SINGLE-PATIENT TEXTILE DEVICE FOR PHOTOTHERAPY TREATMENT AND UNIT COMPRISING SUCH A SINGLE-PATIENT TEXTILE DEVICE

Abstract

A single-patient textile device for providing phototherapy treatment to a patient. The device includes a back wall intended to accommodate the patient in a supine position, the back wall having an upper portion and a lower portion; a front wall attached to the lower portion of the back wall; and two lateral walls which are arranged on either side of the back wall and can be folded onto the back wall. Once folded, the front wall and lateral walls form a volume to house the patient, including an opening to enable the passing of the patient's head through the upper portion of the back wall. The front wall can be folded toward the back wall such that the front wall and the back wall each have an inner surface that can distribute the treatment light within the volume.

Claims

1. A single-patient textile device for providing phototherapy treatment to a patient, the device comprising: a back wall intended to accommodate the patient in a supine position, the back wall comprising an upper portion and a lower portion; a front wall attached to the lower portion of the back wall; and two lateral walls arranged on either side of the back wall and foldable toward the back wall; wherein, once folded, the front wall and two lateral walls form a volume with the back wall to house the patient, the volume having an opening to enable the passing of the patient's head through the upper portion of the back wall (3); and wherein the front wall and the back wall each comprise an inner surface adapted to distribute light from a light source to within the volume.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the lateral walls is less than a length of the back wall, such that the volume includes openings.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a means to hold the patient in place, the means mounted to the back wall.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the position holding means comprises straps.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the back wall and the front wall each comprise at least two superimposed layers, wherein a first layer of the at least two superimposed layers forms the inner surface of each of the front wall and the back wall and a second layer of the at least two superimposed layers forms an outer surface of the single-patient textile device.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of the front wall and the back wall disseminate at least 75% of the light from the light source.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light sources, and wherein the back wall and the front wall each comprise a housing having one of the plurality of light sources.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the back wall comprises two braces to secure the upper portion of the back wall to the front wall.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the device further comprises fastening means.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device further comprises devices for holding one of the plurality of light sources within each of the housings.

11. A unit for providing phototherapy treatment to a patient, the unit comprising: the single-patient textile device according to claim 1; a light source; and a luminous member having optical fibers, the optical fibers being connected to the light source by an optical fiber cable equipped with an optical connector, and wherein the luminous member is adapted to be integrated into the single-patient textile device.

12. The unit according to claim 11, wherein the light source emits a wavelength between 400 nm and 520 nm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0046] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely as a non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a single-patient textile device for providing phototherapy treatment, unfolded, in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view of the single-patient textile device in FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the single-patient textile device in FIG. 1, showing the case where said luminous members are inserted into said housings and said front wall is folded;

[0050] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the device in FIG. 1, showing the case where said holding means is folded;

[0051] FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of the single-patient textile device in FIG. 1, folded, within which a patient is in a supine position;

[0052] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a phototherapy treatment unit integrating said single-patient textile device in FIG. 1.

METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a single-patient textile device 1 for providing phototherapy treatment which comprises a back wall 3 with an upper portion 31 and a lower portion 32.

[0054] The single-patient textile device 1 also has a so-called front portion 4 which is attached to the back portion 3 through its lower portion 32.

[0055] The front wall 4 is attached to the back wall 3 through a so-called folding area 9 with a transverse fold 10. Advantageously in practice, the front wall 4 can be folded onto the back wall 3.

[0056] The back portion 3 and the front portion 4 are composed of two layers 22, 23. Layer 22 forms the inner surface of the single-patient textile device 1, while the layer 23 forms the outer surface of the single-patient textile device 1.

[0057] The layer 22 is advantageously made of a viscose and/or cotton-based nonwoven textile. For example, the layer 22 is made of a material such as spunlace or similar.

[0058] The layer 22 can let the light pass therethrough during phototherapy treatment. The desired result is to minimize as much as possible the absorption or reflection of light by the layer 22. To this end, the layer 22 advantageously has a maximum surface mass density of 60 g/m.sup.2. In this case, the layer 22 is sufficiently thin to allow at least 75% of the light to pass therethrough, and thereby increase the efficiency of the phototherapy treatment for the patient 2.

[0059] During long term treatment (up to 24 hours continuously) at high light intensity, the patient is in an environment where the temperature conditions can be relatively high causing the patient to sweat. The single-patient textile device 1 therefore has water absorption properties sufficient to ensure patient comfort. The layer 22 has water absorption greater than 400%, advantageously greater than 800%.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, the layer 23 that forms the outer surface of the back wall 3 and front wall 4 is made of a mainly polypropylene-based nonwoven textile. The material forming the layer 23 is advantageously spunbond or other similar material.

[0061] Since the object is to focus a maximum of light toward the patient during treatment, the layer 23 also has opacity properties that allow for achieving such a result.

[0062] Furthermore the layer 23, which is exposed to the external environment, is not directly in contact with the patient. It has water absorption capacity that is less than that of the layer 22, advantageously between 100 and 150%.

[0063] The back wall 3 is intended to accommodate the patient during treatment. In order to remedy a major treatment risk, namely that of exposing sensitive parts of the patient's body such as the eyes, the single-patient textile device 1 advantageously comprises a holding means 14 for the patient's position which is integral to the back portion 3.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 1, this holding means 14 comprises three straps 141, 142, 143.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 4, two side straps 142, 143 hold the patient's pelvis, thus restricting lateral movement within the single-patient textile device 1. A third strap 141, which can be folded, allows for maintaining the patient's crotch, thus preventing the patient from any sliding toward the lower portion of the single-patient textile device 1.

