JP2009055969A - Phototherapy apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance therapeutic effect by uniformly irradiating the entire irradiation surface to be a treatment part with therapeutic light. <P>SOLUTION: A phototherapy apparatus is equipped with a plurality of light emitting means 1a-1e arranged on a flat or curved surface, a switch control means 2, and a light diffusion plate 3. The switch control means 2 switches each of the plurality of light emitting means 1a-1e in time-division for pulse driving and controls lighting time or light emitting quantity of the plurality of light emitting means 1a-1e in accordance with the arranged position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a phototherapy device for performing treatment such as amelioration of inflammatory pain with near infrared light or the like.

  Near-infrared light dilates blood vessels to increase tissue blood flow, suppresses sympathetic nervous system excitement, activates cellular tissue to promote wound healing, works on inflammatory cytokines and pain substances It is well known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In particular, it has been clarified that the near-infrared region in the vicinity of a wavelength of 800 nm to 900 nm with little absorption for water, hemoglobin, and melanin is excellent in living body permeability and suppresses inflammation and relieves pain by an action mechanism different from the thermal effect. In addition to semiconductor lasers, xenon, and various lamps as therapeutic light sources in the near-infrared region, light sources using light-emitting diode elements have been commercialized.

  In particular, in order to allow treatment light to reach the deep part of the living body, it is necessary to irradiate the living body with higher output light. However, in order to avoid burns due to a rise in the skin surface temperature, a proposal has been made to intermittently pulse the treatment light. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  4A and 4B show the configuration of the light source portion of the conventional infrared treatment device described in Patent Document 1. FIG. A plurality of near-infrared light emitting diodes 14 are mounted on the flexible substrate 15 in a panel shape with a predetermined interval. The tip shape of each near-infrared light emitting diode 14 is formed in a round shape in order to improve the feeling of contact with the human body. The reason why the tip of the near-infrared light emitting diode 14 is round is to make it function as a lens that condenses light while suppressing the diffusion of light, and to bring a finger pressure effect by pressing the tip against the affected area. Thereby, the irradiation field of treatment light can be narrowed, and it can irradiate efficiently only to the affected part direction.

  Since the near-infrared light emitting diode 14 is mounted on the flexible substrate 15, the near-infrared light-emitting diode 14 is appropriately brought into contact with the undulating affected part, the adhesion is improved, and the penetration of the near-infrared ray into the human body can be improved.

JP-A-11-192315 (FIGS. 1-2) JP 2000-254241 A (FIGS. 3 to 4) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-159341 (FIG. 4)

The higher the light output and light output density required for such a phototherapy device, the better. From the standpoint of patient safety, for example, an output limit value is determined in JIS T 0601-2-203: 2005 for an infrared treatment device for doctors. The light output in the case of a close-contact type applicator requires special care when it exceeds 1 W, and must always be 10 W or less. Similarly, the optical power density requires special attention if it exceeds 3W / cm ^2, must 7W / cm ² or less.

  However, this type of conventional phototherapy device has a configuration in which bullet-type light emitting diodes, which are point light sources, are laid vertically and in close contact with the human body, resulting in extreme light output and density of light output density in the irradiated area. It was. Specifically, when the light emitting means having a narrow viewing angle is used, the light output means has a high light output density on the optical axis, while light is not easily irradiated between the light emitting means and the light emitting means. Further, when a light emitting means having a wide viewing angle is used, the light intensity distribution (light distribution profile) is a normal distribution with a high light output density at the center of the irradiated surface and a low light output density at the peripheral part.

  Similar to the light output and light output density, the temperature distribution on the irradiated surface may be higher in the center of the heat-dissipating area, resulting in imbalance in the life of the light emitting means and excessive heat effects on the affected area. There was also.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enhance the therapeutic effect by uniformly irradiating therapeutic light over the entire irradiation surface serving as a treatment site. In addition, an object of the present invention is to extend the life of the light emitting means and avoid the risk of excessively affecting the affected area.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the phototherapy device of the present invention is provided with a plurality of light emitting means arranged on a plane or a curved surface, and each of the plurality of light emitting means is switched in a time-sharing manner and is pulse-driven. Switching control means for controlling the lighting time or light emission amount of the plurality of light emitting means according to the position.

