Patent Publication Number: US-2017348541-A1

Title: Portable Light Therapy Assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application takes benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) of Unites States Provisional Application 62/344,196 filed on Jun. 1, 2016 and incorporates such fully herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The disclosure and prior art relates to light therapy treatment devices and more particularly pertains to a new light therapy treatment device for allowing a patient requiring therapeutic light treatments to perform such treatments on themselves and at their own convenience. Light therapy has several uses and one such is use is within the chiropractic and physical therapy industries to treat pain and promote healing of soft tissues. Because light therapy devices have been very large and expensive, a patient has been required to visit a caregiver&#39;s treatment office. This can be time consuming and inconvenient because several visits in a single week over a period of multiple weeks are typically required to maximize the benefits from the light therapy. Thus, patients often do not receive the maximum number of light therapy treatments from which they would benefit. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a housing that has a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall extending between the first and second ends. A control unit is mounted in the housing and a power supply is mounted in the housing and electrically coupled to the control unit. A light emitter is mounted in the housing and emits light outwardly of the first end when the light emitter is turned on. The light emitter is electrically coupled to the control unit. The control unit is programmed to allow the light emitter to be used a pre-selected number of usages. Each of the usages defines a treatment and the total number of usages defines a prescription. The control unit requires a reset input when the prescription has been fully utilized. 
     In another embodiment of the disclosure includes a method of providing a housing a housing having a first end, a second end and a perimeter wall extending between the first and second ends. A control unit is mounted in the housing and a power supply mounted in the housing is electrically coupled to the control unit. The power supply comprises a rechargeable battery. A light emitter is mounted in the housing and emits light outwardly of the first end when the light emitter is turned on. The light emitter is electrically coupled to the control unit. A power switch is mounted on the housing and is operationally coupled to the control unit. The power switch is actuated to allow the control unit to turn the light emitters on or off. The control unit is programmed to allow the light emitter to be used a pre-selected number of usages wherein each of the usages defines a treatment and the total number of usages defining a prescription. The power switch is actuated to initiate one of the treatments. The steps of actuating the power switch and initiating one of the treatments is repeated until the prescription has been fully utilized. The control unit must then be reset with a new prescription to allow the light emitter to be used again. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a portable light therapy treatment assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, a new light therapy treatment device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the portable light therapy treatment assembly  10  generally comprises a housing  12  that has a first end  14 , a second end  16  and a perimeter wall  18  extending between the first  14  and second  16  ends. The perimeter wall  12  includes an upper wall  20  and the housing  12  comprises an overall volume of less than about 150 in 3 , preferably less than 100 in 3 , and more preferably less than 50 in 3  so that the housing  12  is easily portable and can be easily manipulated by a person using only one hand. 
     A control unit  22  is mounted in the housing. The control unit  22  generally will include a processor (CPU) and a memory module. The memory module will specifically include at least some non-volatile memory so that information may be stored after the powering down of the assembly  10 . A power supply  24  is mounted in the housing  12  and is electrically coupled to the control unit  22 . More particularly, the power supply  24  may comprise one or more rechargeable batteries. A power port  26  is electrically coupled to the power supply, or rechargeable battery. The power port  26  extends through the housing  12  and may, additionally, comprise a data port such as a USB port. The control unit  22  may also be GPS enabled to allow the assembly  10  to be located remotely should it be lost or not be returned to a provider of the assembly  10 . A power indicator light  27  may be provided which is mounted on the housing  12  is electrically coupled to the control unit  22  to indicate when power supply is running low, such as around 10% or less of total battery capacity. 
     A light emitter  28  is mounted in the housing  12  and emits light outwardly of the housing, and more particularly may emit the light from the first end  14 , when the light emitter  28  is turned on. The housing  12  may include a pivoting head in which the light emitter  28  is mounted to allow the directly of the emitted light to be selectively altered by up to 90°. The light emitter  28  is electrically coupled to the control unit  22 . The light emitter  28  typically will comprise a 635 mm laser (red emitted light), though other types of lasers or light sources may be utilized as well as other light wavelengths wherein the light emitter  28  is calibrated to emit light within a specific color range dependent upon the type of therapy being performed. A lens  30  is mounted on the housing  12  through which light from the light emitter  28  passes. The lens  30  focuses and intensifies the emitted light and will typically comprise a collimating lens and may further include a Powell lens used for generating lines of light. As can be seen in the Figures, the light emitter  28  and lens  30  may include a plurality of light emitters  30  and lenses  32 . The light emitter(s)  30  is adjustable to emit light at a selected frequency (pulse rate of light emission) according to the type of therapy to be effected. The control unit  22  is programmable to adjust this frequency as needed which may vary from 0 Hz to 1 GHz. During a prescribed treatment, the frequency itself may be altered so that multiple frequencies are used during a single treatment. The light emitters  30  may also be provided with intensity adjustments to alter the lux levels of the light emitters  30 . 
