Phototherapy device for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia

Abstract

A phototherapy device for treating neonatal hyperbilirubinemia comprises a plurality of LEDs coupled to a support structure configured to absorb and dissipate heat generated by the LEDs without requiring a fan. The LEDs provide a uniform dose of radiation on a treatment surface of the subject over a distance range of 20 cm to 45 cm. The support structure can comprise a heat-conductive metal plate. The LEDs have an emission range of 400 nm to 520 and a light output intensity of at least 30 μW/cm2/nm and at most 65 μW/cm2/nm at the treatment surface. The device can be adjustably coupled to a mounting structure. Power supplied to the LEDs is adjustable based on the total number of hours of use of the LEDs, the intensity of the LED radiation, the distance between the LEDs and the treatment surface, and/or the tilt or orientation of the phototherapy device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A phototherapy device for the treatment of a subject, the device comprising:
 one or more LEDs configured to provide a uniform dose of radiation on a treatment surface of the subject over a distance range; and   a support structure for coupling to and supporting the one or more LEDs, wherein the support structure is configured to absorb and dissipate heat generated by the one or more LEDs to minimize overheating without requiring the use of a fan.   
     
     
         2 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , wherein power supplied to the one or more LEDs is adjustable. 
     
     
         3 . The phototherapy device of  claim 2 , wherein the power supplied to the one or more LEDs is adjustable by one or more of resistor placement and pulse-width modulation. 
     
     
         4 . The phototherapy device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more LEDs comprises a plurality of LEDs distributed over the support structure, and the power supplied to each LED of the plurality of LEDs is independently adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to adjust a power supplied to the one or more LEDs. 
     
     
         6 . The phototherapy device of  claim 5 , further comprising a display coupled to the processor for displaying one or more treatment parameters. 
     
     
         7 . The phototherapy device of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more treatment parameters comprise one or more of an intensity of the one or more LEDs, a wavelength of the one or more LEDs, a treatment time, a time of total use of the one or more LEDs, a light meter reading, an accelerometer reading, and a checksum. 
     
     
         8 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer for detecting an orientation of the phototherapy device. 
     
     
         9 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more focusing lenses coupled to each of the one or more LEDs. 
     
     
         10 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more LEDs having an emission range of about 550 nm to 650 nm, configured to illuminate the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The phototherapy device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more LEDs having an emission range of about 550 nm to 650 nm are operable together with or independently of the LEDs configured to provide the dose of radiation. 
     
     
         12 . The phototherapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising a distance meter having an integrated distance sensor configured to measure a distance between the one or more LEDs and the treatment surface. 
     
     
         13 . A light meter for measuring an intensity of radiation provided by a light source, the light meter comprising:
 one or more filters configured to have a transmission spectrum corresponding to a target range of wavelengths;   a light sensor configured to detect radiation having a target range of wavelengths and to output a voltage corresponding to the detected radiation; and   a circuit board comprising a memory having a calibration curve stored thereon, wherein the circuit board further comprises a program configured to use the calibration curve to convert the voltage output of the light sensor into an irradiance value.   
     
     
         14 . The light meter of  claim 13 , further comprising a connector port that removably couples the light meter to a mobile control device, wherein the irradiance value is communicated to and displayed by the mobile control device.