WO2011135362A1

WO2011135362A1 - Radiation treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2011135362A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/050836
Authority: WO
Inventors: Janos Veres; Christophe Olivier Miremont
Original assignee: Polyphotonix Limited
Priority date: 2010-04-30
Filing date: 2011-04-27
Publication date: 2011-11-03
Also published as: GB201007256D0

Abstract

A radiation treatment apparatus (2) for directing electromagnetic radiation into a user's eyes is disclosed. The apparatus comprises organic light emitting diodes (OLED) (14, 16) adapted to direct electromagnetic radiation onto at respective eyelids of a user, supports (4, 6) for the OLEDs and securing straps (18) for mounting the OLEDs to the user.

Description

RADIATION TREATMENT APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a radiation treatment apparatus for directing electromagnetic radiation into an eye of a user. The invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a radiation treatment apparatus for treating diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition caused by diabetes in which damage to the retina occurs, which can lead to impairment of vision or blindness.

GB 2410903 discloses an apparatus for treating, or limiting the progression of, diabetic retinopathy by

preventing complete dark adaptation of the eye by locating light emitting diodes close to the eyes of the user to emit light onto the closed eyelids while the user is sleeping. Light having a dominant wavelength of 480 nm is filtered through the eyelids to provide retinal illumination centred at 510 nm to prevent complete dark adaptation of the eyes.

This known arrangement suffers from the drawback that it is difficult to locate the light emitting diodes

sufficiently close to the eye to ensure continuous

illumination of the retina through the eyelid as a result of movement of the user's eye during sleep. In addition it is difficult to avoid discomfort to the user caused by heat generated by the light emitting diodes. Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages of the prior art . According to the present invention, there is provided a radiation treatment apparatus for directing electromagnetic radiation into at least one eye of a user, the apparatus comprising : - radiation emitting means comprising at least one organic semiconductor radiation emitting device adapted to direct electromagnetic radiation onto at least one eyelid of a user;

mounting means for mounting said radiation emitting means to a user and maintain said radiation emitting means in position relative to at least one eye of a user; and

power supply means for causing said radiation emitting means to emit said electromagnetic radiation.

By providing radiation emitting means comprising at least one organic semiconductor radiation emitting device, this provides the advantage that radiation can be emitted over an extended area of the or each radiation emitting device and the or each device located close to a respective eye of the user, as a result of which radiation can continue to be directed through one or both eyelids of the user and reach the retina even while the incident aperture of the pupil of the user' s eye varies as a result movement of the eye during sleep. In addition, the use of at least one organic semiconductor device enables the heat generated by the device to be less than in the case of a conventional semiconductor light emitting diode, as a result of which the device can be located closer to the eye and therefore generate more radiation output using less power, while minimising discomfort to the user. In addition, an organic semiconductor device can be incorporated into a body of the apparatus, as a result of which the apparatus can be made more compact, and therefore more comfortable to the user. At least one said organic semiconductor radiation emitting device may comprise at least one respective organic light emitting diode.

The mounting means may comprise at least one securing strap .

The mounting means may be adapted to adhesively engage at least one eye socket of the user.

This provides the advantage of making the apparatus smaller, as a result of which discomfort to the user caused by movement during sleep is minimised.

The apparatus may further comprise cushioning means for reducing application of pressure to a user.

The apparatus may further comprise cooling means for cooling the apparatus.

This provides the advanta* e of reducing the heating effect of devices other than th : organic radiation emitting devices (which generally do not generate significant levels of heat), such as headphones or batteries .

The apparatus may further comprise control means for controlling supply of power to said radiation emitting means

This provides the advantage of enabling the apparatus to be programmable, for example to activate the radiation emitting means after a delay so that visible light emitted by the radiation emitting means does not prevent the user sleeping, or to control light intensity levels as part of a treatment programme. The control means can also be provided with a memory for recording duration and/or conditions of operation of the apparatus for use in informing a user and/or physician .

The apparatus may further comprise sensor means for sensing at least one condition relating to the surroundings of the apparatus.

This provides the advantage of enabling the apparatus to be controlled in response to surrounding circumstances, for example to deactivate the radiation emitting means during daylight or activate the radiation emitting means when the user is likely to be asleep.

At least one said condition may be ambient radiation level and/or body temperature of a user and/or movement of a user.

The control means may be adapted to control the apparatus in response to at least one input signal from said sensor means .

