Next, as illustrated in FIG. 5k, etching can be performed on the second PAC (P2) to form a via hole for connection with the first metal (250-1) and the second metal (250-2).

[0090] Next, as shown in FIG. 5l, the connection wiring (250-4) for connection with the first metal (250-1), the second metal (250-2) and the plurality of light source elements (260R, 260V) can be deposited.

[0091] Next, as shown in FIG. 5m, the first metal (250-1), the second metal (250-2), the plurality of light source elements (260R, 260V), and the connection wiring (250-4) can be molded with a first protective layer (270) made of silicone material to protect them.

[0092] Next, as shown in FIG. 5n, the glass substrate (GB) and the sacrificial layer (SL) can be removed.

[0093] Next, as shown in FIG. 5o, a reflective layer (230) for light reflection can be deposited in the place where the glass substrate (GB) and the sacrificial layer (SL) have been removed.

[0094] Next, as shown in FIG. 5p, the rigid region (RA) can be implemented and molded with a second protective layer (220) made of silicon material.

[0095] The actual appearance of the light-emitting module (200) according to the present disclosure is as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is an actual appearance of the light-emitting module according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0096] Figure 6 (6-1) shows the light-emitting module (200) being controlled to emit red light by the control module (100).

[0097] Figure 6 (6-2) shows the light-emitting module (200) being controlled to emit purple light (or blue light) by the control module (100).

[0098] (6-3) of Fig. 6 illustrates that the light emitting module (200) can be flexibly bent.

[0099] Conventional phototherapy has limited treatment sites, and portable phototherapy devices are not flexible, so there are limitations in wearable healthcare applications. However, in the case of the light-emitting module (200) of the present disclosure, it can be attached to the skin and long-term treatment is possible, so improved treatment effects can be expected.

[0100] In order to obtain a reproducible therapeutic effect, a constant light energy must be irradiated at an effective wavelength. The light-emitting module (200) has a simple optical structure, making it suitable for securing light output and light uniformity.

[0101] That is, the above light-emitting module (200) is manufactured in the form of a skin-contacting flexible surface light source, so that it can control a constant light energy required for treatment, minimize light loss according to distance by being in close contact with the skin, and secure uniformity.

[0102] Additionally, it has the effect of preventing light loss due to skin re-reflection by minimizing the reduction in effective light due to skin reflection.

[0103] The above light-emitting module (200) is in the form of a light patch and has a flexible substrate and flexible wiring structure, so it has excellent adhesion to joint areas or curved skin surfaces, and it has the advantage of being convenient to carry and use as it can move even when worn.

[0104] The above light emitting module (200) is divided into the rigid region (RA) and the soft region (SA), thereby ensuring flexibility and stretchability while protecting the light source element and wiring portion, thereby minimizing damage. In addition, the above light emitting module (200) can be implemented as an ultra-thin type of 1 mm or less, thereby minimizing the feeling of foreignness when attached to the skin.

[0105] Hereinafter, the relationship between light energy and skin treatment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 illustrates the relationship between light energy and skin treatment.

[0106] Figure 7 (7-1) illustrates a biphasic dose-response curve representing the relationship between light energy and cellular response. As illustrated in Figure 7 (7-1), cells may not respond or may experience a delayed response to light energy of too low a dose as well as too high a dose.

[0107] As illustrated in (7-2) of Fig. 7, the skin penetration depth of light irradiated onto the skin may vary depending on the wavelength. That is, light with a long wavelength can penetrate relatively deep under the skin (e.g., muscles), while light with a short wavelength can penetrate only to the epidermis. Since the skin penetration depth varies depending on the wavelength, controlling the absorption depth of light can also be an important factor.

[0108] As described in Figure 7, both the precise wavelength and energy are required to induce the photobiological response required for treatment, and when these are met, the desired cellular response can be induced to achieve a therapeutic effect.

[0109] Hereinafter, with reference to Fig. 8, the principle of skin treatment using light irradiation of a specific wavelength will be described. Fig. 8 illustrates the principle of skin treatment using light irradiation of a specific wavelength.

[0110] Light of a specific wavelength range is absorbed by chromophores present in cells, causing biochemical reactions, thereby inducing various therapeutic effects such as tissue regeneration and anti-inflammation.

[0111] As shown in (8-1) of Figure 8, purple light and blue light in the 400 nm to 470 nm band are absorbed by porphyrin and flavin, which are chromatophores, and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby exerting sterilizing and anti-inflammatory effects.

