Veterinary lighting apparatus

Abstract

A veterinary lighting apparatus comprising: a heat sink on which are supported a plurality of LEDs for emitting light radiation, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one white light LED-emitter; at least one blue light LED-emitter; and at least one red light LED-emitter; and an activation means to switch on one or more of the white and/or blue and/or red light LED-emitters.

Claims

1. A veterinary lighting apparatus comprising: a heat sink on which are supported a plurality of LEDs for emitting light radiation, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises at least one white light LED-emitter; at least one blue light LED-emitter; and at least one red light LED-emitter; and an activation means to switch on one or more of the white and/or blue and/or red light LED-emitters, wherein the veterinary lighting apparatus is configured to support the circadian rhythm of an animal such that the white light LED-emitter is switched on during daylight hours and the red light LED-emitter is switched on to allow the animal to be monitored or inspected without using the white light LED-emitter, and wherein the blue light LED-emitter is configured to highlight organic waste.

2. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one white light LED-emitter emits radiation in the wavelength range of about 420 nm to about 750 nm.

3. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one blue light LED-emitter emits radiation in the wavelength range of about 430 nm to about 450 nm.

4. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one red light LED-emitter emits radiation in the wavelength range of about 622 nm to about 780 nm.

5. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs comprises a plurality of white light LED-emitters, a plurality of blue light LED-emitters and a plurality of red light LED-emitters.

6. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the veterinary lighting apparatus is a self-contained unit.

7. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the veterinary lighting apparatus comprises a three-way selection switch.

8. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the activation means comprises a switch to switch on the at least one white light LED-emitter or the at least one blue light LED-emitter or the at least one red light LED-emitter.

9. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises at least one curved surface.

10. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises two pairs of four narrow protrusions separated by a pair of wide protrusions.

11. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises recesses between each of the narrow protrusions that are shallower than the recess between the pair of wide protrusions.

12. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a length of between about 400 mm and about 600 mm and/or wherein the apparatus has a width of between about 35 mm and about 55 mm.

13. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the veterinary lighting apparatus comprises at least one control means to allow activation of one of the white or blue or red light LED-emitters at any one time.

14. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the veterinary lighting apparatus comprises at least one control means to allow activation of one or more of the white, blue and/or red light LED-emitters.

15. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one control means comprising a timer.

16. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the veterinary lighting apparatus comprises at least one securing means for fixing the lighting apparatus to an animal housing or cage.

17. The veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the animal housing is a glass enclosure having a vinyl outer covering.

18. A veterinary lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the veterinary lighting apparatus is retrofittable to an animal housing or cage.

19. An animal housing comprising an elongate opening into which the veterinary lighting apparatus of claim 1 is fitted.

20. The animal housing according to claim 19, further comprising a console on an external face of the animal housing to which a three-way switch is secured.

21. A method of operating the veterinary lighting apparatus of claim 1, comprising switching on the white light LED-emitter during daylight hours to support the circadian rhythm of an animal; switching on the red light LED-emitter to allow the animal to be monitored or inspected without using the white light LED-emitter; and switching on the blue light LED-emitter to highlight organic waste.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view from below of the veterinary lighting apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein the view from below is understood to show the light emitting surface of the apparatus;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view from above of the veterinary lighting apparatus of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the veterinary lighting apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view from a first end of the veterinary lighting apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the electronic connections of the veterinary lighting apparatus of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an animal housing to which the veterinary lighting apparatus of the present invention is secured; and

(8) FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the three way switch to control the veterinary lighting apparatus.

(9) Referring to FIG. 1, the veterinary lighting apparatus 1, comprises a heat sink 3 on which is mounted a series of LEDs 5. FIG. 1 shows the lower surface 7a of the apparatus 1, which in use directs light radiation from the apparatus 1 into a veterinary housing (not shown) in the interior of which an animal patient is housed. The veterinary housing 25 is a toughened safety glass housing with a hinged toughened safety glass door, as shown in FIG. 6, or a cage, a glass cage, or any similar housing for an animal. The veterinary housing is understood to be for care of animals, including, cats, dogs, and other small mammals, such as, rabbits, mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, and gerbils.

(10) As shown in FIG. 6, the veterinary lighting apparatus 1 is configured to be integrated into a modular housing 25 comprising a plurality of enclosures, each separated from adjacent enclosures and each enclosure having its own glass door 27.

(11) The lower surface 7a of the veterinary lighting apparatus 1 comprises at least two adhesive strips 9. Prior to use, the adhesive strips 9 are covered by a backing liner (not shown) that is removed prior to use to expose the adhesive for securing the apparatus 1 to an upper surface of a veterinary housing so that, when switched on, light from the LEDs 5 radiates into the interior of the housing.

