Phototherapeutic Apparatus and Method

1 . A photo therapeutic device for treating a patient, comprising: a plurality of discharge lamps arranged to emit light with a wavelength of primarily between 590 and 690 nm and a plurality of diode lamp arrays arranged to emit light with a wavelength of primarily between 780 and 920 nm, wherein the discharge and the diode lamps are arranged to irradiate at least a substantial part of the length of a patient's body.

2 . A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lamps are arranged within a housing, and the device comprises an aperture allowing at least the substantial part of the patient's body to be inserted into the housing.

3 . A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the lamps are arranged in a plurality of arrays arranged in line with the length of the patient's body.

4 . A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the arrays comprises at least one of the discharge lamps and one of the diode lamp arrays.

5 . A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the discharge lamps are either of low pressure sodium, high pressure sodium or metal halide discharge lamps.

6 . A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the arrays are mounted on the inner surface of a housing.

7 . A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the device comprises one or more filter sheets.

8 . A device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the diode lamp arrays comprises a reflector to concentrate the light emitted by the diode lamps on an area to be treated.

9 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector comprises a plurality of cavities machined into a metal sheet or substrate.

10 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein the reflector comprises an array of diode lamps, wherein each diode lamp is accommodated in one of the cavities of the reflector sheet.

11 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the LED lamps accommodated in cavities of the reflector emits light with a full width half maximum divergence between 20° and 120°.

12 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the LED lamps accommodated in a cavities of the reflector emits light with a full width half maximum divergence of about 70°.

13 . A device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein at least one of the further arrays comprises two arrays of diode lamps and one discharge lamp.

14 . A device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the discharge lamp is arranged in the centre of the array, and the two diode lamp arrays are arranged on each side of the discharge lamp.

15 . A device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein at least one of the further arrays comprises one array of diode lamps and two discharge lamps.

16 . A device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the diode lamp array is arranged in the centre of the array, and the two discharge lamps are arranged on each side of the diode lamp array.

17 . A device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the discharge lamp(s) of the arrays are arranged to irradiate an area corresponding to a part of the length of the patient.

18 . A device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the diode lamp arrays are arranged to irradiate the whole of the area corresponding to a part of the length of the patient.

19 . A device according to claim 1 , wherein a subset of the discharge and/or diode lamps are arranged in a substantially circumferential direction to the patient.

20 . A device according to claim 19 , wherein the discharge and/or diode lamps comprise a plurality of subsets, and each subset of lamps are arranged in a direction substantial circumferential to the patient.

21 . A device according to claim 20 , wherein each subset comprises five lamps.

22 . A device according to claim 20 , wherein the discharge and/or diode lamps in each subset are arranged at an angle of about 60° to 100° to each other.

23 . A device according to claim 20 , wherein one of the lamps in each subset is arranged vertically above the patient.

24 . A device according to claim 20 , wherein a subset of the lamps are arranged in a plane perpendicular to the'length of the patient.

25 . A photo therapeutic device for treating a patient, comprising: a plurality of diode lamp arrays arranged to emit light with a wavelength of primarily between 780 and 920 nm, wherein the diode lamp arrays are arranged to irradiate at least most of the front and the back over at least a substantial part of the length of a patient's body.

26 . A photo therapeutic device for treating a patient. comprising: at least one discharge lamp arranged to emit light with a wavelength of primarily in a first region, and at least one diode lamp array arranged to emit light with a wavelength of primarily in a second region.

27 . A device according to claim 26 , wherein the at least one discharge lamp is arranged to emit light with a wavelength of primarily between 590 and 690 nm and/or the at least one diode lamp array arranged to emit light with a wavelength of primarily between 780 and 920 nm.

28 - 37 . (canceled)

38 . Use of a device according to claim 1 in the treatment of one or more of: photorejuvenation of chronologically- or photo-aged skin with or without endogenous or exogenously applied photosensitiser, reduction of wrinkles, reduction/control of pain, wound healing of damaged tissue or sports-related injuries, treatment of skin ulcers, palliation of psoriasis, treatment of all grades of acne, enhancement of photothermolysis.

39 . Use of a device according to claim 1 in the treatment of humans or animals.

40 . Use according to claim 38 , wherein the affected area of the patient is treated with a photosensitizer.

41 . A method of cosmetic treatment of a human or animal body, comprising:

applying a photosensitizer to the area to be treated, and illuminating the area with light from a device according to claim 1 .

42 . A method of treatment of a human or animal body, comprising: illuminating the area with light from a light source according to claim 1 .

43 . (canceled)