Fungal Infection Therapy with Low Level Laser

Abstract

A portable, small-footprint laser device contains one or more housings in which a laser energy source and an optical arrangement are disposed. The housing produces a laser beam spot that may be rotated and scanned to apply laser energy to a target area. The laser device receives treatment parameters and uses them to program a treatment regimen in which activation and movement of the housings is automated. The laser device may be used to apply a treatment regimen to a patient's hands or feet that are infected by Onychomycosis. In the treatment regimen, certain wavelengths of laser energy are applied at a predetermined duration. The treatment may be repeated, and a topical anti-fungal medication may be applied to aid in the efficacy of the treatment.

1 . A laser device for applying low-level laser energy to an infected area of a patient's hands or feet, the laser device comprising:
 a. a shell having:
 i. an interior space of less than two cubic feet; and 
 ii. an access port disposed through a portion of the shell such that the patient may insert at least one hand or at least one foot through the access port into the interior space; and 
   b. a scanning assembly attached to the shell and disposed substantially within the interior space, the scanning assembly comprising:
 i. a first housing; and 
 ii. a first laser energy sources disposed within the first housing and configured to emit a laser beam out of the first housing; 
 the scanning assembly being positioned so the laser beam creates a first housing beam spot substantially impinging on the infected area when the patient's hand or foot is in the interior space. 
   
     
     
         2 . The laser device of  claim 1  wherein the access port has dimensions of at least 6 inches wide and at least 8 inches deep. 
     
     
         3 . The laser device of  claim 1  wherein the scanning assembly further comprises one or more optical arrangements disposed within the first housing, the optical arrangements each comprising:
 a. one or more optical elements through which the laser beam is conveyed to manipulate the laser beam such that the first housing beam spot is non-circular. 
 
     
     
         4 . The laser device of  claim 3  wherein each of the optical arrangements further comprises:
 a. a rotatable carriage that holds the optical element; and 
 b. means for rotating the rotatable carriage such that the first housing beam spot also rotates. 
 
     
     
         5 . The laser device of  claim 4  wherein the first housing beam spot is substantially linear. 
     
     
         6 . The laser device of  claim 1  wherein the scanning assembly further comprises:
 a. a second housing; 
 b. a second laser energy source disposed within the second housing and configured to emit a laser beam out of the second housing to create a second housing beam spot that substantially impinges on the infected area when a patient's hand or foot is placed in the laser device. 
 
     
     
         7 . The laser device of  claim 6  wherein the scanning assembly further comprises:
 a. a first optical arrangement disposed within the first housing, the first optical arrangement comprising:
 i. at least one first optical element through which the laser beam generated by the first laser energy source is conveyed to manipulate the laser beam such that the first housing beam spot is non-circular; 
 ii. a first rotatable carriage that holds one or more of the first optical elements; and 
 iii. means for rotating the first rotatable carriage such that the first housing beam spot also rotates; and 
 
 b. a second optical arrangement disposed within the second housing, the second optical arrangement comprising:
 i. at least one second optical element through which the laser beam generated by the second laser energy source is conveyed to manipulate the laser beam such that the second housing beam spot is non-circular; 
 ii. a second rotatable carriage that holds one or more of the second optical elements; and 
 iii. means for rotating the second rotatable carriage such that the second housing beam spot also rotates. 
 
 
     
     
         8 . The laser device of  claim 7  wherein at least one of the first housing beam spot and second housing beam spot is linear. 
     
     
         9 . The laser device of  claim 7  wherein the first rotatable carriage and second rotatable carriage are configured to rotate so that the first housing beam spot and second housing beam spot impinge the same area at different times during treatment. 
     
     
         10 . The laser device of  claim 7  wherein the scanning assembly further comprises a laser angle bridge attached to the first housing and second housing and configured to translate the first housing beam spot and second housing beam spot across the infected area by changing the angles of the first housing and second housing with respect to the patient's foot or hand. 
     
