A light-beam therapeutic apparatus for ensuring patient safety. The light-beam therapeutic apparatus includes an apparatus body portion having a light source; a light guide rod that guides light from the light source, a connecting socket, a cooling fan, an electronic component that performs control required for a therapy, and a control display panel that displays contents of the therapy; a therapeutic portion including a light guide portion including a plurality of bundled optical fibers, and a pad portion formed of the optical fibers spread out adjacently to one another into a flat-panel shape. The therapeutic portion is formed into a light-receiving plug that is insertable into a connecting socket of the apparatus body portion. The light-receiving plug is configured to be kept in a coupled state by an attracting action of a permanent magnet provided on a side of the connecting socket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a therapeutic apparatus used mainly for a therapy for hyperbilirubinemia of neonatal infants and, to a light-beam therapeutic apparatus superior in safety including an apparatus body portion as a light source having an operating section and a display unit and, separately from the apparatus body portion, an optical fiber connected to the light source and a pad portion configured to place a neonatal infant thereon for performing a therapy.

2. Prior Art

A plurality of medical light-beam therapeutic apparatuses of this type configured to perform a therapy by guiding a light beam from a light source to a therapeutic portion via an optical fiber as described below, although not a pad-type, are known.

As a first known technology, there is proposed a light irradiating apparatus or a light-beam therapeutic apparatus including an apparatus body portion having a light source, a light guide portion extending from the apparatus body portion, and a hand piece coupled to the light guide portion on the side opposite from the apparatus body portion, and being configured to irradiate an object to be irradiated with light from the hand piece, characterized in that the light guide portion is composed of an optical fiber bundle having bundled optical fibers, and a light-homogenizing member configured to substantially homogenize an output distribution of light irradiated from the optical fiber bundles is disposed in the interior of the hand piece portion (see JP-A-2005-56608).

In the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the first known technology, since the therapy is achieved by irradiating affected areas of human bodies or animals with a substantially homogenized output light, therapeutic effects desirable for a medical application which requires a homogenous output light distribution such as a thermal therapy for joint pain or bedsore by means of infrared ray, treatment of macula by means of laser beams may be expected. In particular, this apparatus is effective when treating tissues of cancer or the like by a photodynamic therapy (PDT) because light irradiation with high homogeneity is possible. In addition, since the irradiation is achieved from many angles freely by the optical fiber bundle, the operability is superior.

A second known technology is a light-beam therapeutic apparatus including a light source, a plurality of first optical fibers optically connectable with the light source, a plurality of probes optically connected to the plurality of first optical fibers respectively, and a light guide controller configured to switch the first optical fiber to be optically connected to the light source from among the plurality of first optical fibers (see JP-A-2006-223665).

In the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the second known technology, it is possible to irradiate an affected area with a light-beam output from the light source from each of the plurality of probes without attenuating the output. Therefore, a therapy for a deep portion of a body is facilitated and reduction of therapeutic time is achieved. In addition, since irradiation from the plurality of probes is achieved using a single light source, relatively low production costs are achieved in comparison with the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the prior art that requires the same number of light sources (for example, laser elements) as the probes.

A third known technology is a light-beam therapeutic apparatus including an optical system configured to converge and guide light from a plurality of different light sources, an optical fiber cable configured to multiply carry the converged and guided light, and a hand piece including at least one projector lens configured to project an output light from a distal end of the optical fiber cable disposed therein (see JP-A-2006-217990).

In the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the third known technology, the plurality of light sources are provided intensively into one machine and hence space saving is achieved. Light in a plurality of different wavelength regions may be combined as needed.

In the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the first known technology, the light guide portion is composed of the optical fiber bundle including bundled optical fibers, a light-homogenizing member configured to substantially homogenize the output distribution of the light irradiated from the optical fiber bundle is installed in the interior of the hand piece portion, so as to perform a therapy by irradiating the visible affected area with homogenous and spot-like output light. However, the light-homogenizing member and the optical fiber bundle are fixedly and continuously coupled instead of coupling by insertion of a plug into a socket so as to prevent the light emitted from the light source from leaking to the outside, whereby the light source and the optical fiber bundle are prevented from being easily separable.

