JP2017200514A - Treatment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety and convenience of a treatment device for UV irradiation.SOLUTION: A treatment device 10 for irradiating the skin with UV comprises: a mesh film 22 brought into contact with the skin to be irradiated; a light guide film 24 laminated on the mesh film 22 and outputting UV toward the skin to be irradiated, through the mesh film 22; and a light input part 12 inputting UV into the light guide film 24. The light guide film 24 comprises a first main surface 24a brought into contact with the mesh film 22 and a second main surface 24b on the side other than the first main surface 24a, and an uneven pattern 28 for scattering UV may be formed on the second main surface 24b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a treatment device, and more particularly to an apparatus for irradiating ultraviolet rays.

  UV treatment is used as a treatment method for various skin diseases. For example, for a wide range of skin diseases from inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis vulgaris, palmoplantar pustulosis, and atopic dermatitis to pigmented diseases such as vitiligo vulgaris, alopecia areata, and malignant tumors such as cutaneous malignant lymphoma, Treatment is performed by irradiating the affected area with long wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVA waves), medium wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVB waves) or the like with a predetermined energy amount. Vitamin D is used for the treatment of osteoporosis, and UV irradiation that effectively produces vitamin D in the body is encouraged. It has been reported that sarcopenia, which is a state of reduced muscle mass often seen in the elderly, is also caused by a decrease in vitamin D.

  As a device for ultraviolet skin treatment, a device that lays a patient on a bed and irradiates ultraviolet rays with a ultraviolet lamp from a position above the patient is generally used (for example, see Patent Document 1). With this type of device, it is necessary for the patient to remain stationary during the irradiation of ultraviolet rays in order to obtain an appropriate therapeutic effect, so it is possible to maintain the same posture for a long time due to infants, elderly people, other diseases, etc. It is virtually impossible to treat difficult patients.

  There has been proposed an apparatus of a type that irradiates ultraviolet rays by bringing a sheet body into close contact with an affected area, guiding ultraviolet rays through the sheet body, and diffusing ultraviolet rays from a sheet body containing a scatterer. This device promotes healing by preventing postoperative infection and preventing suppuration by infecting bacteria by, for example, applying ultraviolet rays to the affected skin area such as postoperative suture marks and bed slips. Can be used for this purpose (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2010-5438 A JP 2008-253337 A

  In the apparatus that irradiates ultraviolet rays with the sheet body in close contact with the skin, the positional relationship between the sheet body and the skin can be fixed. Therefore, it can be said that the convenience is high in that it is not necessary to maintain a stationary posture during ultraviolet irradiation. On the other hand, there is a possibility that a difference in the amount of ultraviolet irradiation may occur between a location where the sheet body is in close contact with the skin and a location where the sheet body is not in close contact and an air layer is present. It is said that the refractive index of human skin is about 1.3 to 1.4, and the amount of output of ultraviolet rays can change depending on the difference in the refractive index of the substance that comes into contact with the sheet body to which the ultraviolet rays are guided. .

  In general, there are individual differences in the amount of ultraviolet irradiation that is appropriate for treatment, and if the amount of ultraviolet irradiation is not appropriate, the therapeutic effect cannot be obtained, and inflammation or the like may occur in the skin. For this reason, if there are places where the sheet body is in close contact and places where the sheet body is not in close contact, there is a possibility that the dose will be uneven and appropriate treatment cannot be performed. Since the skin surface has minute irregularities and has a curved surface shape that varies depending on the body part, it is difficult to make the sheet adhere to the entire skin to be irradiated in order to prevent uneven irradiation.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and one of exemplary purposes thereof is to provide a technique for improving the safety and convenience of a treatment device that irradiates ultraviolet rays.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a treatment device according to an aspect of the present invention is a treatment device for irradiating skin with ultraviolet rays, a mesh film that comes into contact with the skin to be irradiated, and a mesh film laminated on the mesh film. A light guide film that outputs ultraviolet rays toward the skin to be irradiated through the film, and a light input unit that inputs the ultraviolet rays to the light guide film.

