Abstract:
An light therapy apparatus is defined to include a UV light source secured to a casing. A shroud is placed over an exposed portion of the UV light source and is secured or attached around the perimeter of the casing end. Since the UV light source can generate a significant amount of heat, the casing includes an internal fan. Various tubing configurations may be used to help direct the air flow from the fan around the UV light source. In addition, a vent opening in the shroud was found to reduce the temperature of the shroud to prevent damage to a person&#39;s user the apparatus.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation in part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/140,272, which in a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/076,169, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10/926,209, which claimed priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/503,678. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an improved light therapy delivery apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRIOR ART 
       [0003]    Ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to treat a multitude of medical problems, including for example bacterial, viral and fungal infections, poisoning, fatigue, Alzheimer&#39;s disease, allergies and asthma, rheumatic diseases and arthritis, diabetes, hepatitis, and cancer, because UV light sterilizes the blood and acts as an antibiotic. The UV light is applied either to the patient&#39;s skin or directly to the blood. If the UV light is applied to the skin it is typically provided to the patient&#39;s skin either with a wrap or lamp. 
         [0004]    Applying the UV light directly to a patient&#39;s blood supply is known as photoluminescence or UV blood illumination (UBI). UV blood illumination increases oxygen, destroys toxins and boosts the immune system. In prior art UBI, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient, up to about 250 cc. The blood that is drawn travels through a cuvette or glass chamber. The blood is repeatedly illuminated with UV light and then returned to the body. The process is repeated, typically a day or several days later. These treatments are time consuming, and require regular trips to a medical facility. In addition, trained personal must be available to provide the treatments. 
         [0005]    Because of the problems associated with UBI, a need developed for providing UV light to a patient&#39;s blood without having to draw blood. Meeting this need numerous prior art references disclosed the application the light sublingual with the use of mouth guards, toothbrushes, and elongated light tubes. However, these have proven to be not very effective because of specific problems associated with the materials used and the applications themselves. 
         [0006]    It is well known that certain UV light cannot penetrate certain plastics and resins. In addition, trying to force the UV light down a tube towards an eyelet or window was also shown to diminish the UV light. Specific light guides can be employed to communicate the UV light down a tube without diminishing the UV light characteristics. But rather then employ additional material or costs, it has also been suggested to place the source of the UV light at the end of the applicator. The type of UV light source can effect the applicator greatly. For example, the use of a cold cathode tube to supply the UV light source can radiate a lot of heat, having a working temperature of about 101° F. This temperature range is dangerous and harmful to the user, especially when the applicator end is placed sublingually or rectally. 
         [0007]    There one embodiment of the present invention address the need for an apparatus that includes a UV light source which when in use keeps the apparatus within a temperature range that would not be harmful to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a light therapy apparatus. The apparatus includes a main casing having front and rear ends; a light source inserted through the front end of the main casing; a front cap having a central bore for receiving the light source and having a treaded internal structure for securing the front cap to corresponding threaded external structure on the front end of the main casing; a secondary casing having a base end positioned within the front cap and over the front end of the main casing, the secondary casing further including a shoulder section extending outwardly from the base end out of the front cap to partially cover a section of the light source; a shroud placed over the exposed portion of the light source and having at least a flexible bottom end for tightly fitting over an end of the shoulder section, the shroud being made of a light-resistance material to prevent light from the light source from penetrating the shroud; a lens positioned through the shroud to direct light from the light source out of the shroud; and a fan positioned within the casing and directed to transmit air flow to the shroud. 
         [0009]    In other embodiments the shroud may include a rigid portion covering the light source; may be further defined as having a base portion extending upwardly to form a tubular shaped covering that terminates into a top portion, the tubular shaped covering includes a front portion, a back portion, and a pair of side portions, the front portion extends inwardly from the base to a concave section, and the back portion extends inwardly from the base to a concave section, the tubular shaped covering is bent away from the base portion at an angle of about 25-35°; or may include an internally defined annular flange extending radially inward that would come into contact with the shoulder section when the shroud is placed thereover. 
