Light conductor and treatment for ailments involving the throat

Abstract

A device for providing therapeutic treatment to a throat comprises an elongated body with a first end and a second end opposite the first end and shaped to temporarily extend from the mouth of a user to a throat area of the user where, during use, the first end is at the mouth and the second end is within the throat area. The device further includes an electrically-powered ultra-violet-frequency light source coupled to the body and an ultra-violet-frequency light emitter at the second end of the body.

1 . A device for providing therapeutic treatment to a throat, the device comprising:
 an elongated body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and shaped to temporarily extend from the mouth of a user to a throat area of the user where, during use, the first end is at the mouth and the second end is within the throat area;   an electrically-powered ultra-violet-frequency light source coupled to the body; and   an ultra-violet-frequency light emitter at the second end of the body and coupled to the light source.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ultra-violet-frequency light emitter is a light emitting diode.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the light emitting diode is powered by the ultra-violet-frequency light source.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the electrically-powered ultra-violet-frequency light source includes a light emitting diode.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one light fiber optically coupling the light emitting diode at the electrically-powered ultra-violet-frequency light source to the light emitter.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the electrically-powered ultra-violet-frequency light source is at the second end of the body.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrically-powered ultra-violet-frequency light source is removably coupled to the first end of the body.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end first end of the body has at least one dimension larger than the second end of the body and is of a size to prevent entry into the throat area of the user.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body comprises:
 a generally arcuate shaped portion shaped to fit comfortably into a user's throat.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises:
 a curved light-collecting face;   a first side wall adjacent the light-collecting face at a first end thereof;   a second side wall opposing the first side wall and adjacent the light-collecting face at a first end thereof, both the first side wall and the second side wall extending away from the light-collecting face, converging toward one another, and meeting at the light emitter at second ends thereof;   an upper wall adjacent the light-collecting face at a first end thereof; and   a lower wall opposing the upper wall and adjacent the light-collecting face at a second end thereof, the lower and upper walls each including a first portion converging toward one another and meeting at the light emitter at second ends thereof, wherein the light-collecting face is framed by the first ends of the first side wall, the second side wall, the upper wall and the lower wall.   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the light emitter further comprises:
 a light dispersing chamber that includes:
 a first side wall; and 
 a second side wall opposing the first side wall, the first and second side walls diverging away from one another in a direction toward the light emitter face. 
   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a protuberance on the second end of the lower wall.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the upper wall and at least a portion of the lower wall is arcuate shaped. 
     
     
         14 . A device for providing therapeutic treatment to a throat, the device comprising:
 a body having a length with a general arcuate shape, a first end, and a second end, the second end and at least a portion of the length being sized to comfortably fit within the mouth and throat area of a user;   an energy source provided within the body; and   a light emitter at the second end of the body and operable to emit light directly into the throat area of the user in the ultra-violet frequency spectrum when energized by the energy source.   
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the light emitter is a light emitting diode.   
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the energy source is a light source; and   the light emitter is an emitting end of at least one light fiber communicating light from the energy source.   
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the light emitter comprises:
 a curved transparent face.   
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first end has at least one dimension greater than a corresponding dimension of the second end and is sized to prevent the second end from entering the throat area of the user.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first end is provided with a flared shape to prevent the first end from entering the throat area of the user.   
     
     
         20 . A device for treating a throat, the device comprising:
 a curved light-collecting face;   a first side wall adjacent the light-collecting face;   a second side wall opposing the first side wall and adjacent the light-collecting face, both the first side wall and the second side wall extending away from the light-collecting face and converging toward one another;   an upper wall adjacent the light-collecting face;   a lower wall opposing the upper wall and adjacent the light-collecting face, the lower and upper walls each including a first portion converging toward one another;   a light emitter coupled to the first side and second side walls, the upper wall, and the lower wall; and   an electrically-powered light source removably mechanically couplable to the light-collecting face.