  According to this aspect, the mesh film is provided between the light guide film that outputs ultraviolet rays and the skin, and the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated through the air layer in the gaps between the meshes. . By providing the mesh film, it is possible to prevent a portion where the light guide film and the skin are in direct contact and the irradiation amount is partially different. Thereby, it is not necessary to pay attention to the manner of contact between the light guide film and the skin, and the convenience and safety of the treatment device can be improved.

  The light guide film may have a first main surface in contact with the mesh film and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and an uneven pattern that scatters ultraviolet rays may be formed on the second main surface.

  The uneven pattern may be arranged in an array at intervals in the in-plane direction of the second main surface.

  The ratio of the concavo-convex pattern per unit area of the second main surface may be larger at a position farther from the light input unit than at a position near the light input unit.

  You may further provide the reflection layer which is provided on the 2nd main surface of a light guide film, and reflects an ultraviolet-ray.

  You may further provide the belt for fixing for winding the said treatment device around a part of the body and fixing. The fixing band may shield ultraviolet rays.

  You may further provide the operation part for inputting the irradiation time of an ultraviolet-ray, and the control part which controls the irradiation time of a ultraviolet-ray according to the input of an operation part.

  The light input unit may include a light emitting element that emits ultraviolet rays.

  The light emitting element outputs ultraviolet rays having a wavelength in the range of 280 nm to 320 nm, the light guide film is made of a silicone resin material that transmits ultraviolet rays, and the mesh film is made of a tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA). ) It may be made of a resin material.

  The light input unit may include a light emitting element that outputs ultraviolet rays having a wavelength in the range of 308 nm to 311 nm, and a wavelength filter that blocks ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of less than 308 nm among ultraviolet rays output from the light emitting elements.

  The wavelength filter may be a quartz glass filter including an absorber that absorbs ultraviolet light having a wavelength of less than 308 nm, or a dielectric multilayer filter configured to block ultraviolet light having a wavelength of less than 308 nm.

  According to the present invention, a treatment device with improved convenience and safety can be provided.

It is a side view which shows typically the structure of the treatment device which concerns on embodiment. It is a bottom view which shows typically the structure of the treatment device of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of an irradiation sheet | seat typically. It is a top view which shows typically the structure of the uneven | corrugated pattern of a light guide film. It is a figure which shows typically the usage condition of a treatment device. It is a top view which shows typically the structure of the light guide film which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing a configuration of a treatment device 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a bottom view schematically showing the configuration of the treatment device 10 of FIG. The treatment device 10 is a device for performing ultraviolet treatment by irradiating a patient's skin with ultraviolet rays, and is used as a treatment device for skin diseases and motor organ diseases. The treatment device 10 is a surface irradiation type device, and uses the lower surface 21 of the irradiation sheet 20 that outputs ultraviolet rays in contact with or in proximity to the skin to be irradiated.

  The treatment device 10 includes a light input unit 12, an irradiation sheet 20, a fixing band 30, a control unit 32, an operation unit 34, and a power source 36.

  The light input unit 12 is provided at the end or corner of the irradiation sheet 20 and inputs ultraviolet rays to the irradiation sheet 20. The light input unit 12 includes a light emitting element 14 and a wavelength filter 16. The light emitting element 14 is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or the like, and outputs light having a wavelength used for skin treatment. The light emitting element 14 outputs 320 nm to 400 nm long wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVA waves) used for ultraviolet treatment, 290 nm to 320 nm medium wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVB waves), and the like. As such an LED, an aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) LED is known.

  The wavelength filter 16 is provided on the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 14 and adjusts the wavelength band of ultraviolet rays input to the irradiation sheet 20. The wavelength filter 16 transmits, for example, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 311 nm ± 2 nm, which is referred to as narrow-band UVB, and ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 308 nm to 311 nm, which is attracting attention as a high therapeutic effect, and blocks ultraviolet light having a shorter wavelength. As the wavelength filter 16, for example, a quartz glass filter containing an absorber that absorbs ultraviolet light having a wavelength shorter than a predetermined threshold wavelength, or a dielectric configured to block ultraviolet light having a wavelength shorter than the predetermined threshold wavelength. A body multilayer filter or the like can be used. In the modification, the wavelength filter 16 may not be provided.