The light-beam therapeutic apparatus according to the second known technology is configured to be capable of irradiating the affected portion in the body with the light-beam output from the single light source from each of the plurality of optical fibers and probes provided at distal ends thereof without attenuating the output on the basis of time division by the light guide controller. However, the light-source side and the optical-fiber side are fixedly and continuously coupled to the light guide controller disposed between the light source and the optical fiber so as not to be easily separable.

In order to achieve the space saving, the light irradiating apparatus of the third known technology is configured to include the plurality of different light sources provided intensively into a single machine (housing), a single multiple-carrying optical fiber cable configured to optically converge and guide light from these light sources so as to extend from an upper surface of the single machine (housing), and a lens configured to project the combined light in the plurality of different wavelength regions from the distal end of the optical fiber cable and irradiate the affected area with the combined light. However, in the same manner as the first and second known technologies, the machine including the light source integrated therein and the optical fiber cables are fixedly and continuously coupled so as not to be easily separable.

For the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of this type except for those of compact and portable types, a specific therapy room is provided and operators such as the doctor or nurse who handle the therapeutic apparatus perform a therapy by operating the apparatus using a remote controller from a space partitioned so as not to be exposed to therapeutic light beams. The compact and portable light-beam therapeutic apparatus for neonatal infants is used by being placed on a cradle with wheels attached and brought into a neonatal infants' room isolated from the outside in many cases. In the neonatal infants' room, a number of beds for neonatal infants are arranged and, especially, a light-beam therapeutic apparatus which emits blue, green, or blue-green light for perform a therapy for hyperbilirubinemia is used in such a manner that a neonatal infant accommodating space is provided on part of the cradle, and a therapy is performed in a state in which the neonatal infant is accommodated in the space. However, the doctor or the nurse who handles the therapeutic apparatus operates with specific eyeglasses because looking at light beams of the blue, green, or blue-green light for a long time negatively affects his or her eyes.

However, in the portable therapeutic apparatus of this type, there are a connection of a power source cord with respect to the apparatus body and a connection of the light-guide optical fibers with respect to the light source in the apparatus body, and parts of the cord or the optical fibers protrude from the cradle. However, in the operation of moving the neonatal infant or changing the body position for the therapy, there is a case where the cradle or the apparatus body portion falls, especially, in a case where the optical fibers are pulled or the operator's hand or elbow is unintentionally caught by the protruded portion and hence the operator lifts up and moves the neonatal infant abruptly and strongly in a mad rush, such that the delicate skin may be injured or the therapeutic apparatus may be dropped to the floor and hence broken. Therefore, there is a safety problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a compact and portable light-beam therapeutic apparatus which prevents a cradle or an apparatus body portion from falling even though the optical fibers are pulled or an operators hand or elbow is unintentionally caught by a protruded portion and hence prevents frantic handling of neonatal infants and prevents occurrence of the breakage of the therapeutic apparatus thereby.

In order to solve the above described problem, there is provided a light-beam therapeutic apparatus comprising: an apparatus body portion including at least a light source, a light guide rod configured to guide light from the light source, a connecting socket to which an end portion of the light guide rod faces, a cooling fan configured to cool the light source, an electronic component configured to perform control required for a therapy, and a control display panel configured to display the contents of therapy set by operating the electronic component; and a therapeutic portion including a light guide portion having a plurality of bundled optical fibers, and a pad portion formed of the optical fibers spread out adjacently to one another into a flat-panel shape, wherein an end portion of the light guide portion of the therapeutic portion is formed into a light-receiving plug insertable into the connecting socket of the apparatus body portion, and the light-receiving plug is configured to be kept in a coupled state by an attracting action of a permanent magnet provided on a side of the connecting socket.

