| System for controlled spatially-selective epidermal pigmentation phototherapy with uva leds -> Monitor Keywords |
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System for controlled spatially-selective epidermal pigmentation phototherapy with uva ledsRelated Patent Categories: Surgery: Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light ApplicationSystem for controlled spatially-selective epidermal pigmentation phototherapy with uva leds description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060089687, System for controlled spatially-selective epidermal pigmentation phototherapy with uva leds. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CLAIM OF PRIORITY [0001] This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/728,527, filed Dec. 5, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/432,935, filed Dec. 12, 2002, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention provides for spatially selective phototherapy using LEDs. BACKGROUND [0003] A number of diseases, medical or trauma conditions give rise to cosmetically undesirable pigmentary variation in human skin. Scars, temporary or permanent hypo- and hyper-pigmentation, striae (stretch marks), leukoderma, poikiloderma of Civatte, etc., are examples of conditions in which a melanin pigmentation cosmetic defect is presented by at least one component of the condition. A variety of approaches have been used to reduce the contrast between pigment variation regions, including chemical etches ("peel"), dermabrasion, laser ablation, and UV light sources. [0004] Prior approaches for dealing with these conditions included removing the abnormally pigmented skin, or a portion of such skin with the goal of promoting new growth that contains cosmetically desirable "natural" pigmentation. Another approach provided for treating skin with UV light sources to promote the formation of melanin in melanin-deficient skin. [0005] Ablative laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels and dermabrasion are examples of some approaches used for removing skin. UV lamps and excimer laser therapies are examples of some types of UV light sources. [0006] Prior approaches have suffered from a lack of good control over the pigment induction. One shortcoming frequently associated with removing abnormally pigmented skin is that pigment-deficient areas of skin frequently exhibit resistance to melanogenesis or pigment induction. Thus, even after removing a portion of the pigment-deficient area of skin, and generating new growth of skin, the pigment deficiency frequently persists. In connection with providing UV treatment to pigment deficient skin, difficulties are also realized in that the spatial localization of the treatment is difficult to control and results in less than desirable outcomes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0007] FIGS. 1A-1B are diagrams showing views of an embodiment of a system herein. FIG. 1B shows details of an electric console. [0008] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between a minimum melanogensis dose and wavelength. [0009] FIG. 3 shows an optical power output for an LED array relative to driving current. [0010] FIG. 4 shows a portion of a selectively controllable LED array. [0011] FIG. 5.shows a portion of a selectively controllable LED array with photodetectors. [0012] FIG. 6 shows an LED array coupled with fibers. [0013] FIG. 7 shows a fiber bundle couple with photodetectors, and different LEDs. [0014] FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between skin pigmentation and an intensity of back scattered light. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] Generally desirable characteristics of a phototherapeutic approach to pigmentary induction would include: (i) production of a temporary-to-permanent pigmentary darkening in various skin phototypes; and (ii) an ability to target discrete and localized non-uniformities and "blend" them to produce a more uniform pigment background. An embodiment herein provides for controlling the exposure to light, so that the treatment does not result in just increasing an overall pigment background by a uniform amount (e.g., merely increasing a base level of all pigment in a treatment area). For example, an embodiment herein can provide for a relatively large area UV exposure with some type of masking, or directing a UV point source at a specific local target. [0016] A system of an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A. The system 100 includes a rigid or flexible array module 102 of LEDs 104 arranged such that a high density of LEDs can be achieved. The array module 102 is placed in near, or close, contact with the skin, whereby the LEDs 104 are optically coupled with the skin such that light emitted from the LED is incident on the skin being treated. The LEDs 104 are electrically configured to allow for low voltage, high current operation. The array module 102 is electrically isolated from the patient in case direct contact with the array module 102 occurs. This isolation could be achieved by providing an electrically insulating, but optically transmissive material over the LEDs 104. [0017] The array module 102 includes a surface structure 106 to which the LEDs are mounted. This surface structure could be formed on a printed circuit board which contains conductive paths from the LEDs 104 to a larger passive heat sink, or active cooler 120, such as water channel cooled plate. Typical heat loading from dissipation by LEDs in such an array is <1 W/cm.sup.2. For arrays containing 1000 or more LEDs, such heat loading can be in the 100's of Watts. [0018] An umbilical supply cord 108 containing the driving current lines, temperature sensor, optical sensor and potentially low flow water for active cooling connects the array module 102 and LEDs 104 with the drive electronics console 110. Additional details of the console are shown in FIG. 1B. The console 110 contains a power supply, or driver circuit, 112 capable of providing for pulsed or CW operation of the LEDs 104, by controlling the electrical energy supplied to the LEDs. The console 110 also contains sensing circuits 1 14 to monitor the current, the array temperature, and the light flux. Further as will be discussed in more detail below a processor or controller 116 of the console operates to analyze the information from sensor or detectors in the array module 102, and to control the amount of current generated to by the driver circuit 112 to drive individual LEDs 104. Additionally a user interface 118 is provided to allow a user to control different aspects of the operation. More details related to a general structure of an LED array module and a console used to supply light energy to a patient's skin are disclosed in commonly assigned pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/422,261, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING EXPOSED TISSUE WITH LIGHT EMITTING DIODES, filed Apr. 24, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [0019] An embodiment herein provides cosmetically desirable pigmentation in the skin in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. Melanin synthesis in melanocytes, or "melanogenesis", refers to this process. Melanogenesis can take place as a photoprotective effect in response to UV radiation, and when it occurs in response to natural or artificial UV light, it is referred to as "tanning." Continue reading about System for controlled spatially-selective epidermal pigmentation phototherapy with uva leds... Full patent description for System for controlled spatially-selective epidermal pigmentation phototherapy with uva leds Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this System for controlled spatially-selective epidermal pigmentation phototherapy with uva leds patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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