  The irradiation sheet 20 guides the ultraviolet rays input from the light input unit 12 and outputs the light from the lower surface 21. The irradiation sheet 20 has flexibility or flexibility so as to be deformable along the curved surface shape of the skin to be irradiated. The irradiation sheet 20 is fixed to the fixing band 30.

  The fixing band 30 has flexibility or softness similar to the irradiation sheet 20, and is composed of, for example, a thick cloth having an appropriate strength. The fixing band 30 has a larger area than the irradiation sheet 20 and covers the irradiation sheet 20 so that ultraviolet rays do not leak outside. The fixing band 30 is used to wrap and fix the treatment device 10 around a part of the patient's body, and has a locking portion such as a hook-and-loop fastener for temporarily fixing the wound device in a wound state. The fixing band 30 is a member that becomes a base of the treatment device 10, and covers and protects components of the treatment device 10.

  The control unit 32 controls the light emission of the light emitting element 14 based on the input from the operation unit 34. The control unit 32 controls irradiation conditions such as light emission intensity and irradiation time of the light emitting element 14. For example, the control unit 32 realizes a timer function that turns on the light emitting element 14 when an input operation for starting irradiation is received and turns off the light emitting element 14 when a predetermined irradiation time has elapsed.

  The operation unit 34 is used for operations for starting and ending ultraviolet irradiation, and for setting ultraviolet irradiation conditions. The operation unit 34 is configured by a touch panel or the like, and the operation state of the treatment device 10 or set irradiation conditions are displayed on the touch panel. The operation unit 34 may be configured by a switch, a button, or the like provided separately from a display unit such as a liquid crystal display.

  The power source 36 supplies power to the light emitting element 14 and the control unit 32. The power source 36 includes a battery, for example, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery. The power source 36 has a power terminal for charging the rechargeable battery, and is configured to be charged through an AC adapter or the like connected to the power terminal. The power source 36 may include a dry battery that is a primary battery or a secondary battery, and a battery holder for attaching the dry battery may be provided.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the irradiation sheet 20. The irradiation sheet 20 includes a mesh film 22, a light guide film 24, and a reflective layer 26, and is configured by a laminated structure thereof.

  The mesh film 22 is a layer that is in direct contact with the skin to be irradiated, and has a role of separating the light guide film 24 so as not to directly contact the skin. The mesh film 22 has an aperture ratio that does not completely block the ultraviolet light output from the light guide film 24, and the mesh is configured to be dense enough to prevent contact between the skin and the light guide film 24. It is preferable. The material of the mesh film 22 is not particularly limited, but may be made of the same cotton as the medical gauze or may be made of a resin material. For example, the transmittance of ultraviolet rays may be increased by using a fluororesin such as tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA) as the material of the mesh film 22.

  The light guide film 24 guides the ultraviolet rays input from the light input unit 12 and outputs the ultraviolet rays toward the skin to be irradiated through the mesh film 22. The light guide film 24 has a first main surface 24a in contact with the mesh film 22 and a second main surface 24b opposite to the first main surface 24a. The light guide film 24 is made of a material having high ultraviolet transmittance and excellent flexibility or flexibility, for example, a silicone resin material. The ultraviolet rays introduced from the light input unit 12 to the light guide film 24 propagate through the light guide film 24 while being repeatedly reflected by the first main surface 24a and the second main surface 24b.

  The reflective layer 26 is provided on the second major surface 24b. The reflective layer 26 is made of a material having a high ultraviolet reflectance, and is made of, for example, aluminum (Al). The reflective layer 26 is preferably formed to be thick enough to sufficiently reflect ultraviolet rays on the second main surface 24b and thin enough not to impair the flexibility or flexibility of the light guide film 24. The reflective layer 26 can be formed by, for example, aluminum vapor deposition on the second main surface 24b.