     A power switch  32  is mounted on the housing  12  and is operationally coupled to the control unit  22 . The power switch  32  is actuated to allow the control unit  32  to turn on or off the light emitters  28 . The power switch  32  includes a security lock  34  to inhibit unauthorized usage of the light emitter  28 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the security lock  34  may comprise a mechanical key lock which requires a key to be inserted into the security lock and rotated to turn on the control unit and/or allow the control unit  22  to turn on the light emitters. Thus, it should be understood that the security lock  34  may be used for either allowing the powering of the control unit  22  or allowing the control unit  22  to turn on the light emitters  28 . Some security locks, as understood below, will generally require the control unit  22  to be turned on before the security lock  34  is actuated so that a security input can be analyzed for authenticity. For example, alternative security locks might be utilized such as entering a numerical or alphanumerical code; biometric security inputs such as fingerprint scanners or voice recognition software; wireless activations such as from cellular phones, key fobs and RFID chips; and other conventional security means. The security lock  34  ensures that unwanted usage, particularly by children, does not occur. 
     The control unit  22  is programmed to allow the light emitter  28  to be used a pre-selected number of usages. Each of the usages defines a treatment with the total number of usages defining a prescription. After the prescription has been fully utilized, that is that all treatments have been used, the control unit  22  will require a reset input to create a new prescription which may be used. In this manner, a prescribing caretaker can ensure that the user of the assembly  10  only uses the light emitters  28  a pre-determined number of times. When the prescription is entered into the control unit, it will include instructions for the control unit  22  with respect to the light frequency, duration of a treatment (usage) and number of treatments. Additionally, the control unit  22  may be programmed with a prescription that only allows usage during a specific time frame. For example, should a person be given six treatments to use over a specific time frame but does not use all six within that time frame, the assembly  10  will not allow usage of the unused treatments. 
     A display screen  36  is mounted on the housing  12  and is electrically coupled to the control unit  22 . The display  36  may be mounted on or visible through the upper wall  20 . The display screen  36  is used for communicating with and displaying information from the control unit  22 . Foremost, the display screen  36  will depict a remaining number of the treatments remaining. However, the display screen  36  may be used for displaying other useful information. In particular, the display screen  36  will display the prescription as it is being entered into the control unit  22  or as is will be performed/executed by the assembly  10  for the user thereof. Since a light therapy treatment is done over the course of a predetermined amount of time, typically between 1.0 minutes and 30 minutes, the display screen  36  may be used to indicate the time remaining in a treatment. If the control unit  22  includes a programming system of options for treatments, these options, such in the form of folders and subfolders (sub-options), will be visible on the display screen  36 . This would allow a caregiver to program the number of treatments, the frequency of the emitted light, and duration of the treatment, for example. Additionally, the display screen  36  may be used for instructing a user of the assembly  10  to perform additionally prescribed routines such as performing a period of exercise in addition to the light therapy. 
     The display screen  36  may also be used for inputting an alphanumeric code should the assembly  10  require such to overcome the security lock. Furthermore, the display screen  36  may comprise a touch screen to function as an input for control unit. If the display screen  36  is not a touch screen, the assembly  10  will typically include a manual selector  38  that is mounted on the housing  12  and is operationally coupled to the control unit  22 . The manual selector  38  is configured to start, finish and access the treatments and may also be used for inputting such into the control unit  22 . As can be seen in the Figures, a plurality of manual selectors may be provided including, for example, scrolling selectors  40  and an enter actuator  42 . 
     A data input  44  is mounted in the housing and is electrically coupled to the control unit to allow the control unit  22  to be programmed and to retrieve stored data from the control unit. The data input  44  may comprise a USB port  26 , as described above and also used for recharging the power supply  24 . The data input  44  may alternatively or additionally comprise a transceiver utilizing wireless frequencies such as Cellular Signals, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or near-field communication protocols. Wireless communication may further allow remote programming and access to the control unit  22  via the Internet. Regardless of the type of data input  44  utilized, the data input  44  will allow communication between the control unit  22  and a computer  46 . This will allow the computer to program the control unit  22  with a particular treatment regimen and also to upload, from the stored memory of the control unit  22 , data related to if and when the treatments were performed. The computer  46  may then also store overall treatment information related to a patient such as the number, type and efficacy of the treatments received by a specific patient. Further information may indicate when the treatments were performed to determine if the patient is properly chronologically spacing them from each other. It should be understood that the control unit  22  may be programmed allow treatments to take place only after a sufficient amount of time has elapsed between treatments. 
     In use, a caregiver such as a physician, chiropractor or other authorized person will program the control unit to allow the light emitter  28  to be used a pre-selected number of treatments and will further program the control unit  22  as to what the treatment will consist of. The caregiver may have a special access code or program recognized by the control unit  22  to allow prescription access. The caregiver then provides the assembly  10  to the patient (user) so that the patient may take the assembly  10  with them to use at their convenience and in accordance with the prescription. The patient will initiate the treatments, on a schedule provided by the caregiver, until such time as all of the treatments have been fully utilized. “Fully utilized” herein may include, for example, a minimal amount of time of treatment or as little as simply starting a treatment. In this manner a patient would not be allowed to turn off the light emitter  28  before the end of the treatment and thereafter restart the treatment from the beginning. Alternatively each treatment may be considered a fully allotted amount of time. As an example, the patient may only use 10 minutes of a 15 minute prescribed treatment and will be able to later use the remaining 5 minutes of that treatment. Once all of the treatments have been utilized, the caregiver may provide another prescription or the assembly  10  may be returned to the caregiver. Utilizing the internet and depending on either a wired or wireless connection, the control unit  22  may communicate with a computer  46  accessed by the caregiver to monitor usage of the assembly  10 , either constantly or intermittently as data is uploaded from the control unit  22  to the computer  46 . Using a remote connection would allow the caregiver to remotely reinitiate a prescription or prevent further usage of the assembly  10 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.