[0112] As shown in (8-2) of Fig. 8, red light in the 620 nm to 680 nm band and near-infrared light in the 800 nm to 880 nm band are absorbed by cytochrome C oxidase (CCO) present in mitochondria, thereby increasing ATP production and improving mitochondrial function, thereby maintaining bioenergy metabolism and cellular homeostasis required for tissue regeneration.

[0113] That is, light can either suppress or activate cellular responses depending on its wavelength.

[0114] Depending on the type of disease and treatment stage, it is necessary to apply a phototherapy algorithm that suppresses or activates cellular responses.

[0115] The electronic device (10) according to the present disclosure can induce a sterilizing effect, an anti-inflammatory effect, and a cell activation inhibition function by irradiating purple light (e.g., a 405 nm to 420 nm band), and can induce a cell activation and tissue regeneration acceleration function by irradiating red light (e.g., a 620 nm to 650 nm band).

[0116] Considering the depth of skin penetration when irradiated with purple light of the 400 nm band, diseases that can be phototreated are skin diseases, and when using the electronic device (10) in the form of a patch that can be attached to the skin, it can be effective for atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and keloid skin diseases, which are inflammatory skin diseases requiring long-term treatment.

[0117] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 9, skin treatment using red light and purple light together will be described. FIG. 9 illustrates the principle of skin treatment using red light and purple light together according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0118] As illustrated in Figure 9, purple light (or blue light) generates reactive oxygen species, making it effective in sterilizing, alleviating inflammation, and inhibiting bacterial growth. Furthermore, red light stimulates mitochondria to increase cellular energy and supply oxygen, effectively promoting skin cell proliferation and tissue regeneration. Therefore, the combined use of purple and red light can be effective in treating atopic dermatitis, keloids, and psoriasis.

[0119] Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 10, a method for using purple light and red light together for skin treatment through an electronic device (10) according to the present disclosure will be described. FIG. 10 illustrates an optical power graph of purple light and red light irradiated by an electronic device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0120] As mentioned above, applying a light irradiation algorithm that mixes purple and red light can maximize the therapeutic effect on inflammatory skin diseases.

[0121] Depending on the skin disease, a purple light irradiation algorithm and a red light irradiation algorithm for each treatment stage can be stored in the memory (170) and applied to skin treatment.

[0122] The control unit (180) may, when information on a skin disease (e.g., at least one of the types of skin diseases and treatment stages thereof) is input through the user input unit (123), select a main wavelength corresponding to the skin disease and determine the amount of purple light and red light irradiation according to each treatment stage. The amount of light irradiation may be light power per unit area (mW / cm). 2 ) (or power density) and the light exposure time.

[0123] When the above light-emitting module (200) is attached to the skin, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to irradiate purple light and red light according to the determined light irradiation amount.

[0124] To this end, the control unit (180) can control the light emitting module (200) to keep the optical power of the purple light and the optical power of the red light and the optical irradiation duty constant, as illustrated in (10-1) of FIG. 10, and to irradiate the purple light and the red light separately. That is, the purple light can be irradiated in the corresponding amount of light irradiation, and then the red light can be irradiated in the corresponding amount of light irradiation. In this case, the treatment time can be unnecessarily increased.

[0125] Accordingly, in order to significantly reduce the treatment time, as illustrated in (10-2) of FIG. 10, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to repeatedly irradiate purple light and red light according to a plurality of cycles, and to irradiate purple light and red light in a time-division manner within one cycle. That is, the control unit (180) can control to vary the optical power and duty for each wavelength simultaneously in order to match the required amount of light irradiation (energy) within a set time. The control unit (180) simultaneously drives PAM (Pulse Amplitude Modulation) and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) to vary the optical power and duty for each optical wavelength simultaneously so that purple light and red light are alternately irradiated within one cycle.

[0126] In the early stages of skin treatment, violet light exposure can have a wide irradiation time and high light power within a single cycle, while red light exposure can have a narrow irradiation time and low light power. This is to ensure that the sterilizing and anti-inflammatory effects are greater than the skin regeneration effects in the early stages of skin treatment.

[0127] During the mid-stage of skin treatment, the irradiation time and power of purple and red light can be equalized within a single cycle. This is to focus on both sterilization and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as skin tissue regeneration, thereby promoting skin cell proliferation.

