LIGHT THERAPY DEVICE

Abstract

A light therapy device for the disinfection treatment of fungal, bacterial and viral infections that can be applied in real time to both living and inanimate things, inside and outside the body is provided. The light therapy device has a base unit and a diffuser cap releasably connected to the base unit, the diffuser cap has a reflector element that varies depending on the shape and size of the area to be disinfected. The main parts of the diffuser cap are: a reflector element, a connecting element and a locking element. The reflector element is positioned above the light source, directing its light to the area to be treated, its shape is adapted to the area to be treated. The spectral range of the light therapy device is between the light wavelengths of 401 and 490 nanometres, and its light intensity is between 1 and 2000 J/cm2, depending on the area to be disinfected and the degree of infection.

Claims

1. A light therapy device for the disinfection treatment of fungal, bacterial and viral infections, comprising a base unit and a diffuser cap provided with a reflector element connected to the base unit, where the base unit has an inner housing, to the upper side of which at least one light source is connected, in the inner housing there is a power supply unit, under which there is a control unit, a switch is positioned on the lower part of the inner housing, breaking through the wall thereof; the light source has two electrical wires: a short leg, which is connected to the power supply unit, and a long leg, which ends between the switch and the control unit, the long leg is provided with an insulating element, wherein the inner housing is surrounded by an outer housing, on the outer housing there are at least two connecting portions, the connecting portions include an L-shaped slot having a vertical arm and a horizontal arm, the vertical arm and the horizontal arm are the continuation of each other; the diffuser cap also includes connecting elements connected to the lower part of the reflector element, and the connecting elements are provided with a locking element comprising at least one pin, the locking element fixes the diffuser cap to the connecting portion of the base unit.

2. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein there is an additional element between the reflector element and the connecting elements of the diffuser cap.

3. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the light source emits light in the wavelength range of 401 to 490 nm.

4. The light therapy device according to claim 3, wherein the light source is LED.

5. The light therapy device according to claim 2, wherein the reflector element is made of medical silicone.

6. The light therapy device according to claim 2, wherein the reflector element consist of light cables.

7. The light therapy device according to claim 6, wherein the light cables are fixed in the additional element of the diffuser cap.

8. The light therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a microcontroller and a microprocessor.

Description

[0043] The device according to the invention is described in detail through embodiments with reference to the following figures, without being limited thereto:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the base unit of the light therapy device according to the invention;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a light therapy device that can be inserted into the vagina;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a light therapy device that can be inserted into the mouth;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a light therapy device suitable for disinfecting catheters;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a light therapy device suitable for disinfecting fodder.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows the base unit 1 of the light therapy device. The sides and the lower part of an inner housing 4 are surrounded by an outer housing 2. A light source 6 is connected to the upper side of the inner housing 4. The light source 6 is provided with two electrical wires, a short leg 8 and a long leg 9. The short leg 8 is connected directly to a power supply unit 16. The electrical wires are separated from each other by insulation 10.

[0050] A control unit 18 is positioned under the power supply unit 16, and a switch 20 is positioned by breaking through the walls of both the outer housing 2 and the inner housing 4. The long leg 9 ends above the portion of the switch 20 protruding into the inner housing 4, and when the device is not in operation, it does not come into contact with either the switch 20 or the control unit 18.

[0051] There is an L-shaped connecting portion on both sides of the outer housing 2, consisting of a horizontal arm 3 and a vertical arm 7.

[0052] The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises a base unit 1 provided with a diffuser cap 11 that can be inserted into the vagina. The reflector element 12 of the diffuser cap 11 has a rounded design, a connecting element 13 is connected to the lower part of the reflector element 12, in the continuation thereof, on both sides of the outer housing 2. The end of the connecting element 13 is provided with a locking element 14 that connects to the connecting portion of the base unit 1. The locking element 14 comprises a pin.

[0053] The reflector element 12 covering the light source 6 has a rounded design to fit as precisely as possible into the target area. In this embodiment, for hygienic reasons, the lower part of the base unit 1 is also surrounded by a protective part 28 made of the same material as the reflector element 12. The protective part 28 is also fixed to the connecting portion by locking elements 14 comprising a pin.

[0054] In FIG. 3, the reflector element 12 of the diffuser cap 11 fixed to the base unit 1 is similar to the nipple of a pacifier. Apparently, in this embodiment, the device according to the invention resembles a commonly used pacifier, but the usual handle of the pacifier is replaced by the base unit 1. The reflector element 12 is fixed to an additional element 15, which is similar to the shield portion of a pacifier. Connecting elements 13 having a stem-like design and provided with a locking element 14 comprising two pins are connected to the lower part of the additional element 15, in the continuation thereof.

