Light therapy system

Claim 1

A light therapy system comprising one plurality of light emitting diodes, each diode including means for emitting noncoherent light radiation, the noncoherent light radiation being in a narrow bandwidth centered at a designated wavelength, the designated wavelength being the same for all diodes of the plurality, the narrow bandwidth being in the order of 25 nm above and below the designated wavelength, means for concentrating the light radiation of the plurality of diodes and projecting the light radiation to a zone on an area, the zone being spaced from the diodes by a focal distance, and means for energizing the diodes, the means for energizing including means for providing a voltage differential across each of the diodes of the plurality of diodes the diodes being arrayed in a plurality of diode banks, the diodes of each diode bank being series connected, the means for providing a voltage differential including means for providing a voltage potential, a control circuit for controlling energy flow through the diodes, the control circuit including driver circuit means for coupling the diodes of each diode bank between the voltage potential and a voltage drain, the control circuit further including an analog switch, means for generating an adjusted regulated voltage, means operatively interconnecting the adjusted regulated voltage with one input of the analog switch, the analog switch receiving the adjusted regulated voltage and generating an output voltage potential which is a function of the adjusted regulated voltage, the driver circuit means including transistor switching means associated with each diode bank and series connected with each diode bank between the voltage potential and the voltage drain for controlling current flow through the diode bank, the drive circuit means further including an operational comparator associated with each transistor switching means, each operational comparator including a first input and a second input, the control circuit including means operatively interconnecting the analog switch output voltage potential with the first input of each operational comparator, each operational comparator generating an output, the transistor switching means including a base, means operatively interconnecting the output of each operational comparator with the base of its associated transistor switching means, each transistor switching means switching on to interconnect its associated diode bank between the voltage potential and the voltage drain to permit current flow through the diode bank when the output of its associated operational amplifier is high, the driver circuit means further includes means for monitoring current flow through each of the diode banks, the means for monitoring current flow including means operatively interconnecting the second input of each operational comparator with a location in the path of current flow between the voltage potential, the diode bank and the voltage drain, the voltage at the location being a function of current flow through the diode bank, whereby a voltage which is a function of the current flowing through each diode bank appears at the second input of the associated operational comparator, each operational comparator comparing the value of the voltage at the first input with the value of the voltage at the second input and generating a high output when the voltage at the first input is greater than the voltage at the second input, each operational comparator generating a low output when the voltage at the second input is greater than the voltage at the first input to thereby switch the transistor switching means off to limit excessive current flow through its associate diode bank.

Claim 18

A method of treating musculoskelatal disorders in patents, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of light emitting diodes which generate infra red light radiation only in a narrow bandwidth centered at approximately 940 nm, (b) causing the diodes to generate continuous light radiation by applying a constant voltage differential across the diodes, (c) concentrating and projecting the continuous light radiation on an area of the patient in registration with a musculoskeletal disorder, (d) maintaining the continuous light radiation for a prescribed continuous treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes, (e) causing the diodes to generate pulsed light radiation by applying a pulsed voltage differential across the diodes, (f) concentrating and projecting the pulsed light radiation on the area of the patient in registration with the musculoskeletal disorder, and (g) maintaining the pulsed light radiation for a prescribed pulsed treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes.

Claim 19

A method of treating musculoskelatal disorders in patents, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of light emitting diodes which generate infra red light radiation only in a narrow bandwidth centered at approximately 940 nm, (b) causing the diodes to generate continuous light radiation by applying a constant voltage differential across the diodes, (c) concentrating and projecting the continuous light radiation on an area of the patient in registration with a musculoskeletal disorder, (d) maintaining the continuous light radiation for a prescribed continuous treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes, (e) causing the diodes to generate pulsed light radiation by applying a pulsed voltage differential across the diodes, (f) concentrating and projecting the pulsed light radiation on the area of the patient in registration with the musculoskeletal disorder, and (g) maintaining the pulsed light radiation for a prescribed pulsed treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes.

Claim 26

A method of treating topical disorders including ulcers or wounds with red light radiation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of light emitting diodes which generate noncoherent light radiation in a narrow bandwidth centered at approximately 660 nm, (b) causing the diodes to generate continuous light radiation by applying a constant voltage differential across the diodes, (c) concentrating and projecting the continuous light radiation on an area afflicted with a topical disorder, (d) maintaining the continuous light radiation for a prescribed continuous treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes, (e) causing the diodes to generate pulsed light radiation by applying a pulsed voltage differential across the diodes, (f) concentrating and projecting the pulsed light radiation on the area afflicted with said topical disorder, and (g) maintaining the pulsed light radiation for a prescribed pulsed treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes.

Claim 27

A method of treating topical disorders including ulcers or wounds with red light radiation, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of light emitting diodes which generate noncoherent light radiation in a narrow bandwidth centered at approximately 660 nm, (b) causing the diodes to generate continuous light radiation by applying a constant voltage differential across the diodes, (c) concentrating and projecting the continuous light radiation on an area afflicted with a topical disorder, (d) maintaining the continuous light radiation for a prescribed continuous treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes, (e) causing the diodes to generate pulsed light radiation by applying a pulsed voltage differential across the diodes, (f) concentrating and projecting the pulsed light radiation on the area afflicted with said topical disorder, and (g) maintaining the pulsed light radiation for a prescribed pulsed treatment duration of up to approximately twenty minutes.