Abstract:
A personal therapy compartment includes a base of size to receive a human patient. The compartment includes a bed in the base said bed being made of a light transmissive material. An array of lights mounted is below the bed to transmit light onto a body supported on the bed. A control panel controls at least the wavelength, intensity and pulsation of the light.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/033,122 which was filed on Mar. 3, 2008, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an individual covered compartment or capsule in which a person can lie for various therapeutic treatments. The capsule includes the ability to provide for a whole body photo-therapy system including controllable wavelength LEDs and/or infrared lights. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In the prior art, various environmental capsules have been advanced, including for example, the structure shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,809 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,717. The treatments that are present in the prior art devices include steam therapy, heat therapy, infrared heat and light exposure, pleasing sound sources, aroma therapy and some capsules provide a shower mounted in the cover or base of the capsule. 
         [0004]    The capsules generally comprise a base that is large enough to accommodate a support or bed in a lower portion, and a hinged cover that can be opened so that a person can get in and out of the lower part or base of the capsule. The cover usually has individual controls for the provided therapy source such as a shower, heat, steam, sound, aroma or other therapy source can be mounted in a position where a person lying on the bed can reach and operate the controls. In addition, it has long been known to have a vibrator on the bed to provide a relaxing, massage type vibration. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention comprises a personal therapy capsule that can incorporate one or more of the features from the prior art. The capsule of the present invention further includes an array of LED lights and/or infrared lights mounted below a transparent bed or body support that will support a human lying generally horizontally. Additionally, LED lights have desired hue or color and infrared lights can be mounted directly in the cover and arranged along the length of the cover and the width of the cover so that a total body photo therapy treatment can be advanced. 
         [0006]    The present invention has LEDs and infrared lights that have controllable wavelength output. The wavelength can be adjusted through known controls from between approximately 400 nm to 800 nm in the visible spectrum and the infrared range is between 800-2000 nm. 
         [0007]    Each individual condition of a person can be treated or provided with therapy at a different wavelength, for example, 400 nm, 560 nm or 640 nm, etc. to provide therapy for conditions including, but not limited to, psoriasis, dermatological conditions, skin tightening, circulatory stimulation, fine lines and wrinkles, obesity and excessive weight, stimulation for hair growth, reducing swelling and hematoma, accelerating wound healing, enhancing tissue repair, relieving inflammation and pain associated with inflammation, relieving neurogenic pain, reversing effects of toxins in the body, regenerating nerves, increasing fibroblast and collagen growth factors and the treatment of arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. 
         [0008]    The device can utilize selected visible wavelength lights such as colorful LEDs that are selected in the known blue, red, yellow and green hues, and selected thermal generation invisible infrared lights. The device allows the selected visible and the selected invisible lights to be utilized at desired frequencies, together or independently, to treat a symptom. For instance, wrinkles are typically treated with 630 nm visible light and carpal tunnel syndrome is typically treated with invisible light at a wavelength of about 830 nm. 
         [0009]    The LED and/or infrared light therapy is available to the entire body trunk or to regions of the body trunk, such as the shoulders, back, mid-section, stomach and chest. The LED and/or infrared light therapy is available to the limbs including the right leg and/or left leg and the right and or left arm. Any combination of areas of the body can be treated by having the lights arrayed in clusters or “gangs” that can be controlled individually. The lights also can be timed, pulsed, and varied in intensity, such as with the power level. 
         [0010]    The display for the user or patient can be a LCD display that will show which sections are energized, and at what wavelength, as well as other critical information as to the interior temperature, and similar parameters. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of a personal treatment capsule with a cover in a closed position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a planned view of the bed of  FIG. 1  schematically showing a layout of lighting arrays; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a view of a cover of the capsule of  FIG. 1  in an open position showing a lighting array on the interior of the cover; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic plan view of the interior of the cover with the cover inverted; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cover shown inverted with a location of a control panel for an operator and location of control regions shown at the head end of the cover; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a flat layout of an LED array for placing adjacent a face of a patient in the capsule. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a full body photo treatment compartment assembly is generated at  10  in cross-section, to show the interior. The system includes a base unit  12 , and a cover  14  that is hinged at a hinge axis  16  at the foot end  17  of the compartment base  12 . The base  12  is supported on a three-point leg system, preferably including a pedestal  12 A, and forward legs  12 C. 
         [0018]    The three-legged arrangement provides stability of support without rocking or problems with unevenness of a support floor. Other forms of support for the base can be utilized and are contemplated. 
