Laser head and laser probe for low-level laser therapy and a method of controlling such laser probe

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to, for example, a method of changing operational parameters of a laser probe. The method including the steps of recognising a connection pattern between the laser probe and a battery, setting the laser probe in a programmable mode, and receiving instructions for changing the operational parameters of the laser probe.

Claims

1. A method of changing operational parameters of a laser probe comprising a body with one or more laser diodes, a controller having stored thereon operational parameters of the laser probe and a battery releasably connectable to the body, the method including the steps of: repeatedly and physically connecting and disconnecting the laser probe and the battery, wherein the controller performs the steps of: recognizing a connection pattern between the laser probe and the battery during the step of repeatedly and physically connecting and disconnecting, wherein the step of recognizing causes the controller to perform a step of setting the laser probe in a programmable mode; and while the laser probe is in the programmable mode, the controller performs a step of receiving instructions for changing the operational parameters of the laser probe.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the laser probe comprises sets of preset operational parameters stored on the controller, which can be shifted between by repeatedly and physically connecting and disconnecting the laser probe and the battery in accordance with the connection pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1, the method further including: a step of pairing the laser probe with a remote via Bluetooth communication protocol.

4. A laser probe for low-level laser therapy comprising: a body with one or more laser diodes; a battery releasably connectable to the body, a controller configured to measure a connection between the laser probe and the battery, the controller having stored thereon operational parameters, wherein the battery and the laser probe are configured for repeatedly and physically connecting and disconnecting, the controller being configured to recognize a physical connection pattern of the repeated and physical connection and disconnection between the laser probe and the battery and set the laser probe in a programmable mode as a function recognizing the physical connection pattern, wherein the controller receives instructions for changing the operational parameters of the laser probe.

5. The laser probe according to claim 4, wherein the controller includes a Bluetooth device configured and arranged to pair the laser probe with a remote via Bluetooth communication protocol.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controller further performs the steps of changing the operational parameters of the laser probe based on the received instructions.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a laser head;

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of a laser head;

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates a laser diode with and without an insert lens;

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates a laser diode with and without an insert lens and with an external lens;

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates skin penetration without direct skin contact;

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates skin penetration with direct skin contact;

(7) FIG. 7 illustrates a battery connecting with a laser probe;

(8) FIG. 8 illustrates a method of changing operational parameters of a laser probe; and

(9) FIG. 9 illustrates a laser probe communicating with a remote.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a laser head 40 for a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) laser probe 10 (not shown).

(11) The laser head 40 comprises an outer cap 42 and an inner cap 50 connected to the outer cap 42 and positioned partly within the outer cap 42, thereby forming a heat channel 60 having an exhaust 62 in-between the caps 42, 50.

(12) The outer cap 42 comprises two bores 46, 46 for the two laser diodes 80, 80.

(13) The pins 86 of each laser diode 80, 80 are connected through the inner cap 50, such that the laser diodes 80, 80 can be powered.

(14) Each bore 46, 46 has a threaded part for holding a lens in front of the laser diode 80, 80.

(15) The inner cap 50 comprises a not shown neck connection part for connection with a laser probe body 20.

(16) The inner cap 50 and the laser probe body 20 form an inlet channel 64 having an intake 66 formed in-between the inner cap 50 and the laser probe body 20.

(17) The inner cap 50 comprises a centrally positioned ventilator 70 for creating a flow 72 from the intake 66 of the inlet channel 64 through the heat channel 60 and out of the exhaust 62.

(18) The ventilator 70 has a not shown means for connecting with power.

(19) The arrows only illustrate the general direction of the flow 72 as the flow 72 can be turbulent.

(20) The outer cap 42 has a cone 48 facing the ventilator 70.

(21) FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of a laser head 40.

(22) The bottom view discloses an outer cap 42 enclosing the rest of the laser head 40.

(23) The outer cap 42 is followed by a not shown exhaust 62 enclosing the rest of the laser head 40.

(24) The not shown exhaust 62 is followed by an inner cap 50 enclosing the rest of the laser head 40. The inner cap 50 has an extent which blocks for a bottom view of an exhaust 62, the extent ensures that less air circulates from the exhaust 62 to an intake 66.

(25) The inner cap 50 is followed by the intake 66 enclosing the rest of the laser head 40.

(26) The intake 66 is followed by a neck connection part 52.

(27) The laser head 40 also has a ventilator 70.

(28) FIG. 3 illustrates a laser diode 80 with (B) and without (A) an insert lens 90.

(29) FIG. 3A discloses a prior art laser diode 80 comprising an emitter 88, a housing 82 for the emitter, pins 86 for connecting with power, and a window 84 in front of the emitter 84. The prior art laser diode 80 will typically emit light with an angle of 1030 degrees.

