Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2002-12-17
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Light application
C607S090000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06494899
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a phototherapy system and method for providing a therapeutic light treatment to a patient, and, in particular, to a phototherapy system and method in which a bulb switching mechanism automatically replaces a failed bulb with a new bulb, and to a phototherapy system having an improved fiber optic cable coupling system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Phototherapy devices that generate radiant energy, typically a visible light having a particular wavelength, and that transmit the energy to a surface of a patient are known. In one type of phototherapy device, light from a halogen bulb is transmitted to the surface of the patient to treat jaundice. An example of such a conventional phototherapy device is the Wallaby® II phototherapy system distributed by Respironics Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Such conventional phototherapy devices typically include a source of illumination and a fiber optic cable having a proximal end coupled to the source of illumination for transmitting the light to the patient. A fiber optic panel is located at the distal end of the fiber optic cable to provide a blanket of light that can be positioned next to the patient's skin. A concern with such conventional devices is maximizing the lifetime of the device before the bulb or bulbs that produce the light have to be replaced.
This problem is addressed in conventional systems by providing two bulbs in the illumination device. If the first bulb fails, e.g., bums out, a manually actuated button is provided on the exterior housing of the illumination device. Depressing the button causes the second lamp, which is provided on a rotating carousel with the first lamp, to move into an operating position in place of the first lamp for illuminating the proximal end of the fiber optic cable. Thus, the user need not replace the bulbs until both bulbs have failed, thereby increasing the amount of time the phototherapy system can be used between bulb replacements.
This conventional approach, however, has several disadvantages. If the first bulb fails in the middle of the night, for example, while the patient is asleep, the patient or caregiver may not be aware of the failure until the following morning, thereby depriving the patient of the phototherapy during the night subsequent to the bulb failure. This problem is addressed in conventional device by providing an audible warning that is actuated upon bulb failure. Such warning devices, however, are a great cause for consternation, especially in situations where the user is unfamiliar with the purpose of the warning and/or is already apprehensive about the health of the person being treated by the phototherapy.
In addition, the conventional approach for dealing with bulb failures requires that the user manually cause the second bulb to move into position to replace the first bulb by actuating the bulb replacement button. Some patients may be unfamiliar with this procedure or have difficulty remembering to do so when the bulb replacement warning sounds. Also, some patients may have difficulty in being trained to take this necessary action once a bulb failure occurs. In addition, some patients may be physically unable to actuate the bulb replacement button, which requires depressing the bulb replacement button with a moderate amount of force sufficient to rotate the lamp carousel.
Furthermore, once the bulb replacement button has been actuated, the user cannot return the rotating carousel to the original position. Instead, the device must be delivered to a repair center where a trained technician replaces the bulbs and returns the carousel to the original position. As a result, if the user accidentally or prematurely causes the carousel to rotate, for example, by inadvertently depressing the bulb replacement button, the useful life of that device is effectively reduced. Yet another disadvantage with conventional phototherapy devices is that the mechanical rotation of the lamp carousel typically moves the lamps very rapidly and has an abrupt stop once the carousel has been rotated. This rapid movement and abrupt stop can cause mechanical shock to the filaments in the bulbs, thereby reducing lamp life.
Conventional phototherapy devices also include a system for coupling the proximal end of the fiber optic cable to the illumination device. The proximal end of the fiber optic cable receives light from the light source in the illumination device and transmits the therapeutic light to the distal end of the fiber optic cable for transmission to the patient's skin. The coupling system attaches the proximal end of the fiber optic cable to the illumination device so that the proximal end surface of the fiber optic bundle is situated a fixed distance from the light source to receive light from the light source. Conventional coupling systems also permit the fiber optic cable to rotate relative to the illumination device while maintaining the proximal end in an engaged relation with the illumination device a fixed distance from the light source. Two techniques are known for such coupling systems.
In a first technique, a channel is provided on the exterior surface of the illumination device to receive the proximal end of the fiber optic cable. A 360° slot is provided in the wall of the channel and a key slot is provided in the 12:00 position of the channel to provide access to the 360° slot. The key slot and the 360° slot are arranged such that during insertion of the proximal end of the fiber optic cable, a fixed protrusion provided on the proximal end of the fiber optic cable passes through the key slot into the 360° slot. During insertion, the protrusion must be located at the 12:00 position so that the protrusion passes through the key slot. Because there is nothing blocking the key slot, very little force is needed to insert the cable into the illumination device. The proximal end of the cable is then rotated in the 360° slot to move the protrusion on the cable away from the key slot. Engagement of the fixed protrusion on the proximal end of the fiber optic cable with the wall of the 360° slot maintains the proximal end of the cable in engagement with the illumination device.
There is a disadvantage with the above-described technique for securing the proximal end of the fiber optic cable to the illumination device. If the proximal end of the fiber optic cable again rotates to the 12:00 position so that the protrusion is aligned with the key slot, the proximal end of the cable can freely disengage from the illumination device with very little force. At all other positions, however, the fiber optic cable cannot be removed from the illumination device without damaging either the cable or the illumination device, because the fixed protrusion on the cable contacts the wall of the 360° slot.
In a second technique for securing the proximal end of the fiber optic cable to the illumination device, a 360° slot is provided in the proximal end of fiber optic cable. There is no key slot to provide access to the 360° slot. Instead, a protrusion is disposed on the wall of the otherwise smooth channel in the illumination device. This protrusion is retractable so that during insertion of the fiber optic cable into the illumination device, a force is required to cause the protrusion to retract. Once the proximal end of the fiber optic cable is sufficiently inserted into the channel in the illumination device, the protrusion on the illumination device is biased into an extended position by a spring so that it engages the 360° slot in the fiber optic cable to maintain the cable in engagement with the illumination device.
There is a disadvantage with this retractable protrusion technique for securing the proximal end of the fiber optic cable to the illumination device. The fiber optic cable can disengage from the illumination device if the pull-out force on the cable is large enough to cause the protrusion to retract, regardless of the rotational position of the cable relative to the illumination device. Thus
Andersen Robert
Griffin Carl E.
Whitaker Robert
Haas Michael W.
Peffley Michael
Respironics Inc.
Vrettakos Pete J
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