DE9103110U1 - INFRARED RADIATION DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

- 4 - Infrared irradiation device

Description:

The application relates to an irradiation device for irradiating the whole human body or parts of the body according to the preamble of the applicable main claim.

Such irradiation devices are known from the prior art. For example, DE-OS 2057026 shows a device for irradiating large areas of the human body, in which light sources connected in series are brought close to the part of the body to be irradiated, as well as a control circuit which allows the light sources of the series to be switched on one after the other and for a predetermined time in order to generate radiation which moves from one end to the other of the series of sources. In addition, this application shows means which are intended to switch the first light source back on and thus start a new cycle as soon as the last light source in the series is switched off. In this way, a thermal wave is generated which moves in a predetermined direction at an adjustable speed. The triggering of these heat or light sources can also be controlled by external signals, for example by the pulse rate.

A corresponding device, which also includes possibilities for regulating the lamps taking into account the reaction of the body, is shown in DE-OS 3801027.

The radiation devices known from the two previous publications mentioned use conventional lamps as radiation sources, i.e. thermal incandescent bodies, depending on the need for infrared, ultraviolet or visible light. It is known that such incandescent bodies emit too broad a frequency spectrum. The selection of certain frequencies that are particularly effective for therapeutic purposes therefore requires the use of filters to suppress the undesirable frequency ranges. The majority of the lamp's power is then unnecessarily "burned up", which increases power consumption and shortens the life of the radiation device.

Also known are radiation devices based on lasers; these are used - individually or in groups - to irradiate parts of the body using specific frequencies and switching cycles. The irradiation of parts of the body with a single device is described, for example, in DE-OS 3134953, and the use of a group of lasers arranged on a plate with appropriate control is shown in DE-OS 3720742.

Such devices have the disadvantage that, due to the physical properties of the laser, they only produce monochromatic, coherent light, which is unnecessary and even undesirable for many applications, e.g. in the field of sports medicine, and thus makes the devices unnecessarily expensive.

Accordingly, the invention is based on the object of creating a radiation device that is on the one hand inexpensive to offer, and on the other hand allows easy and loss-free control and variation

the parameters intensity, frequency and cycle (from short-term pulses to the Oauerstrich) that are essential for body irradiation. This task is solved by the characterizing features of the current claim 1. Further developments and advantageous embodiments of the invention according to the main claim are the subject of the subclaims. Are carried out up to 8.

The device according to the invention has the advantage over known devices based on thermal radiators of the targeted use of a defined radiation provided by the diodes for healing purposes. It is readily understandable that these diodes, due to their comparatively lower total power (with the same or higher power in the effective range), are easier to regulate and require less delay than thermal incandescent radiators, which have a wide spectral range that largely contributes little to healing purposes. Despite the lower power of a diode in the spectral range of interest, the energy absorbed per unit area to be irradiated is the same or higher than with thermal radiators, since diodes only generate radiation in the desired wavelength range and the distance between the radiator and the body is reduced compared to thermal radiators.

In addition, the diode field can be designed to a large extent, allowing easy adaptation in terms of area and shape to specific areas of application, e.g. for large or small area irradiation, for adaptation to body shapes, etc.

The practically inertia-free control behavior (due to the lack of long-lasting, heated components - in contrast to incandescent lamps) enables special, fast control programs and also responds directly to the control parameters, e.g. in bio-feedback.

The components and the various images of the radiators in the radiation device according to the invention are described below.

It shows:

Figure 1:

the structure of the radiation device according to the invention in particular used infrared diode body

