Hand-held treatment device using LED light sources with interchangeable emitters

A hand-held light treatment device configured with interchangeable emitter heads that are pre-programmed with desired treatment protocols and updated from a remote store of treatment protocols. The device comprises a handpiece, a plurality of emitter heads, and a base. The removable emitter heads each contain one or more treatment LEDs, a tracking light, a task light, a proximity sensor, and a control module. A tip is attached to the emitter head, either removably or integral therewith. In one embodiment, the tip is integral with the emitter head and emits light to the side of the device, perpendicular to the handpiece. The device is prohibited from emitting light when too far from a surface. Some embodiments have disposable tips of various shapes that attach to the emitter heads, which permits a single device to direct the emitted energy at nearly any direction and be used in a variety of applications.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to handheld devices that deliver light treatment for applications in dentistry and medicine. This invention relates particularly to a multifunction device with interchangeable emitter heads capable of emitting a broad range of wavelengths, individually and independently controlled, with disposable tips of various shapes for use in multiple applications.

BACKGROUND

Light-emitting devices are popular in dentistry and medicine for invasive and non-invasive therapeutic treatments, sanitization, and product curing applications. Each of these applications requires a different duration, intensity, area of treatment, and wavelength of applied light.

Although ultraviolet radiation can be harmful to humans, it can also be beneficial. For example, it is known that electromagnetic radiation in the UV-C range, about 100-280 nm, kills certain bacteria and other microorganisms. Consequently UV-C can be applied to surfaces to disinfect them or, since UV-C may selectively inactivate organisms while preserving the viability of mammalian cells, applied to live tissue to kill or even prevent bacterial infections in wounds.

Today most orthopedic and dental implants are made of titanium alloys. Treating the implants with UV-C increases their bioactivity. Increased bioactivity in turn increases osseointegration, which helps the implants stay in place after implantation and not be rejected by the body. UV-A and blue light are used to cure certain resins, such as synthetic resins that are used in dentistry as restorative material or adhesives.

It would be beneficial to use UV-C radiation in dental and orthopedic surgeries, but until recently UV-C was produced by relatively large bulbs or lamps that got hot when operating and rapidly degraded in their output. The UV light was directed to the desired location by transmitting it through optical fibers. This meant the wand through which the light was emitted was tethered to a base containing the bulb, power source, and often a fan or heat sink to keep the device cool. This made the application of UV-C light to tissue and surfaces in small spaces, such as those in orthopedic surgery openings and dental surgery in the mouth, unwieldly.

Therefore there is a need to provide a light-emitting device that disinfects mouth tissue, cures resins, reactivates Ti implants and that is convenient to use. There is also a need to provide a device that emits UV light from a hand-held device that is not tethered to a base. The device should be capable of delivering a variety of treatment parameters for a variety of applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This hand-held light treatment device is configured with interchangeable emitter heads that can be pre-programmed with desired treatment protocols, which can be changed or updated from a remote store of treatment protocols. The device comprises a handle, a plurality of emitter heads, and a base. In one embodiment the device comprises removable emitter heads each containing one or more treatment LEDs, a tracking light, a task light, a proximity sensor, and a control module. A tip is attached to the emitter head, either removably or integral therewith. In one embodiment, the tip is integral with the emitter head and emits light to the side of the device, perpendicular to the handle. Some embodiments have removable, disposable tips of various shapes that attach to the emitter heads, which permits a single device to direct the emitted energy at nearly any direction and be used in a variety of applications. The sensor enables several safety features, such as prohibiting UV light from being emitted when the device is too far from a surface, isn't moving, or after a predetermined period of time. In a preferred embodiment the device uses UV-C, UV-A and blue light energy, but can range in output from 200-1400 nm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a light delivery platform with multi-function modular and interchangeable emitter heads and disposable tips, used for a variety of applications. The device comprises generally a handle11, a plurality of emitter heads12, and a base13.

The handle11comprises a housing14defining an interior cavity which is shaped to be easily retained in a user's hand. Preferably the housing14is an elongated hollow tube with a round or oval cross section, but may take on any shape that enables a secure grip. The housing14may be made in one piece or several pieces that fit together.FIG. 1shows a housing14with two portions14aand14b. A rechargeable battery15resides in the housing14, along with a display16.