[0055] The light therapy device shown in FIG. 4 is suitable for disinfecting catheters. In this embodiment, the reflector element 12 of the diffuser cap 11 consists of light cables transmitting light, which are fixed in an additional element 15 above the light sources 6. The additional element 15 completely covers the upper part of the base unit 1, and is provided with connecting elements 13 connected to the lower part of the additional element 15. For the disinfection of catheters, the reflector elements 12 consisting of light cables are introduced into the catheters.

[0056] The light therapy device shown in FIG. 5 can be used for disinfecting fodder. Then, since the area to be disinfected is large, preferably multiple base units 1 are connected to each other in series. In the embodiment shown, the base units 1 have one light source 6 each, which face in one direction, and are provided with only one switch 20. In this embodiment, there is a single diffuser cap 11, the reflector element 12 of which covers the light source 6 of each base unit 1.

[0057] The operation of the light therapy device is simple. A base unit 1 provided with an appropriate diffuser cap 11 is placed on the area to be disinfected, and switched on by pressing the switch 20, then the switch 20 connects the long leg 9 to the control unit 18.

[0058] During the treatment, the disinfection mechanism is essentially the natural accumulation of photoactive porphyrins such as uroporphyrin, coproporphyrin, and to a lesser extent protoporphyrin. Due to their strong absorption and biological significance, porphyrin compounds are widely studied compounds in photochemistry. Light is absorbed by the Soret band of porphyrins and converted to a triplet (excited) state, leading to the formation of singlet oxygen. The released oxygen free radical is highly toxic and oxidizing, and can therefore cause damage to the cell membranes and nucleic acids of pathogens. This leads to the complete destruction of pathogens, however, light of a wavelength between 401 and 490 nm, due to its wave nature, does not reach the DNA in the deeper layers of the human body, therefore does not damage it.

[0059] Treatment with the base unit provided with different diffuser caps is described in detail through the following examples:

[0060] In Examples 1 to 3 it is used against the pathogens Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Aspergillus niger, etc.:

Example 1: A Device Suitable for Disinfecting the Vagina

[0061] In this example, the diffuser 11 has a rounded, conical design to best fit the shape of the surface to be disinfected, the vagina.

[0062] Using a light therapy device of this design, the inner surface of the vagina is exposed to radiation at a wavelength of 415 nm and an intensity of 1 J/cm2 to 432 J/cm2, preferably 432 J/cm2. The duration of irradiation is 5 to 20 minutes/day, preferably 20 minutes/day. Irradiation at a lower light intensity can be compensated by a longer irradiation time.

Example 2: A Device Suitable for Disinfecting the Mouth

[0063] Infant oral thrush (in Latin: soor oris) feared by many mothers is nothing more than a fungal infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans. Soor oris usually occurs in infants under the age of six months, but it can also occur after the age of six months, in the latter case mainly the weakening of the immune system of the body for various reasons or antibiotic treatment leads to the growth of fungi on the oral mucosa. As Candida albicans infection spreads in the mouth, saliva, acting as a carrier of the infection, can infect virtually anything it comes into contact with. Although oral thrush is not dangerous, it can be a concern due to increased sensitivity or pain. Using a base unit 1 provided with a pacifier shaped reflector element 12, the inner surface of the mouth is exposed to radiation at a wavelength of 405 to 420 nm and an intensity of 1 J/cm2 to 320 J/cm2, preferably 320 J/cm2. The duration of irradiation is 5 to 20 minutes/day, ideally 20 minutes/day. Irradiation at a lower light intensity can be compensated by a longer irradiation time.

Example 3: A Device Suitable for Disinfecting Catheters

[0064] In this example, the reflector element 12 of the diffuser 11 consists of light cables, which are introduced into the catheters. Preferably, they can be used for disinfecting the outer surface of the catheters. Using a light therapy device, the inner surface of the catheters is exposed to radiation at a wavelength of 405 nm and an intensity of 47.4 J/cm2 to 284.4 J/nm2, preferably 284.4 J/cm2. The duration of irradiation is 5 to 30 minutes/day, ideally 30 minutes/day. Irradiation at a lower light intensity can be compensated by a longer irradiation time.

Example 4: A Device Suitable for Disinfecting Fodder

[0065] In this example, the light therapy device is used for disinfecting fodder against common plant pathogens, blue rot (Penicillium italicum), green rot (Penicillium digitatum), and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea). Base units 1 connected in series are placed next to or above the plant surface to be treated, at a distance of 5 to 30 cm, exposing it to radiation at a wavelength of 410 nm and an intensity of 70 J/cm2 to 320 J/cm2, preferably 320 J/cm2. The duration of irradiation is 5 to 20 minutes/day, ideally 20 minutes/day. Irradiation at a lower light intensity can be compensated by a longer irradiation time.

[0066] A further advantage of the solution according to the invention is that therapy with the light therapy device requires no added photosensitizer, does not use potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation, and kills microbial cells, regardless of their antibiotic resistance status.