(12) Referring to FIG. 6, in a preferred embodiment, the housing 25 is a glass cage having a vinyl outer covering and ventilation holes 26 in the hinged glass door 27. An elongate opening or channel 29 is cut out of the vinyl outer covering on the top surface of the housing 25 and the veterinary lighting apparatus 1 is placed into the channel 29 so that light is emitted into the interior of the housing 25. The lighting apparatus 1 does not interfere with the security of the housing and the apparatus 1 cannot come into contact with an animal housed therein. In alternative embodiments, the veterinary lighting apparatus is attached to the housing by a bracket.

(13) Referring to FIG. 6, for a veterinary housing 25 comprising multiple enclosures, each having separate access through a transparent door 27, a separate veterinary lighting apparatus 1 can be mounted to each enclosure to allow for separate control of the radiation emitted into each enclosure. Thus, the timing and wavelength of radiation emitted into each enclosure can be carefully controlled to optimise the recovery of the small animal housed in the enclosure, which can be planned by a veterinary practitioner. Alternatively, if multiple small animals are housed in adjacent enclosures and the treatment required is the same for multiple enclosures, a single veterinary lighting apparatus can be mounted across multiple enclosures to illuminate multiple enclosures simultaneously.

(14) In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 has a length of 500 mm and a width of 45 mm. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper surface 7b of the apparatus 1 comprises a heat sink 3, which is aluminium and faces away from the interior of the animal housing when the apparatus is secured to the animal housing. The heat sink 3 is configured to maximise the dissipation of heat from the device and to maximise air flow to carry heat away from the circuitry.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the heat sink 3 comprises the flat lower surface 7a on which the LEDs 5 are mounted and a curved upper surface 7b, which comprises a series of shaped protrusions 7c and has a maximum depth of 12 mm. In the example shown, the cross-section of the apparatus 1 corresponds to a circular segment. The apparatus has a cross-section having a shape which is bounded by an arc of a circle, wherein the arc of the circle is less than 180 degrees, and the endpoints of the arc are connected by a chord. In the example shown, the arc of the cross-section is about 120 degrees.

(16) Referring to FIG. 3, in the example shown, the heat sink 3 comprises two pairs of four narrow protrusions separated by a pair of wide protrusions. The recesses between each of the narrow protrusions are shallower than the recess between the wide protrusions. This particular arrangement of narrow and wide protrusions has been found to be particularly effective in relation to the present invention.

(17) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the apparatus 1 comprises a first set of white light LEDs 5a to emit white light having a wavelength of between about 420 nm to about 750 nm. The white light LEDs 5a emit radiation comparable to daylight to ensure clear visibility for both the veterinary practitioner and the animal patient. A second set of red LEDs 5b emit red light having a wavelength of between about 622 nm to about 780 nm. A third set of blue/ultra-violet LEDs 5c emit blue/ultra-violet light in a wavelength of between about 430 nm to about 450 nm. The white, red, and blue LEDs 5a, 5b, 5c are arranged consecutively along the length of the apparatus 1. A white, red, and blue LED are followed by a further white, red and blue LED in sets of three LEDs 5a, 5b, 5c. Each LED 5a, 5b, 5c and each LED set is equidistant from each other along the length of the apparatus 1.

(18) Referring to FIG. 4, the apparatus 1 is powered by AC mains power 17 and the apparatus comprises an AC to DC converter 21. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the apparatus comprises an on/off switch and a three-way channel selector switch 19 with LED channel connections 23 to the red, blue, and white LED light sources 5b, 5c, 5a.

(19) Referring to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the three-way selector switch 19 allows for manual selection of which LED light source 5a, 5b, 5c is to be turned on to radiate the required lighting colour into the housing 25. Only one light colour is used at any one time so that the apparatus can be adapted to the specific requirements of the animal patient. The switch 19 is provided in a console on the exterior of the housing 25. In an alternative embodiment, the required lighting colour can be controlled by a timer so that the required light is automatically switched on.

(20) In use, the veterinary practitioner manually selects the required light source 5a, 5b, 5c according to their knowledge of the condition and the needs of the animal patient with only one of each light colour used at any one time. The white light LEDs 5a are switched on for use during daylight hours to help stimulate production of the hormone, cortisol, so that the animal patient can regulate their body clock even if natural daylight is not available. The red light LEDS 5b are manually switched on by the veterinary practitioner to view the animal patient in recovery without disturbance to their rest. The veterinary practitioner can monitor the animal to check their recovery, but the animal patient will not be aware of the red light. The blue light LEDs 5c are manually switched on for inspection of the interior of the housing. The blue light highlights light organic waste because the blue light reflects from the material, including faeces, urine, blood, mucus, and other bodily fluids within the veterinary housing. The veterinary practitioner can then clean and sterilise any contaminated areas.

(21) In an alternative embodiment, a timer switch is set to switch on the white light LEDs during pre-set hours; for example, between 7 am and 6 pm. The red recovery LEDs 5b are switched on for use during non-daylight hours; for example, between 6 pm and 7 am.

(22) The above-described embodiment has been given by way of example only, and the skilled reader will naturally appreciate that many variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.