The display16is preferably an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) with an alphanumeric and graphic display. SeeFIG. 2which shows an exemplary display of the words “COLOR OLED Graphic Display Auto Rotate” and other symbols. The display16is driven by a display driver and microprocessor housed in housing46and is in electrical communication with a display printed circuit board (PCB)47. The display16may also have buttons18or switches, mechanical or electronic, which enable the user to enter input and scroll through data. The display16can be read by the user whether holding the device in his right hand or his left hand, which is accomplished by using a gyroscope, particularly a MEMS device, that auto-rotates what is displayed on the screen the screen so that it is oriented properly for viewing. A preferred inertial module is an always-on 3D accelerometer and 3D gyroscope, such as the LSM6DSL available commercially from STMicroelectronics.

One end of the handle11mates with a base13. The base13is connected to mains power and is in electrical communication with the battery15to recharge it when the handle11is seated in the base13. Typically the base13provides a stable stand to dock the handle11in vertically. The base13may have indicator lights17for indicating when it is charging the battery15and when the battery15is fully charged. Due to the rechargeable battery15and the on-board UV sources, the handle11is cordless. That is, when the handle11is removed from the base13, it is untethered.

The other end of the handle11mates with a removable emitter head12from which the treatment energy and tracking light are emitted through an emission aperture26. Light emitting diodes (LEDs), sensors, and control modules are housed in the emitter head12. The emitter head12contains at least one LED20for emitting the treatment light. The treatment LED20may emit any wavelength, from UV-C to infrared, roughly a range of 200-1400 nm. Recent improvements in the manufacturing of light emitting diodes have made UV LEDs commercially available. They have many advantages over traditional mercury vapor bulbs including smaller size, longer lifespan, improved efficiency, less heat, and lack of significant time-related energy output degradation. In one embodiment, the treatment LED20emits energy in the UV-C range, about 100-280 nm or in the UV-A range, about 315-400 nm. Commercial UV LEDs have a small spread of emitted wavelengths around a nominal wavelength, with the desired wavelength within the spread from nominal. In a preferred embodiment the treatment LED20emits light at about 254 nm nominal. In another embodiment, the LED may emit energy more broadly across the UV spectrum, for example from about 260 nm-410 nm. Multiple emitter heads12may be provided to cooperate with the handle11, each one with at least one treatment LED20having a different wavelength and having different operational parameters. In this manner a single device can be used for multiple applications, such as sanitization, disinfection, sterilization, curing, increasing bioactivity, wound treatment, or ablation, by exchanging one of the interchangeable emitter heads for another.

The emitter head12contains a second LED21for emitting visible light to enable the user to track where the treatment light is landing. The tracking LED21may emit any wavelength in the visible range, roughly 390 to 700 nm. Typically the visible light is in the blue range, about 450-495 nm. Optionally, the emitter head12contains a third LED22for emitting visible light used as ambient or task lighting, to more easily see the treatment area. Typically the task light LED22emits broadband white light. The device may have one or more optical devices to shape or manipulate the emitted energy, such as a lens or a collimator. The light may be transmitted through to the end of the tips by optical fiber. Optionally, the emitter head12contains three additional LEDs, for a total of six, each typically of a different wavelength. Each LED is controlled individually, thus the entire array can provide a broadband mix of wavelengths.

The emitter head12contains one or more sensors that are in communication with a control module23, as discussed below. The sensors prohibit the emission of UV energy under certain conditions. The sensor may be an accelerometer, which prohibit emissions when the handle11stops moving, which helps prevent the device from emitting hazardous treatment emissions when the device is at rest in the base13or on a counter. The sensor may be a timer or clock, which prohibits emissions upon the expiration of a predetermined time period. This helps prevent the surface being treated from over-exposure of the treatment light. As explained above, the sensor may be an inertial module to sense position to effect auto-rotation. In addition to the inertial module, a capacitive touch sensor may be in communication with the control module. The combined sensing capabilities of the inertial module and capacitive touching sensors can be utilized for varieties of operational and safety features. For example, they can recognize when the device is touched, even if the device is not moved from its resting position, so it can “wake up” from a standby state and turn on the display. They can detect the orientation of the device to detect movement to provide auto “on” state or shutoff for safety measures, as well the aforementioned autorotation of the display.