  With this configuration, since the lighting time and the amount of light emission are individually controlled according to the position where the light emitting means is disposed, it is possible to avoid intensively irradiating therapeutic light only in a specific region.

  Preferably, the switching control means makes the lighting time or light emission amount of the light emitting means arranged in the peripheral part of the light irradiation surface longer than the lighting time or light emission amount of the light emitting means arranged in the central part.

  With this configuration, for example, in a plurality of light emitting means arranged in a vertical and horizontal matrix, or in a circular or polygonal shape, the lighting control time of the light emitting means arranged in the peripheral portion of the light irradiation surface or light emission by the operation of the switching control means Since the amount of light is longer than the lighting time or amount of light emitted from the light emitting means disposed at the center, the light intensity distribution (light distribution profile) of the entire irradiated surface is not a normal distribution protruding only at the center, but a Mexican hat. Can be made uniform and flat.

  It is preferable that a light diffusing plate that diffuses irradiation light from the plurality of light emitting means is provided.

  Even if a plurality of point light source-like light-emitting means are laid out by this configuration, the light intensity distribution (light distribution profile) of the entire light irradiation surface is made more uniform by providing a light diffusion plate for diffusing treatment light on the light-emitting means. Can be flattened.

For example, a peak light output of 10 W or peak light can be obtained at any position on the irradiation surface as a treatment light that can obtain a high therapeutic effect without excessive thermal influence on the affected area by time-division light emission by the switching control means or a light diffusion plate. It can also be made uniform to an output density of 7 W / cm ² , an average light output of 1 W, and an average light output density of 0.7 W / cm ² .

  As for the temperature distribution on the irradiated surface, since the temperature rise in the central portion having low heat dissipation can be suppressed, the life of the light emitting means is hardly affected by the position. The risk of burns to the affected area due to partial heat generation within the irradiated surface is also avoided.

  As described above, by uniformizing and flattening the light intensity distribution and temperature distribution on the treatment light irradiation surface, a higher therapeutic effect can be obtained without risk of burns to the affected area. The therapeutic light can reach the deeper part by pulse driving. Since the density of treatment light irradiation is eliminated, treatment can be performed in a shorter time without frequently shifting the irradiation position. The life of the light emitting means is also less likely to be unbalanced depending on the position.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a phototherapy device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The phototherapy device 1 includes a light emitting means 1, a switching control means 2, and a light diffusing plate 3.

  The light emitting means 1 is composed of an ultra-high brightness near infrared light emitting diode element module of 830 nm. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the arrangement of the light emitting means 1 in the present embodiment. The light emitting means 1 is composed of a number of chip-like near-infrared light emitting diode elements 4 arranged on a plane or a curved surface. As conceptually shown in FIG. 2B, the surface on which the near-infrared light-emitting diode element 4 is arranged is divided into donut-shaped or concentric regions, and a plurality of near-infrared light-emitting diode elements 4 belonging to individual regions are divided. Each of the light emitting means 1a to 1e is configured. In the present embodiment, in order to simplify the explanation, the light emitting means 1 includes five light emitting elements 1a to 1e, and the light emitting means 1c is arranged at the most central part, from the light emitting means 1c toward the peripheral part. The light emitting means 1d, 1b, 1e, 1a are arranged in this order. As an alternative, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the light emitting means 1c is located at the center most, the light emitting means 1b and 1d around the light emitting means 1, and the light emitting means around the light emitting means 1b and 1d (most peripheral side). 1a and 1e may be arranged. In the following description, it is assumed that the concentric arrangement shown in FIG. 2B is adopted.

  The switching control unit 2 performs pulse driving by sequentially switching each of the light emitting units 1a to 1e in a time division manner.