Preferably, the light-beam therapeutic apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect whether or not the light-receiving plug is inserted on the connecting socket side, and the sensor has a function to turn a light source ON only when the light-receiving plug is inserted into the connecting socket.

Preferably, the sensor is either an optical sensor or a mechanical sensor, and preferably, the light-beam therapeutic apparatus further includes a sliding-type shutter provided adjacently to the connecting socket of the apparatus body portion and urged in the direction of covering the connecting socket.

According to the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the invention, even if the elbow or the like of operators such as the doctor or nurse is erroneously or unintentionally caught by the pad portion and hence the pad portion is pulled, the light-receiving plug immediately comes off the connecting socket and the light source is turned OFF to prevent the apparatus body portion from falling or dropping and, furthermore, the blue, green, or blue-green light is not irradiated to the outside from the opening of the connecting socket. Therefore, the neonatal infant or the operator is prevented from being directly exposed to the blue, green, or blue-green light beams, so that the superior safety is ensured.

According to the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the invention, a sliding-type shutter provided adjacently to the connecting socket of the apparatus body portion and urged in the direction of covering the connecting socket is provided, so that an effect in which the blue, green, or blue-green light is prevented from being irradiated to the outside, is advantageously achieved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, the light-beam therapeutic apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention will be described. InFIGS. 1 and 2, a light-beam therapeutic apparatus according to the invention includes an apparatus body portion1and a therapeutic portion2configured to be connectable and disconnectable with respect to the apparatus body portion1.

The apparatus body portion1includes a control display panel3as an operating section provided on the front side, a connecting socket4of the therapeutic portion2, and a sliding-type shutter5configured to open and close the connecting socket4and be urged by springs, a ventilating opening6provided on both side surfaces and a bottom portion thereof, and a grip portion7provided on an upper surface thereof. In addition, on the back side, a filter8for air supplied by a cooling fan and a power source socket9are provided, and a suitable power source cord10is connected to the power source socket9.

The therapeutic portion2includes a light guide portion11including a plurality of flexile optical fibers bundled into a rod shape, and a pad portion12formed by placing the optical fibers from the light guide portion11into a flat shape in proper alignment in a spread manner to allow a neonatal infant to be placed thereon and configured to emit light substantially homogenously as a whole. A free end side of the light guide portion11is formed into a shape of a light-receiving plug13, and in the vicinity of the light-receiving plug13, a suitable cap14is provided so as to cover the light-receiving plug13for protecting the optical fibers.

The apparatus body portion1includes, as illustrated inFIG. 3, a substrate16on which a light source15composed of blue, green, or blue-green LEDs, for example, is mounted in the interior thereof, and a light guide rod17of core clad specifications configured to guide light so as to prevent the beams from being scattered is disposed on the light-emitting side of the light source15, that is, on the front side via a mounting member18, and a distal end portion of the light guide rod17opposes the connecting socket4. The substrate16is mounted in tight contact with a heat radiating member19for radiating heat of the light source15, a cooling fan20for supplying air for cooling and thermal radiation is disposed on the back side of the heat radiating member19, and, in addition, a plurality of electronic components21required for controlling the function of the apparatus body portion1is mounted thereon.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the control display panel3includes a lamp (light source) time display lamp22, a patient irradiation time display lamp23, a light adjustment display portion24for displaying high, medium, and low, a light-adjustment button25, a display unit26for displaying irradiation time or messages, a lamp button27, a patient button28, a pilot lamp29, and a power source switch30, and is configured to allow the operation of the function controlling the electronic components21described above and setting the function of the apparatus body portion1to a therapeutic state suitable for the patient, and allow any medical staff to visually confirm the therapeutic state of the patient at any time from the control display panel3.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, the pad portion12of the therapeutic portion2is formed by placing a plurality of optical fibers31(for example, PJR-FB500 manufactured by TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.) connected from the light guide portion11in proper alignment flatly and adjacently to one another, adhering the optical fibers31placed in adjacent alignment to one another on a flexible sheet-shaped highly-reflective member33(for example, RAY BRIGHT RB97UN-BM manufactured by ATT) using an adhesive device32, for example, a double-faced adhesive tape (for example, a double-faced tape1510for skin manufactured by3M), and fixedly securing the same in a stable state. Subsequently, the exposing processing is applied to the upper surfaces of the optical fibers31secured in the aligned manner and the entire part is covered with the bag-shaped cover member34formed of a translucent flexible sheet member. In this case, the pad portion12is formed by using a bag-shaped cover member34formed with two flat upper and lower layers of bag members34aand34bpartitioned by a non-yellowing highly-transparent and highly-flexible urethane sheet as the translucent flexible sheet member, filling the bag member34aon the upper side with high-molecular gel such as non-yellowing transparent and flexible urethane gel or styrene gel to form a protecting surface layer portion35, and inserting and storing the optical fibers31fixedly secured to the highly-reflective member33and subjected to the exposing processing in the bag member34bon the lower side. Furthermore, when in use, the pad portion12is covered with a pad cover12aformed of a highly flexible nonwoven fabric having water absorbing properties and ecological compatibility and formed into a bag shape having the same shape as the pad portion12.