Temperature sensors may be imbedded on the heatsinks of the LEDs and the battery to protect these components from overheating. The battery's temperature sensing circuitry will provide overheating protection in both charging state and rapid discharging in case of a failure or accidental short circuit. The LED temperature protection circuit will scale back the power to the LEDs or turn the LEDs off to keep the device's temperature within the safe operating parameters.

In a preferred embodiment, one sensor is a proximity sensor27, which measures the light reflected back to it. The proximity sensor is a LIDAR sensor, and more preferably a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor, as opposed to a scanning sensor. A preferred sensor is a combination a proximity, gesture and ambient light sensor which is available commercially, such as the VL6180X from STMicroelectronics. LIDAR resolves distance by measuring the time of flight of a light signal between the sensor and the surface for each point of the image. The time-of-flight LIDAR sensor captures the treatment area light pulse, as opposed to point-by-point with a scanning LIDAR system. By measuring the light reflected back to the unit, the proximity detector serves as a safety control shutting the unit off when it is too far away from the target to be effective as well as preventing the device from emitting potentially hazardous treatment emissions to anywhere but the surface to be treated. The light sensor can detect differences between light reflected back from teeth enamel vs. tissue, permitting treatment parameters to be adjusted accordingly.

A control module23is housed in the emitter head12. The control module23is typically a programmable logic device (PLD) or microprocessor and is in electrical communication with the LEDs, the sensors, the display16, the battery15, and a memory device as discussed more below. The control module23is able to identify which emitter head12is connected to the handle11and thereby controls the operational parameters of the device per the attached emitter head12. Operation parameters include intensity (power per unit area such as W/cm2), ramp-up/ramp-down, wavelength mix, duration of each emission from the LEDs, how often the emissions may occur, and whether the emissions from the treatment emission and tracking light are on concurrently. The ramp-up feature is safety measure. When the device is first turned on, the light will slowly ramp up to full brightness rather than turn on instantaneously at full brightness. This way, if a user turns the device on while looking directly into the LED, it will give ample of warning and plenty of time to look away or turn the device away before it reaches full brightness. Some emitter heads have multiple protocols stored therein. The user can cycle through the options using the buttons18on the display16.

By having interchangeable emitter heads, a user can have an assemblage of pre-programmed protocols at the ready and use whichever one is appropriate for a given patient, without having to program the device at the time of need. Another benefit of pre-programmed emitted heads is that one pre-programmed head can be used with one protocol and a second pre-programmed head can be used with a second protocol on a given patient, again without having to stop and program the device.

The emitter head12also contains a memory device25for storing operational parameters, and is in electrical communication with the control module23or incorporated therewith. Preferably the memory device25is programmable, as opposed to having fixed memory, which will suffice in certain configurations. Operational parameters and treatment protocols formed therefrom are customizable for different applications and different patients. The operational parameters are changed by local selection, using menu-driven multi-function buttons18on the display16which in turn instructs the control module23or memory device25, or by loading new operational parameters from an external device such as a phone app, computer, tablet, or other computing device, either wirelessly or via hard-wiring with a built-in connector such as a USB port, as known in the art. The built-in connector may be in the base13or in the handle11. Because the memory is programmable, future hardware and software can be forward and backward compatible.

In addition to storing protocols, the memory stores data from operating records and device parameters. For example, when applied to an individual patient, the memory stores the history of the protocols administered per treatment, total number of treatments, and cumulative time and amount of radiation. The memory stores device parameters such as the history of total number of hours of operation for LEDs, the number of charges for the battery to provide notification of end-of life or service requirements, and meters temperatures for warranty and servicing determinations.

The stored data is locally retrievable on the display16and may also be downloaded to an external device wirelessly or via hard wiring with a built-in connector when docked into the base13.

The emitter head12has a tip19through which the treatment light is directed to the desired location and emitted through the emission aperture26. As shown inFIGS. 1, 3, and 4-5, the tip19acan be integral with the emitter head12FIG. 3shows one embodiment of a tip19aintegral with the emitter head12. A lens41is secured in the tip19aby a lens retaining ring40. Typically lens41is an uncoated UV plano-convex lens. Two tracking LEDs21, a treatment LED20, and a control module23are attached to and in electrical communication with an emitter printed circuit board (PCB)43. The emitter PCB43is electrically connected to the display16and battery15in the handle11by attaching the wiring harness44to the connector42and a mated connector in the handle (not shown).

