Granted Patent B2

US 12,691,298 · App. 17/750,872 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Inventors: Nicholas William Medendorp, Jr. (Raleigh, NC); Gerald H. Negley (Chapel Hill, NC); Matthew C. Reynolds (Chapel Hill, NC); James Michael Lay (Apex, NC)

Assignee: KNOW Bio, LLC

A61N5/0616A61B2018/00642A61B2018/00791A61B2090/033A61B2090/061A61B2090/065A61B2090/0804A61B2090/0814A61N5/0617A61N2005/063A61N2005/0633A61N2005/0647A61N2005/0652A61N2005/0662

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . A phototherapy device for delivering light emissions to a scalp of a patient, the phototherapy device comprising:

a flexible substrate comprising a proximal surface and a distal surface that is opposite the proximal surface, the proximal surface supporting an array of light emitting devices configured to generate light having a peak wavelength in a range from 600 nanometers (nm) to 700 nm;

driver circuitry and a microcontroller arranged on the distal surface in a position that is opposite at least a portion of the array of light emitting devices;

a proximity sensor on the proximal surface of the flexible substrate and configured to provide an input to the microcontroller to trigger the driver circuitry to at least one of initiate, terminate, or modify operation of the array of light emitting devices; and

a signal guard on the distal surface of the flexible substrate in a position opposite a sensing direction of the proximity sensor.

2 . The phototherapy device of claim 1 , wherein the array of light emitting devices is arranged to generate light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 615 nm to 635 nm.

3 . The phototherapy device of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is arranged to sense a condition indicative of placement of the phototherapy device proximate to the scalp of the patient and generate an output signal to trigger the driver circuitry to at least one of initiate, terminate, or modify operation of the array of light emitting devices.

4 . The phototherapy device of claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor.

5 . The phototherapy device of claim 4 , wherein the capacitive sensor comprises a capacitive touch active pad.

6 . The phototherapy device of claim 5 , wherein the signal guard is on a tab of the flexible substrate and the signal guard and the capacitive touch active pad are aligned within one another when the tab is bent toward a remainder of the flexible substrate.

7 . The phototherapy device of claim 5 , wherein the signal guard is configured to be driven in polarity opposite from the capacitive touch active pad.

8 . The phototherapy device of claim 5 , wherein the signal guard is larger in size than the capacitive touch active pad.

9 . The phototherapy device of claim 1 , wherein the driver circuitry is part of an electronics subassembly that is configured for wireless communication with an external electronic device.

10 . A phototherapy device for delivering light emissions to a scalp of a patient, the phototherapy device comprising:

a flexible substrate comprising a proximal surface and a distal surface that is opposite the proximal surface, the proximal surface supporting a first array of light emitting devices configured to generate light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 600 nanometers (nm) to 700 nm;

a control printed circuit board comprising driver circuitry arranged on the distal surface in a position that is opposite at least a portion of the first array of light emitting devices, the driver circuitry configured to drive the first array of light emitting devices;

a covering arranged to cover the flexible substrate, the covering forming an electronics receptacle arranged to receive the driver circuitry;

an electronic connection port extending through the covering, the electronic connection port being mechanically attached to the electronics receptacle;

a proximity sensor on the proximal surface of the flexible substrate and configured to provide an input to trigger the driver circuitry to at least one of initiate, terminate, or modify operation of the first array of light emitting devices; and

a signal guard on the distal surface of the flexible substrate in a position opposite a sensing direction of the proximity sensor.

11 . The phototherapy device of claim 10 , wherein the first array of light emitting devices is arranged to generate light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 615 nm to 635 nm.

12 . The phototherapy device of claim 11 , wherein the first array of light emitting devices further comprises a second array of light emitting devices arranged to generate light having a second peak wavelength, wherein the second peak wavelength differs from the first peak wavelength by at least 20 nm.

13 . The phototherapy device of claim 12 , wherein the second peak wavelength is in a range of from 650 nm to 670 nm.

14 . The phototherapy device of claim 10 , wherein the control printed circuit board and the driver circuitry are part of an electronics subassembly on the distal surface and the electronics receptacle is arranged to receive the electronics subassembly.

15 . The phototherapy device of claim 14 , wherein the electronics subassembly comprises an energy storage element that is in electrical communication with the driver circuitry.

16 . The phototherapy device of claim 14 , wherein the electronic connection port is electrically coupled to the electronics subassembly.

17 . The phototherapy device of claim 16 , further comprising a seal plug that is removably attached to the electronic connection port.

18 . The phototherapy device of claim 16 , wherein the electronic connection port is configured to receive one or more of electrical power and electronic data from an external electronic device.

19 . The phototherapy device of claim 14 , wherein the electronics subassembly is configured for wireless communication with an external electronic device.

20 . The phototherapy device of claim 10 , wherein the proximity sensor is a capacitive sensor.

Continuity (4)

References Cited (233)