GB2442206A

GB2442206A - Therapeutic light apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2442206A
Application number: GB0619349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aqua Detox International Ltd; Neil Bevan; Paul Garcia; Thelma Bevan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-30
Filing date: 2006-09-30
Publication date: 2008-04-02
Also published as: GB0619349D0

Abstract

A therapeutic apparatus 10 comprises a base member 11 and a side wall 12 which extends upwardly from around the periphery of the base member. Part of the side wall has a projecting portion 13 which projects into the space bounded by the base member and the side wall. Arrays of LEDs are located in the base member (array 15), the projecting portion (array 16) and around the top region of the side wall 12 (LEDs 17). The therapeutic method may be performed on a human foot located in the space bounded by the base member and the side wall. The LEDs are operated to irradiate the whole foot or selected parts thereof (e.g., the sole, heel region or top) with visible light from the LEDs. The colour and/or intensity of the light from the LEDs is regulated to provide the desired therapeutic effect.

Description

1 2442206 TheraDeutic At,varatus and Method The present invention

relates to a therapeutic apparatus and therapeutic method.

In one aspect, the invention provides a therapeutic apparatus comprising a base member on, or adjacent to which, the sole of a foot (or the palm of a hand) may be rested or maintained, and one or more sources of visible radiation mounted in and/or around the base member for directing visible radiation towards the said foot (or hand).

In another aspect, the invention provides a therapeutic apparatus as defined in claim 1 of the set of claims following this description. Preferred and/or optional features of the apparatus are the subject of other claims in the said set of claims.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of irradiating part of the human body with visible radiation, the method comprising locating the said part of the human body on or adjacent to a source of visible radiation in therapeutic apparatus as specified herein.

An embodiment of the invention is described below by way of a non-limitative example only and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which shows an apparatus for irradiating a human foot with radiation in the visible part of the spectnim.

In the drawing, the apparatus is generally indicated by reference numeral 10, and comprises a bowl-shaped part generally in the form of a footbath. The apparatus 10 comprises a base 11 and an upright wall 12 surrounding the base. The wall 12 comprises a part 13 which projects inwardly from the wall and which has a substantially flattened vertical face 14 directed towards the space enclosed by the wall 12. At the base of the wall 12, there is provided an external bottom rim 19 to impart stability against the apparatus tipping.

The base 11, the wall 12, projecting part 13 and rim 19 may be formed from mouldable plastics materials.

Set into the base 11 is an array 15 of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The array is shown to be of circular form, but arrays having other shapes may alternatively be employed. The LEDs of the array 15 are arranged to project light generally upwardly fromthe base ii.

Set into the face 14 of the projecting part 13 is an array 16 of LEDs. The array 16 is of generally circular shape, but arrays having other shapes may alternatively be employed. The LEDs of the array 16 are arranged to project light into one end region of the space bounded by the base 11 and the wall 12.

Set into the top inner region of the wall 12 is a plurality of LEDs, generally identified by reference numeral 17. The LEDs 17 are arranged to project light somewhat downwardly and generally into the space bounded by the base 11 and the wall 12.

The LEDs receive power for their operation from electrically-conductive wires (not shown) in the apparatus 10. Power for the LEDs is supplied via a suitable cable 18.

The LEDS operate to provide visible radiation in the space bounded by the base 11 and the wall 12. Preferably, the visible radiation from the LEDs is provided at an intensity in the range of from 100 to 15,000 lux.

The LEDs are selected to be operable to emit light in desired parts of the visible spectrum. The colour of the light may be selected from white, red, orange, brown, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, indigo, violet, and any combination of the foregoing.

The arrays 15, 16, 17 of LEDs may be operated together or independently of each other. The operation of the arrays of LEDs may be controlled locally or remotely by suitable switching and power-control means (not shown) of any known type. A band-held remote controller (not shown) of known type may be employed.

In use, a person wishing to receive therapeutic treatment using the apparatus 10 places a foot (not shown) in the space bounded by the base 11 and wall 12 of the apparatus 10. Part or all of the foot is then irradiated with light of a suitable strength and colour from one or more of the arrays of LEDs. The array 15 is intended to irradiate the sole of the foot, and may be used to irradiate a selected part of the sole of the foot. The array 16 irradiates the heel region of the foot. The LEDs 17 irradiate top areas of the foot. As stated above, the arrays of LEDs may be operated either together or independently of each other.

Although the embodiment of the drawing shows three arrays of LEDs, other embodiments of the invention may comprise only one or two of the three arrays shown in the drawing.

