LIGHT THERAPY WEARABLE
A light therapy wearable includes a fabric panel, a light-transmissive pad and a side-emitting optical fiber. The fabric panel includes an inner surface that when the wearable is worn is configured to face a wearer's skin. The light-transmissive pad connects with the fabric panel and at least partially covering the inner surface. The light-transmissive pad can be made from a light-transmissive material having a durometer of at least 50 A. At least a portion of the side-emitting optical fiber can sandwiched between the inner surface of the fabric panel and the light-transmissive pad.
1 . A light therapy wearable comprising:
a fabric panel including an inner surface that when the wearable is worn is configured to face a wearer's skin;
a light-transmissive pad connected with the fabric panel and at least partially covering the inner surface, the light-transmissive pad being made from a light-transmissive elastomer and having a durometer of at least 50 A; and
a side-emitting optical fiber, at least a portion of the side-emitting optical fiber being sandwiched between the inner surface of the fabric panel and the light-transmissive pad.
2 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the side-emitting optical fiber is fixed to the inner surface via the light-transmissive pad.
3 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the side-emitting optical fiber is sewn or embroidered to the inner surface.
4 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad is formed having at least one channel that receives the portion of the side-emitting optical fiber sandwiched between the inner surface of the fabric panel and the light-transmissive pad.
5 . The light therapy wearable of claim 4 , wherein the light-transmissive pad includes a first surface that when the wearable is worn is configured to face a wearer's skin, wherein a thickness of the light-transmissive pad between the first surface and a location of the side-emitting optical fiber nearest to the first surface is at least two times a core diameter of the side-emitting optical fiber.
6 . The light therapy wearable of claim 5 , wherein the thickness of the light-transmissive pad between the first surface and the location of the side-emitting optical fiber nearest to the first surface is less than five times the core diameter of the side-emitting optical fiber.
7 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad includes a first surface that when the wearable is worn is configured to face a wearer's skin, wherein first surface is smooth.
8 . The light therapy wearable of claim 7 , wherein the light-transmissive pad includes a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the light-transmissive pad has a constant thickness measured between the first surface and the second surface throughout the light-transmissive pad.
9 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad includes a first surface that when the wearable is worn is configured to face a wearer's skin, wherein a thickness of the light-transmissive pad between the first surface and a location of the side-emitting optical fiber nearest to the first surface is at least two times a core diameter of the side-emitting optical fiber.
10 . The light therapy wearable of claim 9 , wherein the light-transmissive pad is a solid elastomer.
11 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad is a solid elastomer.
12 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad includes a first surface that when the wearable is worn is configured to face a wearer's skin and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein at least a portion of the second surface of the light-transmissive pad and the inner surface of the fabric panel are in contact with the side-emitting optical fiber.
13 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad is sewn to the fabric panel.
14 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad is affixed to the fabric panel with adhesive.
15 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive pad is silicone and affixed to the fabric panel via mechanical bonds between fibers of the fabric panel and the silicone.
16 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the fabric panel is reflective of red light and infrared light.
17 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the fabric panel is a red dyed fabric panel.
18 . The light therapy wearable of claim 1 , wherein the fabric panel is a white fabric panel.
19 . A method of manufacturing a light therapy wearable, the method comprising:
placing a side-emitting optical fiber on an inner surface of a fabric panel, the inner surface being configured to face a wearer's skin when the wearable is worn; and
at least partially covering the side-emitting optical fiber with a light-transmissive pad being made from a light-transmissive elastomer and having a durometer of at least 50 A.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising sewing or embroidering the side-emitting optical fiber to the inner surface prior to at least partially covering the side-emitting optical fiber with the light-transmissive pad.
21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein at least partially covering the side-emitting optical fiber with the light-transmissive pad includes pouring a silicone onto the inner surface of the fabric panel.
22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein at least partially covering the side-emitting optical fiber with the light-transmissive pad includes contacting at least a portion of the light-transmissive pad with the side-emitting optical fiber.