         [0010]    In yet other embodiments, the casing includes an air intake aperture and/or the shroud could include an air exhaust aperture. Other embodiment may use cooling tubes to help direct the air flow from the fan. 
         [0011]    Numerous advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, and from the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0012]    A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1   a  is an illustration of an apparatus for light therapy in accordance with a first embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1   b  is a partially exploded view of  FIG. 1   a;    
           [0015]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a shroud used to cover a light source for a light therapy apparatus; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2   b  is a sectional view of the apparatus in  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0017]      FIG. 2   c  is a side view of the apparatus in  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0018]      FIG. 2   d  is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a shroud; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of an apparatus for light therapy in accordance with another embodiment; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of an apparatus for light therapy in accordance with another embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]    While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the claims by the embodiments illustrated. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b,  there is shown an apparatus  100  for the delivery of UV light to a patient. Ultraviolet light can be used to treat many diseases including infections, poisoning, fatigue, allergies, hepatitis, cancer and HIV. UV light increases the oxygen combining power of the blood, destroys toxins, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and boosts the immune system. UV light also sterilizes the blood and acts as an antibiotic. Preferably, UV light at one or more therapeutic wavelength is utilized in the present invention. More preferably the light is either UV-A or UV-C light is utilized in the present invention. For some conditions and/or diseases UV-A light is more effective than UV-C and for other conditions and/or diseases UV-C light is more effective than UV-A light. The wavelengths or wavelengths of light to be used to treat the patient are selected based on the wavelength or wavelength that will best treat the condition or disease of the patient. 
         [0023]    The apparatus  100  is preferably designed to allow a patient to administer the UV light sublingual, under the tongue. The capillaries under the tongue are close to the surface. These capillaries are very sensitive. Capillary exposure of the mucous membrane is significantly greater than other exposed body surfaces. The greater capillary exposure allows for greater penetration of the ultraviolet spectrum. It is also believed that similar exposure can happen rectally. 
         [0024]    The apparatus  100  is attached to a power supply (not shown) by power cord  105 . The power supply may simply plug directly into an AC outlet and/or utilize a DC converter. This is not an important aspect of the embodiments. The apparatus  100  includes a UV light source  110 , which for this embodiment includes a cold cathode UV bulb. The light source  110  is connected to a circuit board  120  by a connector  125 , which is preferably a polarized connector. The circuit board  120  would typically include a controller/software and timing mechanism with commands to turn the light source on/off, control the length of treatment time in a given time period, etc. 
         [0025]    The apparatus  100  includes a main casing  130  to house the components. The main casing  130  includes a rear cap  140  that may be treaded onto the rear end  132  of the main casing  130 . A rear set screw  142  is used to secure the rear cap  140  onto the rear end  132 . 
         [0026]    The light source is inserted through the front end  134  of the main casing  130  and is secured in place by a front cap  145  that may be threaded onto the front end  134 . Similarly, a front set screw  147  is used to secure the front cap  145  onto the front end  134 . 
         [0027]    The front cap  145  includes a central bore  149  such that it can slide over the UV light source  110  and slide over a secondary casing  150 . The secondary casing  150  is captured and secured to the main casing  130  because the secondary casing  150  includes a base end  152  that has a larger diameter then the diameter of the central bore  149 . Extending from the base end  152  of the secondary casing  150  is a shoulder section  155  that covers a portion of the UV light source  110 . The base end  152  also has a larger diameter than the shoulder section  155 . 