The power supply means may comprise at least one rechargeable battery.

The apparatus may be remotely operable.

This provides the advantage of enabling the apparatus to be made more compact, for example by locating some of the control electronics remotely from the apparatus, thus minimising discomfort to the user caused by the apparatus. The radiation emitting means may be at least partially transparent .

This provides the advantage of enabling the user to use the apparatus while awake and/or to be woken up by daylight.

The apparatus may further comprise display means displaying one or more operating parameters of the apparatus.

The display means may be visible to a user when in use.

The apparatus may further comprise at least one

flexible body adapted to be mounted to the face of a user and to conform to the user's face.

This provides the advantage of minimising the

discomfort to the user.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : -

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a radiation treatment apparatus of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a radiation treatment apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an exploded rear view of the apparatus of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a radiation treatment apparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the apparatus of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a radiation treatment apparatus of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a radiation treatment apparatus of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a radiation treatment apparatus of a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 9 is a schematic side cross-sectional view organic light emitting diode (OLED) of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a radiation treatment apparatus 2 of a first embodiment of the present invention has a body comprising a pair of supports 4, 6 for location adjacent to respective eyelids 8, 10 of a user, and an adjustable strap 12 separating the supports 4, 6 such that the gap between the supports 4, 6 can be adjusted to fit the user.

An organic semiconductor radiation emitting device in the form of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) 14, 16 is mounted to or incorporated in the rear surface of each respective support 4, 6 for emitting light at a predominant wavelength in the range 460 nm to 550 nm and centred at 480 nm to 500nm such that light, after filtering by passing through the user's eyelids 8, 10, centred at 510 nm reaches the retinas of the user. The apparatus 2 is mounted to the user's head by means of securing straps 18, and the organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) 14, 16 are powered by means of a battery 20 housed in a recess 22 in one or both carriers, and controlled by means of a controller such as a

microprocessor (not shown) and activated by means of an on/off switch 24.

The controller (not shown) is programmable and may be remotely controllable, to control the intensity and or timing of the light emission from the organic light emitting diodes 14, 16 according to a particular treatment programme, for example to treat diabetic retinopathy. For example, the apparatus 2 may be provided with a motion detector (not shown) or other form of sensor operating a timer to begin activation of the organic light emitting diodes 14, 16 when it is likely that the user is asleep, such that light emitted by the organic light emitting diodes 14, 16 is less likely to disturb the user and prevent the user from sleeping. As a result of the use of organic light emitting diodes, light is emitted from substantially the entire surface of each OLED 14, 16, as a result of which light continues to be directed, through the closed eyelids 8, 10 of the user, into the pupils of the eyes, as a result of which therapeutic light continues to reach the user' s retinas even though the incident direction of the user's pupils may vary, for example as a result of movement of the eyes during sleep. In addition, the heat generated by the OLEDs 14, 16 is small compared with conventional semiconductor light emitting diodes, as a result of which the OLEDs 14, 16 can be located close to the user's eyes without causing discomfort, as a result of which the apparatus 2 can direct higher intensities of light onto the users eyelids 8_f 10 while consuming less battery power.

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of an OLED 14, 16 of the apparatus 2 of Figure 1. The OLED 14, 16 comprises a transparent polymer substrate 602, a transparent anode electrode 604, for example in the form of a transparent conductive oxide, a semitransparent thin metal or a fine metal mesh, a hole injection/transport layer 606, an organic light emitting layer 608, and electron i ection/transport layer 610 and a cathode electrode 612. The application of a suitable voltage between the electrodes 604, 612 causes the light emitting layer 608 to emit light 614. A number of techniques for manufacturing the OLED 14,

16 will be familiar to persons skilled in the art, such as vacuum evaporation or solution coating to manufacture the active layers, and evaporation or sputtering to produce the electrodes. In vacuum evaporation, the organic semiconductor (OSC) material is heated until it vaporises and subsequently condenses on a target substrate. In solution coating, OLED materials are dissolved or dispersed in a solvent to form a coating liquid, which is then subsequently coated onto a substrate by spin coating, slit die coating or other techniques such as printing, and the coating then dried to remove the solvent. Typically OLED devices are coated layer by layer, for example by laying down a semitransparent anode, a hole injection/transport layer, an emissive layer, an electron transport/injection layer and a cathode.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in

Figures 2 and 3, in which parts common to the embodiment of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals but increased by 100. The apparatus 102 comprises a pair of OLEDs 114, 116 mounted within respective recesses 130, 132 in a washable face mask 134 made of flexible material adapted to conform to the shape of the user's face. Further recesses 136, 138 are provided in the face mask 134 for receiving, for example, headphones 140 or cooling gel pads (not shown) . This

embodiment has the advantage that the OLEDs 114, 116 can be conveniently selected and/or interchanged, for example in accordance with the required light levels.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, which show a third embodiment of the present invention and in which parts common to the embodiment of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals but increased by 200, a disposable radiation

treatment apparatus 202 is provided in a hygienic package comprising a back panel 250 and a removable front panel 252, the removal of which activates the apparatus 202 and exposes an adhesive edge 254 of the support for mounting the

apparatus 202 adhesively to the user's face. A flat battery such as a printed battery (not shown) can be incorporated within the support for powering OLEDs 214, 216.

Referring to Figure 6, in which parts common to the embodiment of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals but increased by 300, an apparatus 302 for use on a single eye of the user has an adhesive support 306 for adhesively mounting the apparatus 302 to a user's eye socket, and includes a radio frequency receiver 360 for receiving

wireless signals for enabling remote control of the apparatus 302. The support 306 is filled with suitable gel material

{not shown) for conforming to the shape of the user's face to maximise comfort to the user. Referring to Figure 7, in which parts common to the embodiment of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals but increased by 400, a radiation treatment apparatus 402 of a fifth embodiment of the present invention has a visor 406 mountable to the user' s face by means of an adjustable head strap 418, and a pair of at least partially transparent OLEDs (not shown) are mounted to the rear surface of the visor 406 for directing light onto the user's eyelids. The visor 406 is transparent, and as a result of the transparency of the visor and the at least partial transparency of the OLEDs, the user can see and therefore use the apparatus 402 while awake. In addition, the transparency of the visor 406 allows the user to be woken up as a result of natural daylight. A display 470 provided on the visor 406 displays information relating to one or more parameters of the

apparatus, as a result of which the user can be made aware of low power supply level and/or can set preset programmes stored in a controller (not shown) mounted to the visor 406 or in a remotely located controller communicating with the visor 406 via a radio frequency signal.

Figure 8, in which parts common to the embodiment of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals but increased by 500, shows an embodiment of the apparatus 502 in which one or more sensors 580 determine ambient light levels, movement and/or body temperature of the user to provide input signals to a controller (not shown} to control operation of the apparatus 502 to minimise disturbance to the user's sleep. OLEDs 514, 516 are located close to the user's eyes and are mounted or incorporated within a flexible face mask 506 which adapts to the shape of the user' s face to bring the OLEDs 514, 516 into close proximity to the eyes, and is mounted to -lithe user's face by means of apertures 582 which fit around the user' s ears .

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modifications are possible without departure from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the apparatus could be used to treat conditions other than diabetic retinopathy, such as diabetic maculopathy, or non-diabetic ailments, and organic semiconductor devices other than OLEDs, such as organic light emitting transistors, could be used to generate

electromagnetic radiation.

Claims

1. A radiation treatment apparatus for directing

electromagnetic radiation into at least one eye of a user, the apparatus comprising: - radiation emitting means comprising at least one organic semiconductor radiation emitting device adapted to direct electromagnetic radiation onto at least one eyelid of a user;

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one said organic semiconductor radiation emitting device

comprises at least one respective organic light emitting diode .

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mounting means comprises at least one securing strap.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means is adapted to adhesively engage at least one eye socket of the user.

5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising cushioning means for reducing application of pressure to a user.

6. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising cooling means for cooling the apparatus.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising control means for controlling supply of power to said radiation emitting means.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising sensor means for sensing at least one condition relating to the surroundings of the apparatus,

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one said condition includes ambient radiation level and/or body temperature of a user and/or movement of a user.

10. An apparatus according to claims 7 and 8 or claims 7 to 9, wherein the control means is adapted to control the apparatus in response to at least one input signal from said sensor means.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply means comprises at least one rechargeable battery.

12. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is remotely operable.

13. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radiation emitting means may be at least partially transparent.

14. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising display means displaying one or more operating parameters of the apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the display means is visible to a user when in use.

16. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one flexible body adapted to be mounted to the face of a user and to conform to the user' s face .