Infrared therapy chamber

Abstract

A therapeutic chamber controls the targeted application of infrared radiation according to programs tailored to conditions or areas of the body in need of treatment. Programs are provided and may also be determined or designed by a treatment administrator or subject. An embodiment utilizes groups of carbon fiber impregnated infrared generating sheet to provided targeted radiation in an energy efficient fashion.

1 . A treatment chamber comprising:
 a subject treatment area;   a control module;   a subject detection sensor;   a plurality of carbon fiber impregnated infrared generating (CFIG) sheets, each of the plurality of sheets having a principal plane and generating infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to the principal plane,   a first CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a left side of the subject and providing infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to a left side of the subject;   a second CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a back of the subject and providing infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to the back of the subject;   a third CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a right side of the subject and providing infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to a right side of the subject,   wherein the control module is configured to treat the left portion of the subject by activating the first CFIG sheet for a first period of time while the second CFIG sheet is also activated, and deactivate one of the first or second sheets for a second period while the other of the sheets remains activated; activate both the first and third sheets for a third period; and activate the other of the sheets in a fourth period that was not activated during the second period.   
     
     
         2 . The treatment chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is further configured to monitor a signal from the subject detection sensor and to activate the control module user interface upon detection of motion at the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The treatment chamber of  claim 1  further comprising a heart rate sensor, and wherein the control module is further configured to adjust the amount of infrared radiation produced by a CFIG sheet of the plurality in response to a change in the subject heart rate as detected by the heart rate sensor. [put this is spec, not just shut off] 
     
     
         4 . A treatment chamber comprising:
 a subject treatment area;   a control module;   a plurality of carbon fiber impregnated infrared generating (CFIG) sheets, each of the plurality of sheets having a principal plane and generating infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to the principal plane,   a first CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a left side of the subject and providing infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to a left side of the subject;   a second CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a back of the subject and providing infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to the back of the subject;   a third CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a right side of the subject and providing infrared radiation substantially perpendicular to a right side of the subject,   wherein the control module is configured to allow an operator of the chamber to configure an operating sequence directing the control module to:   activate one of the plurality of CFIG sheets for a first period at a first setting; and   activate another of the plurality of CFIG sheets for a second period distinct from the first period at a second setting.   wavelength/resonant frequency   
     
     
         5 . A chamber comprising:
 a subject treatment area;   a control module comprising a user interface module and control logic;   a plurality of carbon fiber impregnated infrared generating (CFIG) sheets,   a first CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a left side of the subject and providing infrared radiation to a left side of the subject;   a second CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a back of the subject and providing infrared radiation to the back of the subject;   a third CFIG sheet of the plurality positioned adjacent a right side of the subject and providing infrared radiation to a right side of the subject,   wherein the control module is configured to:   allow a person to enter a desired wavelength at the user interface; and   activate at least one of the plurality of CFIG sheets to produce infrared radiation at the entered wavelength.   
     
     
         6 . A chamber comprising:
 a subject treatment area;   a control module comprising a user interface module and control logic; and   an infrared generating element,   wherein the control module is configured to:   allow a person to enter a material to be targeted by the chamber;   reference a memory of the control module and determine a wavelength appropriate to resonate the targeted material;   activate the infrared generating element the wavelength determined by the control module to be appropriate to resonate the targeted material.   
     
     
         7 . A therapeutic method, comprising:
 (a) providing a chamber comprising a subject treatment area, a control module comprising a user interface and control logic, and a plurality of infrared generating elements;   (b) causing, with the control logic of the control module, vasodilation at a targeted region of a subject in the subject treatment area by activating an infrared generating element of the plurality;   (c) causing, with control logic of the control module, vasoconstriction after said vasodilation; and   (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) causing a pumping effect through repeated vasodilation and vasoconstriction.