FIGS. 4 and 5show another embodiment of a tip19aintegral with the emitter head12. As inFIG. 3, a lens41is secured in the tip19aby a lens retaining ring40. However adjacent to the emission aperture26, is a proximity sensor27which may be protected by a sensor cover49. Two tracking LEDs21, a treatment LED20, and a control module23are attached to and in electrical communication with an emitter printed circuit board (PCB)43. The emitter PCB43is electrically connected to the display16and battery15in the handle11by attaching the wiring harness44to the connector42and a mated connector in the handle (not shown).

In a preferred embodiment, the tip has a longitudinal axis co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the handle11and an aperture configured such that the UV energy emitted from the device is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle11. This side-emitter arrangement has the advantage of enabling the longitudinal axis of the handle11be parallel to the treated surface. SeeFIGS. 1-4. This is particularly advantageous for applying UV energy to a tooth or other surface in a patient's mouth. For example, a side-emitter arrangement emitting UV-C with a proximity sensor can be used to sterilize tissue pre-surgery, to treat infected tissue, to sanitize or sterilize the surface of dental cavity and crown preparations prior to the placement of dental restoratives or the cementation of crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays. This process may be performed while using a rubber dam to protect the soft tissue of the mouth. In another example, the side emitter emitting UV-C with a proximity detector can be used for medical treatment of staph infections, bed sores and infected wounds as well as pre-treatment of surgical fields to reduce the likelihood of postoperative infection.

The tip19may instead be removable from the emitter head12and therefore disposable, as shown inFIGS. 6, 8A-B,9,11A-B,12and13. The removable tip19bcan be configured to emit light in nearly any shape of beam spot, where a beam spot is the shape of the light as it intersects the surface. The removable tip19bcan be configured to be a fixed shape, flexible and resilient, or bendable into a static position. The removable tip19bcan be curved, straight, long or short length, thin or wide width, depending on the application. For insertion into body lumen, such as for catheterization, the tip may have a silicone balloon that may be inflated to increase the size of the cavity. See tip67inFIG. 13.FIGS. 12 and 13illustrates several removable tips61-69. Tip61is short single tip providing a concentrated beam useful for small areas and shallow cavities.

Tip62is a large round tip, useful for a larger area such as whole tooth surface. It is used mainly for polymer curing applications and broad surface treatments. Tip63is a thin flat tip, useful for periodontal treatments or hyponychial/nail-beds treatments in fingernails and toenails. Tip64is a wide flat tip, useful for dermatological treatments. Tip65is a wide rounded tip, also useful for dermatological treatments. Tip66is a long narrow tip providing a concentrated beam useful for small constricted areas and deep cavities, such as root canals. Tip67is useful as a foley catheter. Tip68is useful as a central venous system catheter. Tip69is useful as a flexible light tube that can be inserted within the lumen of either catheter to kill pathogens. Removable tips can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the handle11to help direct the light where desired.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8A and 8Bshow one embodiment of an emitter head12and a tip19bremovable therefrom. A treatment LED20is in electrical communication with a controller module23. For LEDs that get hot during operation, optionally a heat sink48may be in communication with the treatment LED20.FIGS. 9, 10, 11A and 11Bshow one embodiment of an emitter head12and a tip19bremovable therefrom. A proximity sensor27and a sensor controller80are disposed adjacent to a tracking light21and a task light22so that they illuminate the treated surface that the energy emitted through the emission aperture26illuminates. The sensor may be covered by a sensor cover49. A treatment LED20is in electrical communication with a controller module23. One or more lenses may be placed inline with the treatment LED, such as spherical lenses81, to shape or manipulate the emitted energy. The sensor controller80is electrically connected to the emitter controller23and battery15in the handle11by attaching the wiring harness44to the connector42and a mated connector in the handle (not shown). Optionally a heat sink48may be in communication with the treatment LED20.

In applications where the UV light is directed other than perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle11, the device can emit energy from the end of the tip to sanitize or sterilize a tooth; treat gum tissue infections, in particular peri-implantitis; treat the internal portion of a endodontically treated tooth prior to root canal obturation; and to treat foley catheter infection as well as bacterial and yeast based vaginitis.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.