Patent Description:
Respiratory infections - and infections in general - are caused by viruses and bacteria which mutate over time and may eventually become resistant to antibiotics and other medications. There is a vast number of different viruses and bacteria and the type causing an infection in a patient has to be identified before a proper treatment can be determined. For some viruses and bacteria, there is no treatment available and for some the treatment is not effective enough to save all patients. Combined ultrasound and ultraviolet energy systems suitable for germicidal treatments are disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The object of the invention is a system, which can target and damage a wide variety of different viruses and bacteria and alleviate infections caused by viruses or bacteria.

Object of the invention is achieved with a two-part system where both units of the system comprise an ultrasonic transducer and at least one unit comprises ultraviolet emitter. The ultrasonic emitters are arranged to emit ultrasound waves into a pliable medium which can be pressed firmly into contact with a patient to achieve efficient propagation of ultrasound waves from the system into the body of the patient.

The invention is now described in more detail in connection with preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

<FIG> shows a treatment system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It is important to note that the treatment system is for treating a patient by causing changes within the patient's body whereas imaging devices are for creating an image of a patient's body without causing changes in the patient's body. The present disclosure is strictly related to treatment devices and systems. The treatment system comprises a base unit <NUM> and a portable unit <NUM>. The details of the base unit have been shown in more detail in <FIG> and the portable unit in <FIG>. The treatment system may also include a protective cover <NUM> protecting both the patient and an operator of the treatment system from unwanted ultraviolet emissions. The portable unit can be attached to the base unit but movable in relation to the base unit.

The base unit <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) can be in a form of a mattress or in an embodiment similar to the portable unit <NUM>. The base unit comprises a pliable top layer <NUM> which can adapt to the shape of the patient placed against the it. The pliable top layer can be made out of silicone, silicone-based material or some other pliable material where ultrasound waves can propagate without significant losses. In an embodiment the top layer can be a plastic bladder or silicone bladder filled with water or gel.

The base unit also comprises one or more ultrasonic transducers <NUM> configured to produce ultrasound waves into the pliable top layer <NUM>. The frequency of the ultrasound produced by the ultrasonic transducers can be e.g. in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>. The base unit <NUM> also comprises a solid layer <NUM> which is preferably in contact with the pliable top layer <NUM> over a large area of the solid layer <NUM>. The one or more ultrasonic transducers <NUM> are fixed to the solid layer <NUM>. The solid layer is a metal plate, such as an aluminium plate or a steel plate which provides the base unit with rigidity and increases transmission of ultrasound waves from the ultrasonic transducers into the pliable top layer <NUM> which is on one side of the solid layer. On the opposite side of the solid layer <NUM> is a bottom layer <NUM>. The ultrasound waves from the ultrasonic transducers <NUM> are prevented from entering into the bottom layer <NUM> by using material, such as a foam, in the bottom layer <NUM> where the ultrasound waves do not propagate properly. There can also be an air gap between the solid layer <NUM> and the bottom layer <NUM> to ensure that most of the ultrasonic energy is directed into the pliable top layer.

The portable unit <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) is preferably a handheld device as shown in <FIG> and thereby it preferably comprises a handle <NUM>. The portable unit can also be attached to a movable arm that can be manually or remotely controlled to move the portable unit in a desired direction. The portable unit <NUM> comprises a pliable pad <NUM> which can adapt to the shape of the patient placed against the it. The pliable top layer can be made out of silicone, silicone-based material or some other pliable material where ultrasound waves can propagate without significant losses. In an embodiment the top layer can be a plastic bladder or silicone bladder filled with water or gel.

The portable unit comprises an ultrasonic transducer <NUM> configured to produce ultrasound waves into the pliable pad <NUM>. The frequency of the ultrasound produced by the ultrasonic transducers can be e.g. in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>. The portable unit <NUM> preferably also comprises a solid layer <NUM> which is preferably in contact with the pliable pad <NUM> over a large area of the solid layer <NUM>. The ultrasonic transducers <NUM> is preferably fixed to the solid layer <NUM>. The solid layer can be e.g. a metal plate, such as an aluminium plate or a steel plate which increases transmission of ultrasound waves from the ultrasonic transducers into the pliable pad <NUM>.

