LED Therapy Bed with Modular Thermal Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing LED therapy beds face issues with ineffective light penetration due to LEDs being spaced too far from the body, distortion of light energy by acrylic covers, and uneven temperature distribution across the body, leading to reduced therapeutic benefits.

Innovation Solution

A LED therapy bed with separately controlled LED modules, thermal sensors, and fans to maintain optimal skin temperature, placed very close to the body, and an acrylic polymer cover that minimizes distortion and ensures uniform energy delivery across the body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If LEDs are spaced several inches from the user in a retrofitted tanning bed design, then the device structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but light penetration effectiveness is reduced and therapeutic energy delivery is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structure simplicityVSAvoidlight penetration effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The therapy bed is divided into separate modular sections (head section, torso section, leg sections) that can be independently adjusted. This allows the LED arrays in each section to be positioned at optimal distances from the user's body, ensuring effective light penetration while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bed incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of LED array distances from the user's body. The sections can be raised or lowered to optimize the proximity of LEDs to different body parts, ensuring therapeutic effectiveness while maintaining a simple retrofitted tanning bed structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If an acrylic cover is used in the LED therapy bed, then the structural integrity and safety are improved, but the preset angle of emitted light is distorted and power output is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidlight power output
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The acrylic cover is designed with locally optimized properties - specific regions have varying thicknesses or refractive index characteristics to minimize light distortion in critical areas while maintaining overall structural integrity. This allows the cover to protect the LED arrays without significantly compromising light output or angle precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a retrofitted tanning bed design is used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but simultaneous temperature control of all body parts becomes impractical and uneven heating occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidtemperature uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature control system is segmented into independent zones corresponding to different body parts (head, torso, legs). Each zone has its own heating and cooling control, allowing simultaneous and independent temperature regulation of all body parts while maintaining the cost-effective retrofitted tanning bed structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bed incorporates dynamic temperature control capabilities with independent thermal regulation for each section. Heating and cooling elements can be activated simultaneously in different zones, allowing the system to adapt temperature distribution to match the user's body contours and thermal needs, ensuring uniform therapeutic temperature across all body parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If LEDs are positioned at optimal close proximity to the body, then light penetration and therapeutic energy delivery are maximized, but the device complexity and control requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetherapeutic energy deliveryVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is organized into independent modules for each LED array section. Each module can be controlled individually, allowing precise positioning and activation of LEDs at optimal proximity to different body parts without requiring complex centralized control. This modular approach maximizes therapeutic energy delivery while keeping the control system manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Achieves simultaneous and uniform heating of all body parts to therapeutic temperatures, enhancing light penetration and bio-stimulative effects, thereby improving treatment efficacy for conditions like pain, inflammation, and skin issues.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of different colored LEDs are placed in repeating patterns in each module and emit non-monochromatic light in specific wavelengths which penetrates body tissue and is absorbed, reflected and scattered to excite molecules within cells and tissue to thereby accelerate repair and regeneration

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from LEDs: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

The plurality of LEDs being overdriven to increase light output beyond normal operating intensity and to further produce thermal heat from said plurality of LEDs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

each module further including at least one thermal sensor that locally senses a temperature of said module

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal sensing: Thermistor

Implementation Method 4

each module further including at least one fan wherein the fan speed is regulated directly or indirectly by the at least one thermal sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced convection: Forced Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3419720B1LED therapy bed
Publication Date: 2020.08.19 MARCHESE STEPHEN JAMES
  • EP3419720B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3419720B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3419720B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A LED therapy bed comprising: a plurality of separately controlled LED modules; each module having a plurality of LEDs regulated by a current limiting circuit; the plurality of LEDs being overdriven to increase light output beyond normal operating intensity and to further produce thermal heat from said plurality of LEDs; each module further comprising at least one thermal sensor that locally senses a temperature of said module; and each module further including at least one fan wherein the fan speed is regulated directly or indirectly by the least one thermal sensor; and a master controller that controls each LED module, the at least one thermal sensor and the at least one fan; wherein the temperature of each module or LED is separately controlled.