Figure 2:

a cross section through this diode body

Figure 3:

different shapes of the diode body

Figure 4:

a block diagram for power supply and control of the radiation device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows the structure of the radiation body according to the invention, in particular for an infrared radiator. On a circuit board (3) there are light-emitting diodes (2) in a flat, in particular surface-covering arrangement. The circuit board (3) is glued to the cooling body O) with cooling fins (6) using a heat-conducting silicone adhesive (5). The flat arrangement of the light-emitting diodes on the circuit board is protected at the top by a cover cap (4). When the light-emitting diodes are designed as infrared light-emitting diodes

the cover cap (4) is made of infrared-permeable macroion. For applications with diodes for visible or ultraviolet light, appropriate materials are used. It is easy to understand that the radiator constructed in this way is very variable in its dimensions and can be adapted to the respective problem, since the shape of the circuit boards and their assembly with diodes can be designed within wide limits. It is also possible to assemble standard circuit boards equipped with diodes in a mosaic-like manner to form larger units by gluing them onto a suitably designed heat sink; the entire radiator body (consisting of cover, circuit board with diodes and heat sink) can also be assembled in a modular manner to form larger units, starting from a standard size. The cover can be manufactured either for each individual component or for the entire body made up of the components.

Figure 2 shows the radiation body described above, consisting of a heat sink (1) with cooling fins (6), heat-conducting silicone adhesive (5), circuit board (3) with diode arrangement (2) and cover (in the case of infrared diodes: macroion) in cross section. Figures 3.1 - 3.6 show various application examples for the radiation elements according to the application.

Figure 3.1 shows a large field radiator made up of several radiator elements. The curved structure of this radiator as shown in Figure 3.1 enables the radiation emerging from the diodes to be focused on a specific point, e.g. a human body. Figure 3.2 shows a straight large field radiator for uniformly irradiating the body over a large area. Figure 3.3 shows a large area radiator in a circular shape.

Figures 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6 show so-called small field radiators, i.e. radiator elements that can be carried and attached and removed as required. Here too, rectangular or circular surfaces are conceivable. Figure 3.6 in particular shows a rod-shaped diode radiator, particularly suitable for irradiating body cavities.

Finally, Figure 4 shows a block diagram for controlling the radiator surfaces. The power section (1) amplifies the signal forms entered in the control panel (2) and controls the diodes accordingly.

At the center of the control unit (2) is the microprocessor (4) clocked with a quartz (3). The pulse or continuous wave, pulse ratio, frequency and pulse shapes of the radiation emitted by the diodes of the surface radiator are preset on this and prepared accordingly for the control of the power section. A monitoring mechanism (5) ensures emergency shutdown in the event of unforeseen and non-programmed conditions. This emergency shutdown can affect both the technical monitoring of the device and the set parameters, as well as the unexpected reactions of the person exposed to the radiation. With a switch with a power supply (6), the entire system is put into operation and switched off.

Character description

to sheet 2:
Fig. 1 and 2

1 heat sink

2 LEDs

3 Board

4 Cover

5 Silicone adhesive

6 cooling fins

Spotlight construction

to Sheet 3 and 4: Types of radiators

Fig.3.1 Large field radiator curved

Fig.3.2 Large field radiator straight

Fig.3.3 Circular radiator

Fig.3.4 Small field radiator

Fig.3.5 Small field radiator

Fig.3.6 Rod-shaped radiator

to sheet 5:

Block diagram

1 power unit

2 Control unit

3 Quartz

4 Microprocessor

5 Monitoring mechanism

6 Power supply

Claims (1)

Annex to the application for registration of a utility model Infrared irradiation device Expectations: Devices for the complete or partial irradiation of the human body with the aid of an arrangement of radiation elements for infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, which are operated by a control circuit suitable for continuous irradiation, characterized in that light-emitting diodes are used as radiation elements, which are controlled by the control circuit in sequence and/or frequency and/or cycle and/or intensity individually or in groups. Irradiation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the diodes are arranged in reflectors which focus the light emitted by them into one point. Irradiation device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the diodes are mounted on a curved carrier in order to carry out irradiation in cavities. Irradiation device according to claim 3, characterized in that the curved carrier has a spherical or cylindrical shape. Irradiation device according to claim 1, characterized in that Infrared light-emitting diodes are used as radiation elements. Irradiation device according to claim 5, characterized in that the infrared light-emitting diodes emit infrared pulses with a cycle frequency of 0.1 to 5 kilohertz. Irradiation device according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a sound signal is emitted parallel to the radiation, which can be controlled in intensity and frequency according to the control circuit. Irradiation device according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control of the lighting elements can be regulated by a respiratory frequency or a pulse sensor in the sense of "bio-feedback".