     
         11 . The laser device of  claim 1  wherein the scanning assembly further comprises a laser angle bridge attached to the first housing and configured to translate the first housing beam spot across the infected area by changing the angle of the first housing with respect to the patient's foot or hand. 
     
     
         12 . The laser device of  claim 1  further comprising an interface electrically connected to the scanning assembly, the interface configured to receive treatment parameters from an operator and transmit the treatment parameters to the scanning assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The laser device of  claim 12  wherein the interface is further configured to display treatment options to the operator. 
     
     
         14 . The laser device of  claim 13  wherein the interface comprises a touch screen. 
     
     
         15 . The laser device of  claim 14  wherein the touch screen is mounted on the shell. 
     
     
         16 . The laser device of  claim 1  further comprising a door attached to the shell and configured to close over the access port. 
     
     
         17 . The laser device of  claim 16  wherein the door is configured to open and to provide a surface on which the patient may place part of at least one hand or at least one foot during application of the laser energy. 
     
     
         18 . A laser device for applying low-level laser energy to an infected area of a patient's hands or feet, the laser device comprising:
 a. a substantially plastic shell comprising:
 i. a front shell; 
 ii. a back shell removably attached to the front shell; 
 iii. a shell base removably attached to the front shell and the back shell to define an interior space, the shell base comprising an edge and a recess formed into the edge; and 
 iv. an access port disposed through the front shell such that the patient may insert at least one hand or at least one foot through the access port into the interior space. 
   b. a scanning assembly attached to the shell and disposed in the interior space of the shell, the scanning assembly comprising:
 i. first and second housings, each housing containing:
 1. one or more laser energy sources, each having power output of less than 1 mW and configured to emit laser light having a wavelength of between 400 and 800 nm; and 
 2. one or more optical arrangements, each comprising:
 a. a hollow spindle substantially coaxial with a laser beam generated by one of the laser energy sources, and through which the laser beam is conveyed; 
 b. an optical element through which the laser beam is conveyed to produce a non-circular first beam spot whose centerpoint is along the axis of the hollow spindle; and 
 c. a rotatable carriage through which the laser beam is conveyed, the rotatable carriage holding the optical element; 
 
 
 ii. a voltage regulator electrically attached to each of the laser energy sources, the voltage regulator configured to start, stop, and regulate power supplied to the laser energy sources; 
 iii. a laser angle bridge attached to each of the first and second housings, the laser angle bridge configured to independently change the angle, with respect to the shell base, of the first and second housings; 
 iv. a programmable logic circuit electrically attached to the voltage regulator and the laser angle bridge, the programmable logic circuit configured to control the voltage regulator and the operations of the first and second housings according to specified treatment parameters; and 
 v. a mounting plate disposed between the housings and the programmable logic circuit; 
 the scanning assembly being positioned so that the first beam spots of the first and second housings impinge substantially on the infected area when the patient's hand or foot is in the interior space and the laser energy sources are activated; 
   c. an interface electrically connected to the scanning assembly, the interface comprising:
 i. a touchscreen mounted on the front shell and configured to display treatment options and receive treatment parameters from an operator; and 
 ii. a printed circuit board mounted on the mounting plate on the opposite side from the first and second housings, the printed circuit board comprising electrical components in electrical communication with the touchscreen, the electrical components forming a circuit configured to receive the treatment parameters from the touchscreen and deliver the treatment parameters to the programmable logic controller; and 
   d. a door having hinges, the door being attached by the hinges to the shell base within the recess, such that the door covers the access port when closed and provides a surface on which the patient may place at least one hand or at least one foot when opened.   
     
     
         19 . The laser device of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a. a plurality of feet attached to the bottom of the shell base; and 
 b. one or more knobs attached to the door such that when the door is fully opened, the knobs contact the surface on which the laser device is placed, maintaining the open door substantially parallel to the shell base. 
 
     
     
         20 . The laser device of  claim 19  further comprising a handle attached to the back shell.