[0128] In the final stages of skin treatment, the irradiation time of violet light may be narrow and the light power may be low within a single cycle, while the irradiation time of red light may be wide and the light power may be high. This is to ensure that the skin regeneration effect in the final stages of skin treatment is greater than the sterilization and anti-inflammatory effects.

[0129] Hereinafter, with further reference to FIG. 11, the PAM and PWM driving for irradiating purple and red light of the electronic device (10) will be examined in more detail. FIG. 11 illustrates examples of purple and red light irradiated by an electronic device according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

[0130] As illustrated in (11-1) of FIG. 11, the control unit (180) can generally control the light emitting module (200) in a PAM and PWM manner to irradiate light so that purple light is more dominant than red light in the early stage of skin treatment, so that purple light and red light have the same or similar irradiance amounts in the middle stage of skin treatment, and so that red light is more dominant than purple light in the late stage of skin treatment. That is, the control unit (180) can control the light emitting module (200) to perform at least one of increasing the amplitude and increasing the duty of the specific light in order to increase the irradiance amount of the specific light within one cycle, and to perform at least one of decreasing the amplitude and decreasing the duty of the specific light in order to decrease the irradiance amount of the specific light. The amplitude of the light may correspond to the light power per unit time.

[0131] Meanwhile, as illustrated in (11-2) of Fig. 11, the control unit (180) can determine the amount of light irradiation by taking into account not only the treatment stage but also the type of skin disease. The ratio of the amount of purple light irradiation and the amount of red light irradiation may vary depending on the type of skin disease.

[0132] First, in the case of atopic dermatitis, in the early stages, the energy of purple light is increased to suppress sterilization and inflammation reactions, and from the mid to late stages, the energy ratio of red light is gradually increased to improve the speed of tissue regeneration, enabling skin reconstruction and tissue strengthening.

[0133] To be more specific, in the early stage of treatment of atopic dermatitis, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to irradiate purple light in the amount of the first purple light irradiation for sterilization and inflammation suppression, while irradiating red light in the amount of the first red light irradiation (< the first purple light irradiation).

[0134] In the middle stage of treatment of atopic dermatitis, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to reduce the amount of purple light from the first amount of purple light irradiation to the second amount of purple light irradiation and increase the amount of red light from the first amount of red light irradiation to the second amount of red light irradiation (< the second amount of purple light irradiation) for tissue generation and collagen synthesis. When the amount of purple light is reduced from the first amount of purple light irradiation to the second amount of purple light irradiation, the light duty can be reduced while maintaining the light amplitude. In addition, when the amount of red light is increased from the first amount of red light irradiation to the second amount of red light irradiation, the light duty can be increased while maintaining the light amplitude.

[0135] And, in the case of the terminal stage of treatment of atopic dermatitis, the control unit (180) can control the light emitting module (200) to further reduce the purple light from the second purple light irradiation amount to the third purple light irradiation amount and increase the red light from the second red light irradiation amount to the third red light irradiation amount (< the third purple light irradiation amount) for skin reconstruction and tissue strengthening. When the purple light is reduced from the second purple light irradiation amount to the third purple light irradiation amount, the light duty can be maintained while the light amplitude can be reduced. And, when the red light is increased from the second red light irradiation amount to the third red light irradiation amount, the light duty can be maintained while the light amplitude can be increased.

[0136] In the case of atopic dermatitis, the ratio of purple light exposure to red light exposure may decrease as treatment progresses from the early to the late stages.

[0137] In the case of psoriasis, in the early stages, only purple light can be used to suppress excessive proliferation of keratinocytes and production of inflammatory cytokines, and the proportion of red light can be increased from the middle to late stages.

[0138] Looking more specifically, in the early stage of psoriasis treatment, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to irradiate only purple light in the amount of the fourth purple light and not to irradiate red light in order to suppress proliferation of keratinocytes and inflammation.

[0139] In the middle stage of psoriasis treatment, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to irradiate red light equivalent to the fifth red light irradiation amount (< the fifth violet light irradiation amount) while reducing the violet light from the fourth violet light irradiation amount to the fifth violet light irradiation amount. When the violet light is reduced from the fourth violet light irradiation amount to the fifth violet light irradiation amount, the light amplitude may slightly increase while the light duty may decrease.

[0140] In the final stage of psoriasis treatment, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to increase the red light from the fifth red light irradiation amount to the sixth red light (< the fourth purple light irradiation amount and the fifth purple light irradiation amount) while maintaining the purple light at the fifth purple light irradiation amount for skin reconstruction and tissue strengthening. When the red light increases from the fifth red light irradiation amount to the sixth red light, the light duty can be maintained while the light amplitude can increase.