(30) FIG. 3B discloses a laser diode 80 comprising an emitter 88, a housing 82 for the emitter, pins 86 for connecting with power, a window 84 in front of the emitter 84 and an insert lens 90 between the emitter 88 and the window 84. The laser diode 80 may emit light with an angle of 1010 degrees, however this depends on the insert lens 90.

(31) The laser diode 80 with the insert lens 90 could emit light having an angle of 1515 degrees or any other angle.

(32) FIG. 4 illustrates a laser diode 80 with (B) and without (A) an insert lens 90 and with an external lens. FIG. 4A illustrates that a large part of the laser light is lost due to laser light not hitting the lens. FIG. 4B illustrates that the light is not lost due to the correction of the insert lens 90.

(33) In practice, the setup shown in FIG. 4A will have a loss of 40%, when the external lens is positioned at a distance of 15 mm from the laser diode 80.

(34) FIG. 5 illustrates skin penetration 210 without direct skin contact.

(35) The skin penetration 210 will only be superficial due to a large reflection from the skin if the laser lenses in FIG. 5A-C are not in direct contact with skin 200.

(36) The fibre rod (FIG. 5A) and divergent lens (FIG. 5B) must be used at a distance if the intensity is larger than 500 mW/cm.sup.2 at the skin in order to avoid burn in the tissue.

(37) If a burn is wanted, a converging lens (FIG. 5C) is used such that the laser intensity can become large enough to cause a burn. This can be used for burning of tissue, e.g. plantar wart or corn.

(38) FIG. 6 illustrates skin penetration 210 with direct skin contact.

(39) The skin penetration 210 is significantly larger here than that in FIG. 5, because the skin reflects less when the lenses are in direct contact with the skin 200.

(40) The fibre rod (FIG. 5A) and the divergent lens (FIG. 5B) will both have a wide skin penetration 210.

(41) The converging lens (FIG. 5C) will surprisingly not cause a local burn in the tissue as the skin/tissue will disperse the laser light, but the converging lens will have a larger degree of skin penetration 210 compared to the fibre rod and the divergent lens.

(42) FIG. 7 illustrates a battery 100 connecting with a laser probe 10. The laser probe 10 comprises a laser head 40 including a laser diode 80, a body 20, and a controller 30 positioned within the body 20. The controller 30 comprises a first connector 22 for connecting with the laser head 40, and a second connector 32 for connection with a battery 100. The battery 100 and the laser probe 10 have complementary threads to ensure good mechanical connection between the battery 100 and laser diode 10.

(43) In FIG. 7B the battery 100 and the laser probe 10 are connected. The thread makes it easy for a user to disconnect and reconnect the battery 10 with the laser probe 10.

(44) FIG. 8 illustrates a method 1000 of changing the operational parameters of a laser probe 10. The method 1000 of changing operational parameters 110 of a laser probe 10 comprises one or more acts of: an act of recognising 1100 a connection pattern 120 between the laser probe 10 and a battery 100; an act of setting 1200 the laser probe 10 in a programmable mode 130; and an act of receiving 1300 instructions for changing the operational parameters 110 of the laser probe 10.

(45) The method 1000 may further comprise an act of: pairing 1400 the laser probe 10 with a remote 140 via Bluetooth.

(46) FIG. 9 illustrates a laser probe 10 communicating with a remote 140. The laser probe 10 comprises a laser diode 80 and a connector 30. The connector comprises a first connector 22 connected to the laser diode 80, a second connector 24 for connection with a battery 100, a Bluetooth device 32 for paring with the remote 140, and operational parameters 110 stored on the controller determining the operation of the laser probe.

(47) The remote 140 may be a smart phone, tablet, computer or any other electronic device capable of communicating with the laser probe 10 via Bluetooth.

(48) The laser probe 10 further comprises a battery 100, thereby making the laser probe 10 cordless.

(49) Furthermore, the battery 100 enables a user to control the laser probe 10 without buttons as the controller 30 has means for recognizing a connection pattern between the battery 100 and laser probe 10.

(50) The connection pattern could be connection, disconnection, connection within a short time period. If the controller 30 recognizes the connection pattern, then the Bluetooth device 32 will try to pair with a remote 140.

(51) After pairing, the remote 140 can change the operational parameters 110 by sending instructions to the connector 30.

ITEM LIST

Item 1

(52) A laser diode (80) for a low-level laser therapy (LLLT) laser probe (10), the laser diode (80) comprising an emitter (88), a housing (82) for protecting the emitter (88) having a window (84) for emission of light, pins (86) connected to the emitter (88) and an insert lens (90) positioned within the housing (82) between the emitter (88) and the window (84) for adjusting beam divergence.

Item 2

(53) A laser diode (80) according to item 1, characterised in that the insert lens (90) is made of glass or plastic.