         [0019]    The base  12  is provided with a bed platform  18 , in this case made out of a clear acrylic or other clear plastic material, so that it is transparent to light of different wavelengths. The upper surface  18 A of the bed positioned at various angles and the bed  18  includes an upper body portion  18 B that supports the shoulder and upper back region of a person lying on the support bed  18 . The bed  18  also includes a lower back panel or portion  18 C, that is at a comfortable angle relative to the portion  18 B, and a leg panel or support  18 D that is at the foot end of the bed. 
         [0020]    The base  12  forms a lower compartment  20  that can house various components, such as a steam generator  22  that is mounted to provide for steam therapy, if desired, at steam outlets represented generally at  22 A. The compartment  20  also can hold a water tank  24  that will have a pump and supply lines connected to showerheads. By way of example, a showerhead  24 A is shown in the cover  14  in  FIG. 1 . The showing of the shower head is not limited to any particular placement. If desired, showerheads can be placed in other locations along the sides of the cover or in the base. Suitable drainage troughs will be provided and this can easily be done because the base  12  is generally molded plastic or fiberglass material that can be shaped as desired. 
         [0021]    The present invention utilizes the transparent bed  18  on which a person can lie, in connection with LED lights and infrared light sources comprising small bulbs mounted in an array on a light support panel  26  for the upper back portion of the bed. A light support panel  28  is provided for the lower back, immediately below the lower back panel  18 C of the bed, and a pair of leg light panels  30 A and  30 B are provided (see  FIG. 3 ) that are individually controlled so that one leg or the other or both can be provided with light therapy through the transparent bed which is represented in  FIG. 3  by the outline. 
         [0022]    The light support panels  28 ,  30 A and  30 B are illustrated being mounted to the bed  18 . However, the light support panels  28 ,  30 A and  30 B can also be mounted the wall of the lower compartment  20 . When mounted to the wall of the lower compartment  20 , the clusters light support panels  28 ,  30 A and  30 B are less likely to be damaged when compared to mounting the light support panels to the bed  18 . Also when the panels  28 ,  30 A and  30 B are mounted to the wall of the lower compartment  20 , the bed can be easily removed and cleaned and/or sanitized. 
         [0023]    The light panels  26 ,  28 ,  30 A and  30 B can be seen below the bed  12  because the bed is transparent, and the grid pattern shown represents a multitude of small LED lights that are mounted in the panels  26 ,  28 ,  30 A and  30 B. The numbers of the LEDs that are used, and the colors that are used can be varied as desired by the operator, and can be blue, red, yellow, green, clear, or other colored light sources that can be controlled as to intensity and as to the frequency of the output. The controls indicated in  32  are conventional controls. The block  38  represents the individual LED arrays, and block  40  represents the infrared arrays. Each LED or infrared array of lights can be selected and switched for controlling the selected array. The location of the array will be displayed on the operator&#39;s screen. The controls are available for modifying the frequency of the lights of the selected array at block  38  as are represented at block  36 . As can be seen, the control block  42  houses these various electronic components and then the light panels  26 ,  28 ,  30 A and  30 B are selectively, or simultaneously connected through suitable lines to the controls. An operator display at a location  66  can have the needed information displayed to the user. 
         [0024]    Besides being able to control the wavelength of the LED array, the control panel can also be utilized to control the energy output of the light arrays. A typical energy output for the LED used in the LED arrays range from about 5 mW to about 5 W from each LED in the array. Another typical energy output is between 5 mW and 500 mW from each LED in the array. The control panel is also able to control the angle at which the beams of light engage the person where the LED beam angle typically ranges from 0 to 90 degrees. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 3 , the darker outlines represent placement of infrared light arrays for heat therapy along the shoulders, as indicated at  46 A and  46 B, and along the buttock or back portions at  48 A and  48 B, as well as the myriad of LEDs forming arrays represented by the lines forming squares in the panels  26 ,  28 ,  30 A and  30 B. 
         [0026]    The placement of the light panels can be as desired, and can include a central infrared section on both of the panels  26  and  28  as indicated at  50 A and  50 B. 
         [0027]    In the person&#39;s leg area, infrared light sections are shown at  52 A and  52 B, and again these can be controlled from the controls  42  using suitable electronic controls available for lights. 
         [0028]    Schematically represented at  54  are brackets for holding the bed panel  18  in position relative to the base  12 . These mounts can be of any desired type. 