When using the therapeutic apparatus, the apparatus body portion1and the therapeutic portion2are configured to be connected to each other by inserting the light-receiving plug13of the therapeutic portion2into the connecting socket4of the apparatus body portion1as illustrated inFIG. 3, whereby an optical path formed in the light guide portion11including the light source15, the light guide rod17, and the plug13by the optical fibers31is established, so that preset light is irradiated from the pad portion12. However, heat is generated by the light emission of the LEDs of the light source15. The LEDs by themselves are maintained at a junction allowable temperature (125° C.) or below via the heat-radiating member19by air supplied positively by the cooling fan20. Therefore, the light guide rod17located on the irradiating side is irradiated with a high-temperature light equal to or higher than the junction allowable temperature, so that the optical fibers31in the light-receiving plug13opposing the light guide rod17may be melted by high-temperature light and lose a light guiding function.

Therefore, in order to prevent such a situation, a translucent thermal insulation member36such as heat resistant glass is disposed between the light guide rod17and the light-receiving plug13preferably at an end portion of the light-receiving plug13according to convenience of maintenance. The thickness of the thermal insulation member36such as the heat resistant glass is selected from a range on the order of 1 to 3 mm so as not to impair the light guide function. In other words, the thermal insulation member36is necessarily disposed in the optical path between the light source15and the pad portion12.

Referring now toFIG. 6toFIG. 9, maintenance and safety of connection between the apparatus body portion1and the therapeutic portion2of the invention will be described.

As illustrated inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, a ring-shaped permanent magnet37is disposed at an opening of the connecting socket4of the apparatus body portion1and a ring-shaped magnetic force receiving plate, that is, a metallic plate38is disposed on a surface of the light-receiving plug13on the therapeutic portion2side coming into abutment with the connecting socket4. In this manner, with the provision of the permanent magnet37and the metallic plate38, the light-receiving plug13of the therapeutic portion2is inserted into and connected to the connecting socket4of the apparatus body portion1. However, the connection is not maintained by a frictional force generated by the insertion of the plug13into the socket4, but the connection of the light-receiving plug13is maintained by an attracting force of the permanent magnet37on the connecting socket4side.

In this case, if the permanent magnet37and the metallic plate38are brought into tight contact with each other, the permanent magnet37and the metallic plate38cannot be separated unless a relatively strong force is applied. Therefore, both members are set to oppose each other at a distance that does not come into tight contact with each other, for example, at a distance on the order of 0.5 to 1 mm. With the distance of this extent, the attracting force of the permanent magnet37acts on the metallic plate38even in a state in which the permanent magnet37and the metallic plate38are not in tight contact with each other, so that the connection of the light-receiving plug13inserted into the connecting socket4is stably maintained. In addition, since the light-receiving plug13comes off easily when a pulling action is unintentionally applied to the therapeutic portion2, the cradle on which the apparatus body portion1is placed is prevented from falling or the apparatus body portion1is prevented from dropping therefrom and being broken.

In addition, as illustrated inFIG. 8andFIG. 9, for example, a sensor configured to detect whether or not the therapeutic portion2is connected to the apparatus body portion1is provided. This sensor is essentially a sensor to detect whether or not the light-receiving plug13is inserted into the connecting socket4, and is an optical sensor including a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element, for example. The optical sensor includes a light-emitting diode39and a photodiode40disposed on both sides of the connecting socket4so as to oppose each other, light from the light-emitting diode39is interrupted when an insertion portion13aof the light-receiving plug13is inserted into the connecting socket4, the light source15including LEDs is turned ON by a signal from the photodiode40to irradiate with blue, green, or blue-green light, whereby the blue, green, or blue-green light is irradiated from the pad portion12via the optical fibers31in the light guide portion11and a therapy is achieved. The sensor may be of a type in which a mechanical switch is turned ON when the light-receiving plug13is inserted. Also, the arrangement of the light-emitting diode39and the photodiode40is preferably horizontal in order to protect the connecting socket4from incoming dust or motes.

When the light-receiving plug13comes apart from the connecting socket4if the therapeutic portion2is pulled unintentionally during the therapy for example, the light source15is immediately turned OFF and irradiation of the blue, green, or blue-green light is stopped and, simultaneously, the sliding-type shutter5automatically covers the opening of the connecting socket4to prevent the blue, green, or blue-green light from being irradiated outside, so that the neonatal infant and the operator are prevented from being exposed directly to the blue, green, or blue-green light. Suppose there is a trouble in the sensor, the external radiation of the blue, green, or blue-green light may be interrupted by the presence of the sliding-type shutter5. Essentially, double safety is secured by the maintenance of connection by the above-described permanent magnet, and the sensor configured to detect whether or not the therapeutic portion2is connected to the apparatus body portion1.

In this manner, the light-beam therapeutic apparatus includes the apparatus body portion1provided at least with the light source15, the electronic components21having a control function, and the control display panel3configured to allow the setting of control and display the set contents, and the therapeutic portion2connected to the apparatus body portion1via the light guide portion11having the optical fibers31in the interior thereof and configured to irradiate the blue, green, or blue-green light from the pad portion12to perform a therapy for the neonatal infant; is configured to be activated by laying down a neonatal infant on the light-emitting surface of the pad portion12on his or her back and operating the control display panel3of the apparatus body portion1for setting the apparatus for the therapy, so that an efficient therapy for the skin of the neonatal infant in contact with the pad portion12is achieved. Incidentally, in order to secure the safety in the usage of the light-beam therapeutic apparatus, the light-receiving plug13of the therapeutic portion2inserted into and connected to the connecting socket4of the apparatus body portion1is configured to be kept in the coupled state by the attracting action of the permanent magnet37provided on the connecting socket4side, the sensor for detecting whether or not the light-receiving plug13is inserted is provided on the connecting socket4side, and the sensor is configured to have a function to turn the light source15ON only when the light-receiving plug13is inserted into the connecting socket4. Accordingly, even if the elbow or the like of the operator such as the doctor or nurse is erroneously or unintentionally caught by the pad portion12and hence the pad portion12is pulled, the light-receiving plug13immediately comes off the connecting socket4and the light source15is turned OFF to prevent the apparatus body portion1from falling or dropping and, furthermore, the blue, green, or blue-green light is not irradiated to the outside from the opening of the connecting socket4. Therefore, the neonatal infant or the operator is prevented from being directly exposed to the blue, green, or blue-green light beams, so that superior safety is ensured.

The light-beam therapeutic apparatus of the embodiment is enhanced in safety by being configured to avoid breakage due to the falling or dropping of the compact and portable light-beam therapeutic apparatus, and prevent the blue, green, or blue-green light from being irradiated to the outside from the opening of the connecting socket, and hence is apreferable as the light-beam therapeutic apparatus of this type.