[0141] In the case of psoriasis, the ratio of purple light exposure to red light exposure may decrease as treatment progresses from the early to the late stages.

[0142] Meanwhile, in the case of keloid skin disease, which is a disease in which the skin protrudes and grows significantly toward the surrounding area due to excessive collagen proliferation, the period of purple light irradiation can be gradually increased to suppress cell activity and the production of collagen and fibroblasts.

[0143] To be more specific, in the early stage of treatment of keloid skin disease, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to irradiate purple light equivalent to the seventh purple light irradiation amount and red light equivalent to the seventh red light irradiation amount (< the seventh purple light irradiation amount) for sterilization and inflammation suppression.

[0144] In the middle stage of treatment of keloid skin disease, the control unit (180) can control the light emitting module (200) to reduce the amount of purple light from the seventh purple light irradiation amount to the eighth purple light irradiation amount and increase the amount of red light from the seventh red light irradiation amount to the eighth red light irradiation amount (< the eighth purple light irradiation amount). When the amount of purple light is reduced from the seventh purple light irradiation amount to the eighth purple light irradiation amount, the light duty can be maintained while the light amplitude can be reduced. In addition, when the amount of red light is increased from the seventh red light irradiation amount to the eighth red light irradiation amount, the light duty can be maintained while the light amplitude can be increased.

[0145] In the final stage of treatment of keloid skin disease, the control unit (180) can control the light-emitting module (200) to increase the amount of purple light from the 8th purple light irradiation amount to the 9th purple light irradiation amount while not irradiating red light in order to suppress the synthesis of collagen and fibroblasts. When the amount of purple light increases from the 8th purple light irradiation amount to the 9th purple light irradiation amount, the light duty may increase while the light amplitude may slightly decrease.

[0146] In the case of keloid skin diseases, unlike atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, the ratio of purple light exposure to red light exposure may increase from the early stage of treatment to the late stage.

[0147] For the early and mid-stages of treatment, the ratio of violet light dose to red light dose may be greatest for psoriasis treatment, intermediate for atopic dermatitis treatment, and smallest for keloid skin treatment.

[0148] In the final stages of treatment, the ratio of violet light dose to red light dose may be greatest for keloid skin treatment, intermediate for psoriasis, and smallest for atopic dermatitis.

[0149] The experimental results of light irradiation of the electronic device (10) will be further described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the experimental results of light irradiation of an electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0150] As shown in Fig. 12, light with a wavelength of 405 nm is 72 J / cm 2 When investigated with the amount of light irradiation, it was found that the growth of Staphylococcus Aureus and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa was significantly suppressed compared to when left at room temperature.

[0151] Meanwhile, as shown in (13-1) of Fig. 13, when human fibroblasts and keratinocytes are irradiated with purple light, it can be confirmed that a cell activation inhibitory effect is exhibited, and it can be confirmed that this can be utilized to inhibit the proliferation of keratinocytes and keloid cells of atopy and psoriasis.

[0152] In addition, as shown in (13-2) of Fig. 13, when red light is irradiated on human epithelial cells, a cell activation effect can be confirmed, and it can be confirmed that it can be used to induce skin cell proliferation in the later stages of treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.

[0153] Existing phototherapy for inflammatory skin diseases has limited treatment sites and has difficulty in long-term treatment due to accessibility limitations such as hospital visits 2-3 times a week. In addition, portable phototherapy devices are not flexible, limiting their application to wearable healthcare.

[0154] However, according to the light source module (200) of the present disclosure as described above, the flexible surface light source is configured as an ultra-thin surface of 1 mm or less, so it can adhere to the skin without causing any inconvenience in movement, and it is portable so that it can be used for a long period of time even at home, so that an improvement in the treatment effect can be expected.

[0155] In addition, according to the light source module (200) of the present disclosure as described above, treatment is possible without the burden of side effects by using purple light in the visible light wavelength range that has a skin treatment effect while having an effect similar to ultraviolet rays, and can be used even on infants and children.

[0156] In addition, according to the light source module (200) of the present disclosure as described above, it is possible to control a constant light energy required for treatment, minimize light loss according to distance by closely contacting the skin, and ensure uniformity, so that a reproducible treatment effect can be expected.