  The light diffusion plate 3 is made of resin and has an aspherical shape, and shapes the light intensity distribution (light distribution profile) of the treatment light irradiated from the light emitting means 1a to 1e. The light diffusing plate 3 constitutes a Fresnel lens system. The light emitting means 1 and the light diffusing plate 3 are integrated, and the treatment light from the light emitting means 1 enters the light diffusing plate 3 from the incident surface 3a and is irradiated from the irradiation surface 3 to the treatment site. The irradiation surface 3a of the light diffusing plate 3 has a concave curved surface.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the light emission patterns of the light emitting means 1a to 1e in the first embodiment of the present invention. The pulse width of the drive signal supplied from the switching control means 2 to each of the light emitting means 1a to 1e is set such that the peripheral light emitting means 1a and 1e are long and the central light emitting means 1c is short. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B and FIG. 3, the light emitting means 1c on the most central side, the light emitting means 1b and 1d outside the light emitting means 1c, and the peripheral part located outside the light emitting means 1b and 1d The pulse width becomes longer in the order of the light emitting means 1a and 1e on the side. Further, only one of the light emitting means 1a to 1e emits a drive signal (only the near infrared light emitting diode element 4 included in any one of the light emitting means 1a to 1e emits light simultaneously. As set). Therefore, the current consumption is defined only for one module. Further, the driving signals are the light emitting means 1a on the most peripheral side, the light emitting means 1b third from the most peripheral part (third from the central part side), the light emitting means 1c on the central part side, and the second from the central part side. It is set to repeat light emission in the order of the light emitting unit 1d (fourth from the most peripheral side) and the light emitting unit 1e from the most central side (fourth from the most central side).

For the light emission patterns of the light emitting means 1a to 1e, the duty ratio is selected so that the light intensity distributions in the peripheral part and the central part are approximately equal. As a result, the light intensity distribution from the treatment light irradiation surface is not high only in the central portion, or uneven distribution that protrudes only on the optical axis of each light emitting means 1, as shown by the left dotted line in FIG. It becomes trapezoid. For example, a peak light output of 10 W can be obtained at any position on the irradiation surface as treatment light that provides a high therapeutic effect without excessive thermal influence on the affected area by the time-division emission by the switching control means 2 or the light diffusion plate 3. It can also be made uniform to a peak light output density of 7 W / cm ² , an average light output of 1 W, and an average light output density of 0.7 W / cm ² . In general, it is known that the thermal relaxation time of the epidermis from the highest temperature heated by infrared irradiation to 50% temperature is 3 ms to 10 ms, and the hair root is 40 ms to 100 ms. An increase in skin surface temperature can be prevented by providing a rest time of 100 ms or more.

  Further, by shortening the light emission time at the central portion, the temperature rises only at the central portion where heat radiation is difficult to cause the life of the light emitting means 1c and the near-infrared light emitting diode element 4 in the vicinity thereof, or temperature unevenness of the irradiated surface. The risk of excessive heat effects on the affected area due to can also be avoided. Since the light-emitting means 1a to 1d that perform pulse light emission control are switched to time division, the average current consumption can be kept low, and the power consumption can be reduced and the apparatus can be downsized.

  In FIG. 2A, the chip-like near-infrared light emitting diode elements 4 are arranged at equal pitches in the vertical and horizontal directions in the drawing, but the central part is roughly arranged and the peripheral parts are densely arranged to suppress the temperature rise in the central part. You may do it. Also, natural heat dissipation or forced heat dissipation may be used to make it easier to touch the outside air by opening a hole between the near infrared light emitting diode elements 4 and to suppress a temperature rise at the center of the irradiated surface. Good. The pitches of the holes may be arranged densely in the central part and sparsely in the peripheral part, in addition to being arranged at equal intervals.

  Pulse light emission is performed in the order of light emitting means 1a⇒light emitting means 1b⇒light emitting means 1c⇒light emitting means 1d⇒light emitting means 1e⇒light emitting means 1a⇒. In other words, what emits light among the light emitting means 1a to 1c is switched from the peripheral portion side to the central portion side, and subsequently switched from the central portion side to the peripheral portion side. With this light emission pattern, heat storage accompanying light emission is more efficiently dispersed, and excellent heat dissipation is obtained.

  In addition, it is preferable that the light emission means 1a, 1b, 1c,. It is preferable to set so that the lighting times of a plurality of light emitting means do not overlap, and if any one of the falling edges and the rising timing of another light emitting means coincide, noise may occur.