[0066] Advantageously in practice, the three straps 141, 142, 143 are sewn to the back portion 3 and are made of a material identical to that of the outer surface 23.

[0067] In a specific embodiment, the holding means forms a layer for newborns composed of the three straps.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 3, the back wall 3 and the front wall 4 each has a housing 11, 12 respectively, which can accommodate the luminous members 20 of the optical fibers 131 disseminating the light emitted by the light source 13. Advantageously in practice, said housings 11, 12 are in the form of woven pockets of a complementary shape to that of the luminous members 20.

[0069] Side walls 5, 6 are also arranged on either side of the back wall 3. They are made of an identical material to that of the outer layer 23, namely an opaque mainly polypropylene-based woven textile. These lateral walls thus have physical, mechanical and chemical properties similar to the outer layer 23.

[0070] Furthermore, the lateral walls 5, 6 can fold onto the back wall 3. Therefore they each have a folding area 51 and 61, preferably longitudinal relative to the back wall 3.

[0071] The single-patient textile device 1 also has two braces 311, 312 to secure the upper portion 31 of the back wall 3 to the front wall 4. Said braces 311, 312 are preferably made of a material similar to that of the outer layer 23.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 1, the lateral walls 5, 6, the braces 311, 312 and the front wall 4 are equipped with fastening means 16, 17, advantageously of the soft Velcro type or similar.

[0073] Thus once the walls have been folded, the volume 7 is then formed within the single-patient textile device 1 and defines the volume 7 for the patient housing.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 5, the patient's head 2 emerges from the single-patient textile device 1 through an opening 8.

[0075] The length of the lateral walls 5, 6 is less than the length of the back wall 3, such that the volume 7 includes openings 24 into the lower portion 32 of the back wall 3.

[0076] Advantageously in practice, the length of the lateral walls 5, 6 is between 350 and 400 mm, preferably 360 mm.

[0077] Furthermore, the length of the back wall 3 is between 400 and 500 mm, preferably 460 mm.

[0078] Each of the openings 24 removes heat such that the temperature within the single-patient textile device 1 can be adjusted by the caregiver: in the folded position, the calories are conserved within the device 1, and the side openings 24 serve to lower the temperature if necessary.

[0079] The single-patient textile device 1 has, in addition, a fastening device 25 of the luminous members 20 within the housings 11, 12, which consists of two straps 251, 252 intended to tighten the lower portion 32 of the device 1. The straps 251, 252 are preferably made of spunbond.

[0080] A specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed. However, many versions are possible, such as those below, taken alone or in combination.

[0081] A single-patient textile device has been disclosed, with lateral walls on either side of the back portion. Alternatively, the sidewalls may be provided on either side of the front portion intended to be folded onto the back portion.

[0082] A system of straps has been disclosed, as a means for holding the patient in place. Nevertheless, any other type of holding system may be integrated into the single-patient textile device according to the invention.

[0083] A folding area has been disclosed, comprising a single transverse fold. In another embodiment, the folding area has at least two transverse folds.

[0084] Soft Velcro type fastening means (hoop & loop system) have been disclosed. However, any other types of fastening means known in the prior art may be integrated into the single-patient textile device of the invention.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 6, a device 100 for providing phototherapy treatment to a patient 2 comprises at least: [0086] one single-patient textile device 1 as previously disclosed; [0087] one light source 13; [0088] at least one luminous member 20 made up of optical fibers 131; said optical fibers 131 being connected to the light source 13 by an optical fiber cable 21 equipped with an optical connector and said at least one luminous member 20 being suitable to be integrated into at least one of the housings 11, 12 of said single-patient textile device 1.

[0089] The light source 13 has a spectral irradiance that may vary from 30 W/cm.sup.2.Math.nm to 100 W/cm.sup.2.Math.nm at a wavelength between 400 and 520 nm.

[0090] The peak of the light wavelength emitted by the source 13 is between 400 nm and 520 nm which corresponds to blue color within the visible light spectrum and to the bilirubin absorption peak.

[0091] The optical fibers 131 are preferably made of a polymer material in order to conduct the light emitted by the light source 13 effectively to the luminous members 20.

[0092] For example, the optical fibers have a core coated at least partially by a sheath and can be made of polymethylmethacrylate (core) and a fluoropolymer (sheath).

[0093] The optical fibers 131 may be subjected to a side treatment along their length which is tailored to the application. Advantageously in practice, the fibers 131 emit unidirectionally toward the patient 2.

[0094] In addition, the fibers 131 are advantageously arranged in parallel within the luminous members 20.

[0095] The cable 21 is preferably made of an opaque polyolefin-based material, covered with a white polyurethane film.

[0096] Advantageously in practice, the luminous members 20 have a rectangular shape and have a length between 300 and 600 mm and a width between 200 and 500 mm. The dimensions of the luminous members 20 are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the housings 11, 12 that accommodate them.

[0097] Its composition and simplicity of design cause the single-patient textile device 1 to be advantageously intended for single use.

[0098] Nevertheless, the textile device may also undergo several washings in order to be reused.