In another embodiment (not shown), other light sources, such as optical fibre light sources, may be employed in place of some or all of the LEDs. The general appearance of apparatus of the invention employing other light sources would not be much different to that of the apparatus shown in the drawing. In the instance wherein the light sources are optical fibres, the light-emitting ends of the optical fibres would be in the locations shown for the various LEDs in the drawing. The arrays of optical fibres may receive light from a common source of light (not shown). In another embodiment, each array of optical fibres may receive light from a respective or dedicated source of light. The source (or sources) of light may be controllable to provide desired colours and intensities of light in the space bounded by the wall 12 and the base 11. In one embodiment (not shown), all the optical fibres receive light from a common source located in the apparatus. A suitable place to located the common light source is beneath the base ii. If necessary, a fan may be provided for ventilating the space containing the common light so as to prevent overheating.

The apparatus has been described above in relation to therapeutically treating a human foot. However, the apparatus may also be used for the therapeutic treatment of other body parts such as a hand.

Claims

CLAflvfS: I. Therapeutic apparatus comprising a base member on, or

adjacent to which, the sole of a foot (or the palm of a hand) may be located, and one or more sources of visible radiation mounted in and/or around the base member for directing visible radiation towards the said foot (or hand).
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least some of the light sources are mounted in the base member for directing visible radiation towards the sole of the foot (or the palm of the hand).
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a side member around the space for the foot or hand, and wherein at least some of the said sources are mounted in the side member for directing visible radiation towards the side of a foot or hand located in said space, more particularly towards the heel region or area of a foot.
4. The apparatus of any of claims I to 3 wherein at least some of the sources are mounted on the side member for directing visible radiation towards and/or onto the upper surfhce of a foot or hand located in said space and facing the base member.
5. The apparatus of any of claim I to 4 comprising means for selecting and varying the colour of visible radiation emitted by the source of visible radiation.
6. The apparatus of any of claims I to 5 comprising means for selecting and varying the intensity of visible radiation emitted by the source of visible radiation.
7. The apparatus of any of claims ito 6 wherein the base member and the side member form at least part of a receptacle having the general form of a footbath.
8. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the source(s) of radiation are selected from light emitting diodes (LEDs) and/or optical fibres.
9. The apparatus of claim S comprising a source of visible radiation which provides the visible radiation emitted from the ends of the optical fibres.
10. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9 comprising one or more power cables which supply electrical power to the LEDs.
11. The apparatus of any of claims I to 10 wherein the source(s) of visible radiation are operable to provide a light intensity in the space bounded by the base member and the side member of from 100 to 50,000 lux.
12. The apparatus of any preceding claim comprising an external bottom rim to impart stability against tipping of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of any of claims ito 11 comprising a remote control device for operating the LEDs or light source of the optical fibres.

13. The apparatus of claims 1 to 12 wherein said device is manually operable.

14. A method of irradiating part of the human body comprising locating the said part on or adjacent to a source of visible radiation in apparatus according to any one of claims I to 13, and irradiating the said part with visible radiation.

15. The method of claim 14 comprising irradiating the said part with visible radiation at a selected intensity andlor with selected colours.

Amendments to the cams have been filed as followS 1. ApparatuS for irradiating the sole of a human foot with visible radiation, the apparatus comprising a bowl-shaped part generally in the form of a footbath for receiving a human foot, and one or more sources of visible radiation mounted in and/or on the base of the said part and operable, when in use, to irradiate with visible radiation, the sole of a human foot received in the bowl-shaped part.

2. The apparatus of claim I wherein the source(s) of visible radiation is/are selected from light emitting diodes (LED5) and/or optical fibres.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising one or more power cables for supplying electrical power to the LEDs.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising a source of visible radiation which operates to provide visible radiation emitted from the ends of optical fibres.

5. The apparatus of any preceding claim comprising source(s) of visible radiation mounted in and/or on a side member of the apparatus for directing visible radiation towards and/or onto the side of a foot located in the apparatus, e.g., the heel region or area of a foot.

6. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein at least some of the source(s) of visible radiation is or are mounted on a side member of the apparatus for directing visible radiation towards and/or onto an upper surface of a foot located in the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of any preceding claim wherein the source(s) of visible radiation are operable to provide a light intensity of from 100 to 50,000 lux.

8. The apparatus of any preceding claims comprising means for selecting and varying the intensity of visible radiation emitted from the said source(s), during operation.

9. The apparatus of any preceding claims comprising means for selecting and varying the colour of visible radiation emitted from the said source(s), during operation.

10. The apparatus of any preceding claim comprising a remote control device for operating the LEDs and/or light source of the optical fibres.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the device is manually operable.