[0157] In addition, according to the light source module (200) of the present disclosure as described above, by mixing and using two wavelength bands effective for treating skin diseases, a phototherapy algorithm capable of suppressing or activating cell responses depending on the type of skin disease and treatment stage can be applied differently to maximize the treatment effect.

[0158] In particular, by selectively using a purple light source that is effective in treating skin inflammation and a red light source that is effective in tissue regeneration, the light source output, irradiation time, and light irradiation repetition cycle are adjusted to suit the user's lesion, enabling intensive treatment depending on the lesion and making it easy to use at home.

[0159] The present invention described above can be implemented as computer-readable code on a medium having a program recorded thereon. Computer-readable media include all types of recording devices that store data that can be read by a computer system. Examples of computer-readable media include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid state disks (SSDs), silicon disk drives (SDDs), ROMs, RAMs, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, optical data storage devices, etc., and also include media implemented in the form of carrier waves (e.g., transmission via the Internet).

[0160] Accordingly, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all respects, but rather as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the present invention are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Includes a light-emitting module; and a control module; The above light emitting module, A plurality of light source elements and a first wiring arranged on a rigid region; and a second wiring disposed on a soft area; The above control module, User input; and including a control unit; An electronic device for skin treatment, characterized in that the first wiring on the rigid region is configured in a non-wave shape, and the second wiring on the soft region is configured in a wave shape.

2. In the first paragraph, the light emitting module, An electronic device for skin treatment, further comprising a flexible substrate layer on which first wiring and second wiring are formed.

3. In the second paragraph, the light emitting module, A protective layer for protecting the plurality of light source elements; and An electronic device for skin treatment, characterized in that it further comprises a reflective layer for increasing light efficiency through light reflection.

4. In the first paragraph, the light emitting module, An electronic device for skin treatment, characterized in that it further includes a PAC (Photo Active Compound) layer on which the plurality of light source elements are transferred.

5. In the first paragraph, the plurality of light source elements, An electronic device for skin treatment, characterized by including a purple light source element for irradiating purple light and a red light source element for irradiating red light.

6. In the fifth paragraph, the control unit, An electronic device for skin treatment, characterized in that the light-emitting module is controlled to repeatedly irradiate purple light and red light according to multiple cycles, and to irradiate purple light and red light in a time-division manner within one cycle.

7. In paragraph 6, the control unit, An electronic device for skin treatment characterized in that it controls to adjust the amount of purple light and the amount of red light based on skin disease information input from a user through the user input unit.

8. In paragraph 7, the control unit, In the early stages of treatment, the amount of purple light irradiation is controlled to be greater than the amount of red light irradiation. An electronic device for skin treatment characterized in that the amount of red light irradiated is controlled to be greater than the amount of purple light irradiated at the end of treatment.

9. In paragraph 7, the control unit, An electronic device for skin treatment, characterized in that the amount of light irradiated is controlled by controlling at least one of light power and duty.

10. In paragraph 7, the control unit, An electronic device for skin treatment characterized in that the light-emitting module is controlled so that the ratio of the amount of purple light irradiated to the amount of red light irradiated decreases as the treatment of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis progresses from the early stage to the late stage.

11. In paragraph 7, the control unit, An electronic device for skin treatment characterized in that the light-emitting module is controlled so that the ratio of the amount of purple light irradiated to the amount of red light irradiated increases from the early stage of treatment to the late stage of treatment for keloid skin disease.

12. A step of receiving skin disease information from a user through a user input section; and A method for controlling an electronic device for skin treatment, comprising: a step of controlling a light-emitting module to adjust the amount of purple light and the amount of red light based on the input skin disease information.

13. In paragraph 12, In the initial stage of treatment, a step of controlling the amount of purple light irradiation to be greater than the amount of red light irradiation; and A method for controlling an electronic device for skin treatment, characterized in that it comprises a step of controlling the amount of red light irradiated to be greater than the amount of purple light irradiated at the end of treatment.

14. In paragraph 12, A method for controlling an electronic device for skin treatment, comprising: a step of controlling the light-emitting module so that the ratio of the amount of purple light irradiated to the amount of red light irradiated decreases as the treatment progresses from the early stage to the late stage of atopic dermatitis or psoriasis treatment.

15. In paragraph 12, A method for controlling an electronic device for skin treatment, comprising: a step of controlling the light-emitting module so that the ratio of the amount of purple light irradiated to the amount of red light irradiated increases from the early stage of treatment to the late stage of treatment for a keloid skin disease.

Citation Information

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