The treatment system further comprises a source of ionizing electromagnetic radiation <NUM> which may form a part of the base unit <NUM>, part of the portable unit <NUM> or the source can be a separate unit from which the ionizing electromagnetic radiation is guided to the patient either directly or through the portable unit or the base unit. The source of ionizing electromagnetic radiation <NUM> can be, for example, an ultraviolet emitter that emits ultraviolet light, an X-ray tube that emits X-rays or a gamma ray emitter that emits gamma rays. In the following embodiments, the source of ionizing electromagnetic radiation <NUM> is an ultraviolet emitter but the treatment system of the present disclosure can also be used with said other types of ionizing electromagnetic radiation and the following examples are not limited to use of ultraviolet emitters only.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the portable unit <NUM> further comprises one or more ultraviolet emitters <NUM> as the source of ionizing electromagnetic radiation <NUM>. Said one or more ultraviolet emitters <NUM> are configured to emit ultraviolet light in a wavelength range from <NUM> to <NUM>. Preferably, the ultraviolet emitters <NUM> are light emitting diodes (LEDs) having the highest emission peak at a wavelength range from <NUM> to <NUM>. In an embodiment, the one or more ultraviolet emitters <NUM> of the portable unit <NUM> are arranged to emit said ultraviolet light into the pliable pad <NUM>. In this case, the pliable pad is at least partially translucent for emitted wavelengths, for example side edge(s) of the pliable pad <NUM> may be opaque to prevent the ultraviolet emission from escaping the pliable pad into unwanted directions. The ultraviolet emitters may also be covered with a clear plastic or glass cover for allowing the ultraviolet emission to propagate but at the same time protecting the ultraviolet emitters from direct contact with the patient and the patient from the ultraviolet emitters. The unwanted ultraviolet emission can also be blocked with a dome <NUM> which can be rigid or resilient dome essentially blocking any gaps between the patient and the side of the portable unit <NUM> that is placed against the patient.

In an embodiment, the base unit <NUM> also comprises one or more ultraviolet emitters <NUM> configured to emit ultraviolet light in a wavelength range from <NUM> to <NUM>. Preferably, also the ultraviolet emitters <NUM> of the base unit <NUM> are light emitting diodes (LEDs) having the highest emission peak at a wavelength range from <NUM> to <NUM>. Arrangements similar to the portable unit <NUM> can be used in the base unit when placing the ultraviolet emitters.

Since excessively large dose of ionizing electromagnetic radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation, is harmful, the dosage is preferably restricted. For example, the ultraviolet emitters <NUM>, <NUM> of the system can be configured to operate at full power for example at most <NUM> milliseconds, <NUM> second or <NUM> seconds at a time. The restriction can also be a power restriction to certain wattage or an energy-based restriction where a patient can only receive a certain amount of energy in a single treatment.

Power levels of ultrasound and ultraviolet light can vary greatly depending on a body part that is treated with the device. For example, an infection in human fingernail can be treated with relatively low power levels compared to a respiratory infection. Even higher power levels may be needed for treating larger mammals, such as treating a horse suffering from a gastroentiritis. Therefore the power levels of the device are adjustable and should be adjusted case by case by a medical professional. Similarly, frequency of the ultrasound can be adjusted depending on a tissue that is treated to achieve desired penetration of ultrasound in to the tissue.

In an embodiment, where the base unit <NUM> comprises multiple ultrasonic transducers <NUM>, the system can be configured to activate one or more of these multiple ultrasonic transducers <NUM> of the base unit <NUM> upon activation of the ultrasonic transducer <NUM> of the portable unit <NUM>. The activated ultrasonic transducers can be predetermined according to a treatment plan or a set of ultrasonic transducers can be manually selected to begin transmission once the ultrasonic transducer <NUM> of the portable unit is activated. The activation of the portable unit can be transmitted wirelessly or by wired connection to the base unit. Alternatively, the base unit can be configured to detect the activation of the portable unit by sensing ultrasound waves with a separate detector (not shown in the drawings) or with one or more ultrasonic transducers <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>.