  A concave / convex pattern 28 for scattering ultraviolet rays is provided on the second main surface 24 b of the light guide film 24. The uneven pattern 28 is not provided on the entire second main surface 24b, but is arranged in an array at a predetermined interval in the in-plane direction of the second main surface 24b. Among the ultraviolet rays propagating in the light guide film 24, a part of the ultraviolet rays incident on the concavo-convex pattern 28 are scattered by the concavo-convex pattern 28 and incident on the first main surface 24a at a relatively small incident angle. 24 is output outside. On the other hand, the ultraviolet rays incident on the region where the concave / convex pattern 28 is not provided are incident on the first main surface 24a at a relatively large incident angle after being reflected on the second main surface 24b, and thus re-reflected on the first main surface 24a. Then, the light propagates through the light guide film 24.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the uneven pattern 28 of the light guide film 24. The concavo-convex pattern 28 is not provided uniformly over the entire light guide film 24, but is provided so that the density varies depending on the distance from the light input unit 12. Specifically, the ratio of the concave / convex pattern 28 per unit area of the second main surface 24b is small at a position close to the light input portion 12, and per unit area of the second main surface 24b at a position far from the light input portion 12. The ratio of the concavo-convex pattern 28 is large. The concavo-convex pattern 28 may be provided so that the ratio of the region occupied by the concavo-convex pattern 28 increases continuously as the distance from the light input unit 12 increases, or may be provided so as to increase stepwise. Good. By changing the density of the concavo-convex pattern 28 according to the distance of the light input portion 12, it is possible to output ultraviolet light having a uniform intensity over the entire light guide film 24.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating how the treatment device 10 is used. The treatment device 10 is used in a state of being wound around and fixed to the arm 40 as shown. First, the irradiation sheet 20 and the fixing band 30 are wound around the arm 40 so that the skin (affected part) to be irradiated and the mesh film 22 are in contact with each other, and the treatment device 10 is armed using a locking part such as a hook-and-loop fastener. Fix to 40. Subsequently, the operation unit 34 is operated to start irradiation with ultraviolet rays. After the ultraviolet irradiation is automatically ended by the timer function, the treatment device 10 is removed from the arm 40.

  According to the present embodiment, since the mesh film 22 is provided between the light guide film 24 and the skin to be irradiated, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the amount of ultraviolet irradiation due to direct contact between the skin and the light guide film 24. . In the present embodiment, the ultraviolet rays are propagated using the reflection of the first main surface 24a of the light guide film 24, and the ultraviolet rays are extracted to the outside using the scattering by the uneven pattern 28 of the second main surface 24b. When the mesh film 22 is not present, the reflectance at the contact location changes when the refractive index of the substance in contact with the first main surface 24a changes, and the intensity of ultraviolet light output from the contact location differs from the value intended at the time of design. There is a possibility. The human skin is said to have a refractive index of about 1.3 to 1.4, and has a refractive index different from that of air having a refractive index of about 1, so that the skin is in direct contact with the light guide film 24. The UV intensity can be greater than the design value. If it does so, excessive ultraviolet rays will be irradiated to a part of skin, and the irradiation amount of ultraviolet rays will be insufficient in another part, and an appropriate therapeutic effect will no longer be acquired. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the mesh film 22 is provided to suppress direct contact between the light guide film 24 and the skin so that the second main surface 24b becomes an interface with the air layer. As a result, fluctuations in the amount of ultraviolet irradiation as described above can be suppressed, and the safety of ultraviolet irradiation treatment can be increased.

  According to the present embodiment, since the treatment device 10 is small, the treatment device 10 can be wrapped around the upper arm or thigh to perform irradiation treatment. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare for the treatment such as putting the patient on the bed and exposing the skin. In addition, when the treatment device 10 is fixed to the upper arm, the patient can move even during irradiation with ultraviolet rays, and thus can move out of the examination room. Further, since the harmful ultraviolet rays do not leak to the surroundings in the treatment device 10, the examination light should be irradiated using a waiting room, not a private room (examination room) with no other patients or staff. Can do. Thereby, the burden of the doctor and patient concerning ultraviolet irradiation treatment can be reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to occupy the examination room during irradiation, the waiting time for the next patient examination can be shortened.