  The near-infrared light-emitting diode element 4 is excellent in rising / falling responsiveness. Further, when the pulse lighting is performed, a current several times or more can be passed as compared with the case of the continuous lighting operation. Moreover, it is cheaper than the near-infrared light emitting diode element 4 semiconductor laser element, and it is easy to realize surface irradiation instead of point irradiation. Therefore, the site of pain is not localized and is suitable for a wide range of diseases.

  Since the wavelength of the near-infrared light-emitting diode element 4 does not include a middle to far-infrared component and is 830 nm, which has excellent light penetration, the skin surface is hardly affected by heat.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications or alternatives such as those listed below can be considered.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light emitting units 1a to 1e including the plurality of near-infrared light emitting diode elements 4 are handled as one lump, but all elements may be individually controlled. The number of divisions is not limited to five areas.

  The pulse emission control may be adjusted by the drive current instead of the duty ratio between the ON time and the OFF time.

  The arrangement configuration of the near-infrared light-emitting diode elements 4 in each of the light emitting units 1a to 1e may be arranged in a sparse arrangement in which the central portion is separated from the adjacent elements, and in the dense arrangement close to the adjacent elements.

  The function of the light diffusion plate 3 may be provided at the irradiation position of each light emitting means 1. The Selfoc lens may be made of glass instead of resin.

  In order to suppress internal heat generation, a spacer that keeps a certain distance may be provided instead of closely contacting the light diffusion plate 3 and the affected part.

  The treatment light irradiation surface shape is not limited to a circle. It may be square, polygonal, flat or curved.

  The light diffusing plate may be flexible. The light emitting means 1 and the switching control means 2 that are completely independent modules may be connected by separate connection cords so that a plurality of treatment sites are irradiated simultaneously. The modules on the treatment light irradiation surface may be connected by a hinge so as to have mobility.

  In order to clearly indicate that irradiation is in progress, a visible light emitting diode element may be mixed in the light emitting means 1 or a safety function such as a timer or a notification sound means may be added.

  In the operation unit or operation terminal for operating the light emitting means 1, which near infrared light emitting diode element 4 is individually set to be turned on, or a schematic arrangement diagram of the near infrared light emitting diode element 4 is provided, ON / OFF may be set by linking this layout diagram with a touch sensor or a switch. On the other hand, the current setting state may be displayed on the operation unit, the operation terminal, or the like.

  As described above, the phototherapy device according to the present invention can obtain a higher therapeutic effect without the risk of burns to the affected area by uniformizing and flattening the light intensity distribution and the temperature distribution on the treatment light irradiation surface. The life of the light-emitting means is not likely to be unbalanced due to the arrangement, and is useful as a phototherapy device that relieves inflammatory pain with near-infrared treatment light.

The block block diagram in Embodiment 1 of the phototherapy device of this invention. The figure which showed the arrangement configuration of the light emission means 1 (near infrared light emitting diode element 4) in Embodiment 1 of the phototherapy device of this invention. The conceptual diagram which shows the arrangement configuration of the concentric light emission means. The schematic diagram which shows the alternative of the arrangement configuration of the light emission means. The schematic diagram which shows the other alternative of the arrangement structure of the light emission means. The time chart which shows the light emission pattern of the light emission means 1 in Embodiment 1 of the phototherapy device of this invention. The top view which showed the structure of the light emission source in the conventional phototherapy device. The side view which showed the structure of the light emission source in the conventional phototherapy device.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a to 1e Light emitting means 2 Switching control means 3 Light diffusing plate 4 Near infrared light emitting diode

Claims (3)

A plurality of light emitting means arranged on a plane or curved surface;
A phototherapy device comprising: a switching control unit that switches each of the plurality of light emitting units in a time-sharing manner and performs pulse driving, and controls a lighting time or a light emission amount of the plurality of light emitting units according to the arranged position.   2. The phototherapy device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control unit increases a lighting time or a light emission amount of a light emitting unit disposed in a peripheral part of the light irradiation surface to be longer than a lighting time or a light emission amount of the light emitting unit disposed in a central part. . The phototherapy device according to claim 1, further comprising a light diffusing plate that diffuses irradiation light from the plurality of light emitting means.

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