Phototherapy device and system

Abstract

A ring has an open top side and side walls that circumscribe a central region for receiving a phototherapy subject. The side walls include a work surface that is configured to receive visible light through the open top side and reflect the visible light toward the central region for phototherapy. The work surface includes a first surface that is a diffuse reflector and a second surface that is a specular reflector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A phototherapy device comprising:
 a ring having an open top side and side walls that circumscribe a central region for receiving a phototherapy subject, the side walls including a work surface that is configured to receive visible light through the open top side and reflect the visible light toward the central region for phototherapy, the work surface including a first surface that is a diffuse reflector and a second surface that is a specular reflector.   
     
     
         2 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ring includes a front and a back, and the diffuse reflector is on the back and the specular reflector is on the front. 
     
     
         3 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the specular reflector or the diffuse reflector makes up at least 15% of the surface area of the working surface, and the other of the specular reflector or the diffuse reflector makes up a remainder of the surface area of the working surface. 
     
     
         4 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the specular reflector or the diffuse reflector makes up at least 40% of the surface area of the working surface, and the other of the specular reflector or the diffuse reflector makes up a remainder of the surface area of the working surface. 
     
     
         5 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a racetrack oval shape and the side walls include two opposed elongated walls that extend approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the specular reflector is on one of two opposed elongated walls and the diffuse reflector is on the other of the two opposed elongated walls. 
     
     
         7 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diffuse reflector is a Lambertian reflector. 
     
     
         8 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diffuse reflector has a TAPPI brightness of 70 to 130, and the specular reflector has a reflectance of at least 70% based on a quotient of radiance reflected and radiance received. 
     
     
         9 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diffuse reflector includes one or more additives that are operable to convert ultraviolet radiation that is received through the open top side into visible light. 
     
     
         10 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first surface has ridges, each said ridge including a portion that is sloped relative to vertical toward a bottom of the ring. 
     
     
         11 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the bottom is reflective. 
     
     
         12 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the specular reflector includes a straight reflector portion and a parabolic reflector portion. 
     
     
         13 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the side wall that has the specular reflector has a height H 1  taken from a horizontal plane of a bottom of the ring and another portion of the side wall that has the diffuse reflector has a height H 2  taken from the horizontal plane, and the height H 1  is 20% to 80% of the height H 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ring includes a bottom, and the bottom has a release door. 
     
     
         15 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the release door includes a panel and a hinge. 
     
     
         16 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the release door includes a panel and an elastic retainer. 
     
     
         17 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a fitted shape with respect to human body shape. 
     
     
         18 . The phototherapy device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a head alignment structure that defines an interior head pocket and vents. 
     
     
         19 . A phototherapy system comprising:
 a light source operable to emit visible light; and   a ring vertically below the light source, the ring having an open top side and side walls that circumscribe a central region for receiving a phototherapy subject, the side walls including a work surface that is configured to receive the visible light through the open top side and reflect the visible light toward the central region for phototherapy, the work surface including a first surface that is a diffuse reflector and a second surface that is a specular reflector.   
     
     
         20 . A phototherapy device comprising:
 a light ring device operable to be placed around a region in which a subject can be placed for phototherapy, light ring device being configured to illuminate around a circumference of the region, the light ring device having a top and a bottom that are open, to provide access to the region by a care provider.