  The therapeutic device 10 can be used for in-vivo synthesis of vitamin D for the purpose of treating musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis and sarpeconia by outputting a broadband ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 280 nm to 320 nm. Moreover, it can be used for treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis and vitiligo by being configured to output ultraviolet light in a narrow band having a wavelength of 308 nm or 311 nm.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes are possible, and various modifications are possible, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. It is a place.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing the configuration of the treatment device 10 according to the modification. This modified example is different from the above-described embodiment in that a plurality of light input units 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are provided. The plurality of light input portions 12 a to 12 d are provided at the four corners of the light guide film 24, respectively. The uneven pattern 28 is provided uniformly over the entire light guide film 24. According to this modification, even when the irradiation area of the irradiation sheet 20 is increased, it is possible to irradiate the ultraviolet rays having the intensity suitable for the ultraviolet treatment with a uniform intensity.

  In the modification, the plurality of light input units may be provided at any two or three of the four corners instead of being provided at all the four corners. Further, the light input unit may be provided along the side of the irradiation sheet 20 instead of the corner of the irradiation sheet 20.

  In a modification, instead of providing a light emitting element in the light input unit 12, a light source device separate from the treatment device 10 is prepared, and the light input unit and the light source device are connected to the irradiation sheet 20 by an optical fiber or the like. Ultraviolet light may be introduced.

  In a modified example, a treatment device that irradiates visible light instead of irradiating ultraviolet rays may be used. For example, a light-emitting element that outputs red light having a wavelength of 650 nm may be used as a photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Treatment device, 12 ... Light input part, 14 ... Light emitting element, 16 ... Wavelength filter, 22 ... Mesh film, 24 ... Light guide film, 24a ... 1st main surface, 24b ... 2nd main surface, 26 ... Reflective layer , 28 ... Uneven pattern, 30 ... fixing band, 32 ... control part, 34 ... operation part.

Claims (11)

A treatment device for irradiating the skin with ultraviolet rays,
A mesh film in contact with the skin to be irradiated;
A light guide film that is laminated to the mesh film and outputs ultraviolet rays toward the skin to be irradiated through the mesh film;
And a light input unit for inputting ultraviolet light to the light guide film.   The light guide film has a first main surface in contact with the mesh film and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and an uneven pattern for scattering the ultraviolet rays is formed on the second main surface. The treatment device according to claim 1, wherein:   The treatment device according to claim 2, wherein the concavo-convex pattern is arranged in an array at intervals in an in-plane direction of the second main surface.   The treatment according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a ratio of the uneven pattern occupying per unit area of the second main surface is larger at a position far from the light input unit than at a position near the light input unit. vessel.   The treatment device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a reflective layer provided on the second main surface of the light guide film and reflecting the ultraviolet rays. It further comprises a fixing band for wrapping and fixing the treatment device around a part of the body,
The treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing band shields the ultraviolet rays. An operation unit for inputting the irradiation time of the ultraviolet rays;
The treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls an irradiation time of the ultraviolet ray in accordance with an input of the operation unit.   The treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the light input unit includes a light emitting element that emits the ultraviolet rays. The light emitting element outputs ultraviolet rays having a wavelength in the range of 280 nm to 320 nm,
The light guide film is made of a silicone resin material that transmits the ultraviolet rays,
The therapeutic device according to claim 8, wherein the mesh film is made of a tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (PFA) resin material.   The light input unit includes: a light emitting element that outputs ultraviolet light having a wavelength in a range of 308 nm to 311 nm; and a wavelength filter that blocks ultraviolet light having a wavelength of less than 308 nm among ultraviolet light output from the light emitting element. The treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The wavelength filter is a quartz glass filter including an absorber that absorbs ultraviolet light having a wavelength of less than 308 nm, or a dielectric multilayer filter configured to block ultraviolet light having a wavelength of less than 308 nm. 10. The treatment device according to 10.

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