The same principle can be applied to the ultraviolet emitters. In an embodiment, where the base unit <NUM> comprises multiple ultraviolet emitters <NUM>, the system can be configured to activate one or more of the multiple ultraviolet emitters <NUM> of the base unit <NUM> upon activation of the one or more ultrasonic emitters <NUM> of the portable unit <NUM>. The activated ultraviolet emitters can be predetermined according to a treatment plan or a set of ultraviolet emitters can be manually selected to begin emission once one or more of the ultraviolet emitters <NUM> of the portable unit are activated. The activation of the portable unit can be transmitted wirelessly or by wired connection to the base unit. Alternatively, the base unit can be configured to detect the activation of the portable unit by sensing ultraviolet emission with a separate sensor (not shown in the drawings).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the base unit <NUM> comprises multiple ultrasonic transducers <NUM> and said ultrasonic transducers <NUM> are configured to detect ultrasonic transmission of the ultrasonic transducer <NUM> of the portable unit <NUM>. The treatment system is configured to selectively activate one or more of the ultrasonic transducers <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>. The activated ultrasonic transducers are preferably the ones that detect the strongest signal from the portable unit <NUM>, or alternatively the ultrasonic transducer that detects the strongest signal is activated as well as neighbouring ultrasonic transducers directly next to the one sensing the strongest signal. Selectively activating means that the number of activated ultrasonic transducers <NUM> is at least one but smaller than the total amount of ultrasonic transducers <NUM> of the base unit <NUM>.

These embodiments of the treatment system make it possible to apply ultrasound to patient's body from opposite sides simultaneously. In an embodiment, the same applies to the ultraviolet light. This feature allows for lower power levels to be used while still penetrating the body with ultrasound or ultraviolet light. The inventors have found that the ultrasound and ultraviolet light have a strong synergistic effect on bacteria and viruses. Even the ultrasound alone has proven to be effective to reduce inflammation. The ultrasound weakens capsules of the bacteria and other outermost parts of bacteria and viruses. The weakening allows for the ultraviolet light to damage the bacteria and viruses with significantly less power compared to a case where just ultraviolet light is used. The combination of ultrasound and ultraviolet light reduces the needed light intensity by a factor of at least ten. Therefore, intensity and duration of the ultrasound and the ultraviolet light are preferably adjustable for achieving a desired result of the treatment.

The ultraviolet light, applied immediately or soon after applying the ultrasound, is intended to damage the bacteria or viruses so that reproduction of bacteria and virus replication are fully or essentially prevented. The time between the ultrasound and ultraviolet light should be less than one second and preferably the ultraviolet light is applied immediately when ultrasound is applied. Preferably the ultraviolet light is applied while the ultrasound transmission is still ongoing. In an embodiment, ultrasound is applied continuously and ultraviolet light is applied in pulses lasting less than a second or less than <NUM> milliseconds while ultrasound is being applied. Many of the most severe symptoms can be avoided when the bacteria cannot reproduce and viruses cannot replicate, because then the patient's immune system will be less likely to overshoot when attacking these bacteria and viruses.

The treatment system may also comprise a safety switch to protect the patient and the operator of the treatment system. The safety switch prevents accidental activation of the ultraviolet emitters of the portable unit or the whole system. In an embodiment, the pliable pad <NUM> and the metal plate <NUM> of the portable unit <NUM> are at rest at a first position (shown in <FIG>) where the metal plate <NUM> is not in contact with a pin <NUM>. A galvanic contact between the pin <NUM> and the metal plate <NUM> is needed for activating the circuit powering the ultraviolet emitters. Thereby, in the first position the one or more ultraviolet emitters <NUM> are inoperable. The pliable pad <NUM> and the metal plate <NUM> are configured to be movable to a second position where the metal plate <NUM> is in contact with the pin <NUM> and thereby the one or more ultraviolet emitters <NUM> are operable. In an embodiment, the ultraviolet emitters <NUM> of the base unit <NUM> are also inoperable in the first position of the portable unit and operable in the second position of the portable unit. The portable unit has preferably a spring-bias towards the first position where e.g. a helical spring <NUM> exerts a force on the pliable pad and the metal plate which has to be overcome by exerting a higher force in the opposite direction to e.g. the pliable pad. This is typically achieved by pushing the pliable pad <NUM> of the portable unit against a patient.

Claim 1:
A treatment system comprising a base unit (<NUM>) and a portable unit (<NUM>), wherein the base unit comprises a pliable top layer (<NUM>) and one or more ultrasonic transducers (<NUM>) configured to produce ultrasound waves into the pliable top layer (<NUM>), and where the portable unit (<NUM>) comprises a pliable pad (<NUM>) and an ultrasonic transducer (<NUM>) configured to produce ultrasound waves into the pliable pad (<NUM>), wherein the treatment system further comprises a source of ionizing electromagnetic radiation (<NUM>) configured to emit ionizing electromagnetic radiation, wherein the base unit (<NUM>) further comprises a solid layer (<NUM>) and said one or more ultrasonic transducers (<NUM>) are fixed to the solid layer (<NUM>), where the solid layer (<NUM>) of the base unit (<NUM>) is a metal plate.