Electromagnetic radiation therapy
An electromagnetic radiation therapy system comprises means for emitting divergent electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 950 and 1500 nm and being capable of producing, at the site being treated, a radiation intensity of at least 50 μWatts/cm 2 . Also disclosed are the use of the system for treating various conditions and the method of applying the treatment.
1 . A hand-held battery operated electromagnetic radiation therapy device comprising:
a hand-held housing having a transparent or open portion;
an electromagnetic radiation light emitter within the housing and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation via the transparent or open portion of the housing, the emitter being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a bandwidth less than or equal to the peak transmission spectrum of water and centered around 1072 nm, and to produce a radiation intensity of at least 1 mWatts/cm 2 and up to 50 m Watts/cm2 at a treatment site; and
at least one on/off switch on an exterior portion of the housing configured to turn the emitter on and off.
2 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an elongate body with a rectangular cross-section and the transparent portion of the housing is one end of the housing.
3 . A device according to claim 1 further comprising a flange that is configured to reduce ambient radiation incident on the treatment site.
4 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one on/off switch comprises at least two buttons, and the emitter is activated when the two buttons are pressed simultaneously.
5 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the bandwidth is less than 120 nm.
6 . A device according to claim 1 having a half angle divergence of the electromagnetic radiation is in the range of 15° to 45°.
7 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation is continuous or pulsed.
8 . A device according to claim 1 including a means for reducing the amount of ambient radiation which impinges on the site of treatment.
9 . A device according to claim 8 wherein the means for excluding ambient radiation excludes radiation below 400-500 nm.
10 . A device according to claim 1 further including means for fixing the intensity of the radiation within a pre-determined range.
11 . A device according to claim 1 further including a visible display configured to monitor a radiation output and to indicate a correct function of the device both for intensity and wavelength.
12 . A device according to claim 1 further including means for controlling the duration of the application of the radiation.
13 . A device according to claim 12 wherein the means for controlling the duration of the application of the radiation comprises a controller that limits the time that the radiation emitter is on and automatically switches off the radiation source after a time limit.
14 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic light emitter includes solid state light emitting devices.
15 . A device according to claim 14 wherein the solid state light emitting devices are solid state light emitting diodes or gas discharge devices.
16 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the radiation emitter includes a PN junction arranged to emit radiation with a wavelength centering at, or about, 1 072 nm.
17 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter includes a single light diode assembly having a plurality of orientated junctions.
18 . A device according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter is configured to emit pulsed electromagnetic radiation at a frequency/repetition rate in the range of 300-800 Hz.
19 . A hand-held battery operated electromagnetic radiation therapy device comprising:
a hand-held housing having a transparent or open portion;
an electromagnetic radiation light emitter within the housing and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation via the transparent or open portion of the housing, the emitter being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a bandwidth less than or equal to the peak transmission spectrum of water and centered around 1268 nm, and to produce a radiation intensity of at least 1 mWatts/cm 2 and up to 50 mWatts/cm 2 at a treatment site; and
at least one on/off switch on an exterior portion of the housing configured to turn the emitter on and off.
20 . A device according to claim 19 wherein the housing comprises an elongate body with a rectangular cross-section and the transparent portion of the housing is one end of the housing.
21 . A device according to claim 19 further comprising a flange that is configured to reduce ambient radiation incident on the treatment site.
22 . A device according to claim 19 wherein the at least one on/off switch comprises at least two buttons, and the emitter is activated when the two buttons are pressed simultaneously.
23 . A device according to claim 19 wherein the bandwidth is less than 120 nm.
24 . A device according to claim 19 having a half angle divergence of the electromagnetic radiation is in the range of 15° to 45°.
25 . A device according to claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation is continuous or pulsed.
26 . A device according to claim 19 including a means for reducing the amount of ambient radiation which impinges on the site of treatment.
27 . A device according to claim 26 wherein the means for reducing ambient radiation excludes radiation below 400-500 nm.
28 . A device according to claim 19 further including means for fixing the intensity of the radiation within a pre-determined range.
29 . A device according to claim 19 further including a visible display configured to monitor a radiation output and to indicate a correct function of the device both for intensity and wavelength.
30 . A device according to claim 19 further including means for controlling the duration of the application of the radiation.
31 . A device according to claim 30 wherein the means for controlling the duration of the application of the radiation comprises a controller that limits the time that the radiation emitter is on and automatically switches off the radiation source after a time limit.
32 . A device according to claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter includes solid state light emitting devices.
33 . A device according to claim 32 wherein the solid state light emitting devices are solid state light emitting diodes or gas discharge devices.
34 . A device according to claim 19 wherein the radiation emitter includes a PN junction arranged to emit radiation with a wavelength centering at, or about, 1268 nm.
35 . A device according to claim 19 wherein a single light diode assembly include a plurality of orientated junctions.
36 . A device according to claim 19 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter is configured to emit pulsed electromagnetic radiation at a frequency/repetition rate in the range of 300-800 Hz.
37 . A hand-held battery operated electromagnetic radiation therapy device comprising:
a hand-held housing having a transparent or open portion;
an electromagnetic radiation light emitter within the housing and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation via the transparent or open portion of the housing, the emitter being configured to emit electromagnetic radiation centered around 1072 nm, and to produce a radiation intensity of at least 1 mWatts/cm 2 and up to 50 mWatts/cm 2 at a treatment site; and
at least one on/off switch on an exterior portion of the housing configured to turn the emitter on and off.
38 . The device of claim 37 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at a frequency/repetition rate between 300 and 800 Hz.
39 . The device of claim 38 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at a frequency/repetition rate of 600 Hz.
40 . A hand-held battery operated electromagnetic radiation therapy device comprising:
a hand-held housing having a transparent or open portion;
an electromagnetic radiation light emitter within the housing and configured to emit electromagnetic radiation via the transparent or open portion of the housing, the emitter being configured to produce a radiation intensity of at least 1 mWatts/cm 2 and up to 50 mWatts/cm 2 at a treatment site; and
at least one on/off switch on an exterior portion of the housing configured to turn the emitter on and off.
41 . The device of claim 40 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at a frequency/repetition rate between 300 and 800 Hz.
42 . The device of claim 41 wherein the electromagnetic radiation light emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation at a frequency/repetition rate of 600 Hz.