         [0029]    The cover  14  is shown in  FIG. 1  as supporting not only showerheads  24 A but a light panel assembly  60  that is supported on the upper portions of the cover in a suitable manner, and which contains a myriad of LEDs or infrared lights forming light arrays.  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the cover  14  in an inverted position.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the LED panel  60  in position along a tunnel member  62  that can be for carrying heated air if desired. The cover  14  has a dividing panel  64  at the head end, and this includes the region  66  for supporting the control panel display for the controls shown schematically at  42 . The panel  64  is recessed as at  68  to permit the neck of the person lying in the compartment to cross the panel  64  so the person&#39;s head is to the exterior of the closed compartment. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view to show an array  60  of LEDs or other lights, and it can be seen at the length and width that the LED panel can be made as desired and then supported on the interior top of the cover  14 . 
         [0031]    Each of the line intersections shown in the gridwork and indicated at  70  represents an LED. The number of LEDs can be varied substantially as desired to suit the treatment purposes. 
         [0032]    In  FIG. 2 , the LED or light array panel  60  is illustrated with the cover  14  open, and the control panel is illustrated at  70 , and is of a different form that can be folded up or down into the cover, as desired. 
         [0033]    Steam outlets  24 A are illustrated at the forward end of the unit and these can be placed at any desired location. 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 2 , the LED grid is shown schematically, but additionally a panel indicated at  72  can be provided for an array of infrared lights at desired locations along the panel  60 , and as shown, the array of infrared lights can be separately controlled by the control system. 
         [0035]    Although LED grids are illustrated, it is also contemplated to utilize smaller sized clusters where more clusters are utilized for one large grid. The clusters are typically of the same configuration and size such that when a cluster malfunctions, only one cluster needs to be replaced instead of an entire array. While the entire array must be replaced, only a small portion of the array may have malfunctioned. Therefore, by providing numerous clusters of the same configuration, such as a substantially round perimeter, maintenance time and replacement costs can be reduced when compared to the large arrays. 
         [0036]    A cluster of lights can have any desired number of LEDs. A cluster typically includes between 1,000 and 20,000 LEDs. 
         [0037]    By operating the controls to provide for different wavelengths of light from the LEDs, for example 400 nm, 560 nm, 640 nm, or greater, the photo-therapy can be directed toward a specific type of treatment, such as for psoriasis, dermatological conditions, skin tightening, circulatory stimulation, fine lines and wrinkles, obesity and excessive weight, stimulation for hair growth, reducing swelling and hematoma, accelerating wound healing, enhancing tissue repair, relieving inflammation and pain associated with inflammation, relieving neurogenic pain, reversing effects of toxins in the body, regenerating nerves, increasing fibroblast and collagen growth factors and the treatment of arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. For example, the bed, with the 3 LED panels, can have an array in the range of 8,000 or more yellow, blue, green or red LEDs, and also an array of about 2,000 bulbs that emit infrared wavelengths for heat. 
         [0038]    A person will lie on the bed  18  to receive the photo-therapy as light is transmitted through the clear bed  18 . 
         [0039]    The controls can be provided for continuous or variable pulsation frequency of the light, and the intensity, power level, the infrared thermal temperature, and intermixing the sequence of LED and infrared treatment can be made. Also, oxygen can be injected into the capsule to raise the oxygen concentration within the capsule. 
         [0040]    The water tank  24  can be used for providing a humidifying vaporization and/or misting system through the outlets shown at  24 A, that would allow the application and spray or envelopment of the body of the user of different solutions that are photosensitive and/or photoactive for different therapies. Photosensitive agents can be placed in the tank  24  and then misted onto the body of a person on the bed at desired times. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic view of a facial panel  79  that supports an array of a number of LEDs and is indicated at  80 . This facial panel  79  can be suspended on or adjacent the divider panel  64  on the cover, and provides for the panel shown at  80  is fragmentarily shown in  FIG. 4 . The panel  79  and light array  80  can be made to cover substantially the entire area or selected portions of the panel  64  and can be independently suspended and located, if desired. The facial panel  79  can also include adjustable LEDs, of various colors as outlined, and can include infrared lights as well. 
         [0042]    The infrared light sources can be small bulbs arranged in an array, or larger forms as desired. 
         [0043]    Features such as dry heat air, steam, ceramic and/or course midrange and far-range infrared heaters can be added in the cover as previously shown in the prior art, and a mist source, a shower, a humidifier, a hydrotherapy source, electrical stimulation and various entertainment sources can be used, such as DVD players, music sources and the like. 
         [0044]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.