Apparatus and methods for phototherapy
View Patent ↗There is provided a phototherapy apparatus, in which the therapeutic light is delivered through one or more massage components. The massage component provides mechanical massage to the subject biological tissue and modifies the properties of the subject tissue in thickness, density, etc. to facilitate the absorption of the therapeutic light and enhance the effect of the phototherapy procedure. The light source of the phototherapy apparatus is actively cooled by a synthetic jet cooler.
1. A phototherapy apparatus comprising:
a rolling massage component comprising a curved surface configured for contact with skin tissue;
a light source spaced apart from the rolling massage component, wherein light emitted from the light source is delivered onto an outer surface of the rolling massage component and is transmitted through the rolling massage component; and
a cooling device.
2. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rolling massage component comprises a ball that is rotatable in all directions.
3. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rolling massage component comprises a diffusive optical surface for increasing a spread angle of the light.
4. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a high power laser or a high power light emitting diode (LED).
5. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cooling device comprises a synthetic jet cooler.
6. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a motor configured to generate a movement of the rolling massage component.
7. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a handle including a display unit and control buttons, wherein the rolling massage component, the light source, and the cooling device are each coupled to the handle.
8. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a means for preventing activation of the light source unless the rolling massage component is in contact with the skin tissue.
9. The phototherapy apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light emitted from the light source comprises infrared light and the rolling massage component is adapted to transmit the infrared light.
10. A method for phototherapy treatment, the method comprising:
applying a phototherapy apparatus to a skin surface, wherein the phototherapy apparatus comprises:
a rolling massage component comprising a curved surface configured for contact with skin tissue;
a light source spaced apart from the rolling massage component; and
a cooling device,
wherein light emitted from the light source is delivered onto an outer surface of the rolling massage component and is transmitted through the rolling massage component to the skin surface,
wherein at least a portion of the curved surface contacts the skin surface to provide a massaging action that compresses tissue below the skin surface to allow the light emitted from the light source to penetrate deeper into the tissue.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the rolling massage component comprises a ball.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the rolling massage component comprises a diffusive optical surface for increasing a spread angle of the light.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises a high power laser or a high power light emitting diode (LED).
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the cooling device comprises a synthetic jet cooler.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the phototherapy apparatus further comprises a motor configured to generate a movement of the rolling massage component.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the phototherapy apparatus further comprises a handle including a display unit and control buttons, wherein the rolling massage component, light source, and cooling device are each coupled to the handle.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the phototherapy apparatus further comprises a means for preventing activation of the light source unless the rolling massage component is in contact with the skin tissue.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the massaging action occurs while the light is transmitted to the skin surface.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the light emitted from the light source comprises infrared light and the rolling massage component is adapted to transmit the infrared light.