         [0028]    A shroud  160  (illustrated in  FIGS. 2A-2D ) is placed over the exposed portion of the UV light source  110  and secured or attached around the perimeter of the shoulder section  155 . The shroud  160  is rigid such that the shroud can maintain its shape and such that it does not come into contact with the UV light source  110 . As mentioned the UV light source can generate a significant amount of heat. To help protect the user the shroud  160  includes an internal cavity that positions the interior material a distance away from the UV light source. The shroud  160  may be disposable such that a replacement shroud  160  can be used for the next treatment. Alternatively, the shroud  160  may be easily removable and washable. Further details of the shroud are discussed below. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment the shroud  160  further includes a lens  165  to allow the UV light source  110  to exit. When the shroud  160  incorporates the lens  165 , the rest of the shroud  160  would preferably be made of a photo-resistant or other like material. This helps ensure that the UV light is properly directed out of the shroud at a pre-determined section. 
         [0030]    To cool down the area of contact between the apparatus and the user, a fan  170  is inserted near the rear end  132  of the casing  130 . The fan  170  is controlled by the circuit board  120 . The fan  170  directs air through the casing  130  into the front cap  145  and down the shroud  160  and acts to cool the UV light source  110 . An air intake aperture  175  is positioned on the casing  130  near the front end  134 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in another embodiment the apparatus  200  includes similarly marked components but also includes a cooling tube  210  to help direct the air flow from the main casing  130  through the secondary casing  155  and into the shroud  160 —towards the end of the UV light source  110 . The cooling tube  210  includes a first opened end  212  positioned within the main casing  130  and includes a second opened end  214  positioned within the shroud  160 . 
         [0032]    It was further determined that even with the fan and a cooling tube, that the end of the shroud  160  may still be too hot for insertion into and/or to make contact with a portion of a user&#39;s body 101° F. However, by placing an outlet opening  162  on the shroud  165  in a position opposite the second opened end  214  of the cooling tube  210 , that the temperature of the shroud  165  was reduced to a temperature of about 88° F., a working temperature that permits the surface of the shroud to come into contact with the user&#39;s body without harming or burning the user. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment the apparatus  300  includes similarly marked components but includes a pair of cooling tubes  310  and  310 . The first cooling tube is referred to as a cooling input tube  310  and it includes a first end  312  that is positioned near the fan  170  and includes a second end  314  that is positioned within the shroud  350 . The second cooling tube is referred to as a heat output tube  320 . The heat output tube  320  includes a first end  322  that is positioned within the shroud  350  and includes a second end  324  that exhausts out of the casing  130 . The second end  314  of the cooling input tube  310  and the first end  322  of the heat output tube  320  are positioned at diametrical opposite positions in the shroud, such as, but not limited, the bottom and the top portions of the shroud  160 . In addition the shroud  160  could further include an outlet opening  162  to help vent air that has become heated from contact with the UV light source. 
         [0034]    Referring back to  FIGS. 2A-2D , the shroud  160  as mentioned can include a lens  165  that permits the UV light to penetrate therethrough for the treatment of the blood. The lens is preferably made of a fused quartz material, such as but not limited to GE Type  124  Fused Quartz. 
         [0035]    The shroud  160  may also include an outlet opening  162  to help vent the heated air circulating around the UV light source. The shroud  160  may be further defined as having a base portion  400  that extends upwardly to form a tubular shaped covering  410  that further terminates into a top portion  420 . The tubular shaped covering  410  includes a front portion  430 , a back portion  440 , and a pair of side portions  450 . The front portion  430  extends inwardly from the base  400  to a concave section  432 . The back portion  440  also extends inwardly from the base  400  to a concave section  440 . The termination from the tubular shaped covering  410  to the top portion  420  is slightly bent from the axis of the tubular shaped covering. The angle defined by the bending is α and is preferably about 25°-35°. Internally the shroud  160  may include an annular flange  460  approximately near the base portion  400  termination to the tubular shaped covering. The flange  460  extend radially inward and act as a stop when the shroud  160  is inserted over the shoulder section  155  of the secondary casing  150 . Lastly, the shroud  160  may include a ribbed or flexible end  470  below the base  400  such that it may be secured to the secondary casing by tightly fitting the flexible end over the end of the secondary casing. 
         [0036]    From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred.