METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THERAPEUTIC USE OF ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT

1 . A wound care system comprising:

an ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

a thermoelectric element thermally exposed to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

a probe optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

a pump fluidly coupled to the probe, the pump applying vacuum pressure to a wound area via the probe;

an exudate bottle fluidly coupled to the pump;

a first valve disposed between, and fluidly coupled to, the pump and the exudate bottle;

a first pressure sensor disposed between the first valve and the pump; and

a second pressure sensor disposed between the first valve and the exudate bottle.

2 . The wound care system of claim 1 , wherein the pump operates in at least one of a high vacuum state and a low vacuum state.

3 . The wound care system of claim 1 , comprising:

a second valve fluidly coupled to the pump; and

a third valve fluidly coupled to the pump and electrically coupled to the processor.

4 . The wound care system of claim 3 , wherein vacuum pressure is applied to the wound area via selective actuation of the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve.

5 . The wound care system of claim 1 , wherein the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array comprises at least one first diode and at least one second diode.

6 . The wound care system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one first diode emits UV-A light and the at least one second diode emits UV-C light.

7 . The wound care system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one second diode emits UV-C light for a duration of approximately three minutes per approximately 12 hours.

8 . The wound care system of claim 1 , wherein the probe is at least one of a patch probe, a spot probe, and a point probe.

9 . The wound care system of claim 1 , comprising:

a UV interlock optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array; and

wherein the UV interlock deactivates the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array upon disconnection of the probe.

10 . A method for treating a wound area, the method comprising:

applying the probe to a wound area;

generating ultra-violet light via an ultra-violet light-emittting diode array;

providing the ultra-violet light to the wound area via the probe; and

cooling the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array via a thermoelectric element;

applying vacuum pressure to the wound area via a pump; and

isolating the pump via a first valve disposed between the pump and an exudate bottle.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying vacuum pressure comprises selective actuation of the first valve, a second valve, and a third valve.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying vacuum pressure comprises:

applying a first vacuum pressure to the wound area for a first period of time; and

applying a second vacuum pressure to the wound area for a second period of time.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first period of time includes a range of approximately 24 to approximately 48 hours following a surgery.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the second period of time follows the first period of time.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first vacuum pressure is greater than the second vacuum pressure.

16 . The method of claim 10 wherein the generating ultra-violet light comprises:

generating UV-A light via at least one first diode; and

generating UV-C light via at least one second diode.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the UV-C light is generated for a duration of approximately 3 minutes every 12 hours.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying a probe comprises applying at least one of a patch probe, a spot probe, and a point probe.