Systems and methods for phototherapy

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and uses of systems for treating a skin condition with phototherapy. A system comprises (a) a phototherapy device comprising a phototherapy light source; (b) a patient computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the patient computing device configured to: transmit a first signal to the phototherapy device enabling operation of the phototherapy device according to one or more conditional prescription parameters, activate the phototherapy light source, and transmit a second signal reporting operation of the phototherapy device; and (c) a server configured to communicate with the patient computing device and receive the second signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating a skin condition with phototherapy, the system comprising:
 a) a phototherapy device comprising a phototherapy light source;   b) a patient computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the patient computing device configured to: transmit a first signal to the phototherapy device enabling operation of the phototherapy device according to one or more conditional prescription parameters, activate the phototherapy light source, and transmit a second signal reporting operation of the phototherapy device; and   c) a server configured to communicate with the patient computing device and receive the second signal.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote computing device configured to communicate with the server, wherein the remote computing device comprises a processor and a memory, the remote computing device configured to: present a graphic user interface allowing a health care provider to set the one or more conditional prescription parameters, review information pertaining to operation of the phototherapy device, and adjust the one or more conditional prescription parameters; transmit a first communication to the server; and receive a second communication from the server. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the conditional prescription parameters comprise: number and location of treatment sites, initial dose, method to determine subsequent doses, method to determine adjustments for missed days, maintenance treatment dose, treatment assessment method, treatment assessment frequency, treatment parameters in case the patient computing device is unavailable, enablement of the treatment dependent on completion of office visits or consults, enablement of the device dependent on acknowledgement of physician supplied materials, enablement of the device dependent on fulfillment of other physician requests such as user supplied photos, conditions in which the treatment would be disabled, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server comprises a database of patient records and prescribed treatment protocols comprising conditional prescription parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the patient records comprise: treatment dates and times, treatment durations, applied treatment energies, treatment site photos, analysis of treatments site photos, patient/physician correspondence, assessments of treatment sites, changes to the treatment protocol, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the server is further configured to perform analysis of patient records, prescribed treatment protocols, and outcomes over populations of patients. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to perform computational analysis. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the computational analysis comprises an analysis of degree of erythema of a treated area of skin and surrounding skin tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the computational analysis comprises an analysis of treatment progression comprising size and severity of the skin condition or of a disease. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the server is further configured to determine an initial phototherapy dose based on a user skin type or susceptibility to erythema of a user of the phototherapy device. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phototherapy device comprises a hand-held phototherapy device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phototherapy light source is configured to emit a light comprising a UVB wavelength in the range of 300-320 nm. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the phototherapy light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient computing device comprises a smartphone, the signals comprise wireless signals, the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter, and the receiver comprises a wireless receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient computing device is further configured to present an interface allowing the patient to capture an image of a treated area of skin and the surrounding skin tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient computing device is further configured to present an interface providing guidance to the patient for operation of the phototherapy device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the patient computing device is further configured to present an interface providing a treatment schedule, treatment reminders, directions for how to use the phototherapy device, or any combination thereof 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the skin condition comprises psoriasis, vitiligo, or eczema. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating a skin condition with phototherapy, the method comprising:
 a) transmitting, by a patient computing device, a first signal to a phototherapy device comprising a phototherapy light source, the first signal enabling operation of the phototherapy device according to one or more conditional prescription parameters;   b) activating, by the patient computing device, the phototherapy light source;   c) transmitting, by the patient computing device, a second signal; and   d) receiving, by a server, the second signal, wherein the server is configured to communicate with the patient computing device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 (a) transmitting, by a remote computing device, a first communication to the server; and   (b) receiving, by the remote computing device, a second communication from the server.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising transmitting the first communication from the server to the patient computing device and receiving by the patient computing device the first communication. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first communication enables the patient computing device to transmit the first signal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the server stores patient records. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the patient records comprise: treatment dates and times, treatment durations, applied treatment energies, treatment site photos, analysis of treatments site photos, patient/physician correspondence, assessments of treatment sites, changes to the treatment protocol, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising performing, by the server, image analysis of an image of an area of skin affected by a skin condition and/or surrounding skin tissue. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the image analysis comprises an analysis of degree of erythema of an area of skin affected by the skin condition and/or the surrounding skin tissue. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the image analysis comprises an analysis of treatment progression comprising size and severity of disease. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising determining, by the server, an initial phototherapy dose based on a skin type or susceptibility to erythema of a user of the phototherapy device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising determining, by the server, subsequent phototherapy doses using image analysis of an image of a treated area of skin and surrounding skin tissue, the analysis comprising an analysis of a degree of erythema of the treated area of skin or the surrounding tissue. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the phototherapy device comprises a hand-held phototherapy device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the phototherapy light source is configured to emit a light comprising a UVB wavelength in the range of 300-320 nm. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the phototherapy light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED). 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the patient computing device comprises a smartphone and the signals comprise wireless signals. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising displaying, by the patient computing device, a treatment schedule, treatment reminders, directions for how to use the phototherapy device, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the skin condition comprises psoriasis, eczema, or vitiligo. 
     
     
         36 . A system for treating a skin condition, the condition comprising psoriasis, vitiligo, or eczema, with phototherapy, the system comprising:
 a) a hand-held phototherapy device comprising a light emitting diode (LED) phototherapy light source configured to emit a light comprising a UVB wavelength in the range of 300-320 nm and a signal receiver; and   b) a patient computing device comprising a smartphone, the smartphone comprising a processor and a memory, the smartphone configured to:
 i. present an interface providing a treatment schedule, treatment reminders, and directions for how to use the phototherapy device; 
 ii. transmit a first signal to the hand-held phototherapy device enabling operation of the phototherapy device according to one or more conditional prescription parameters originating at a remote computing device; 
 iii. activate the phototherapy light source; and 
 iv. transmit a second signal to a server; 
   c) a server configured to:
 i. perform analysis of patient records, prescribed treatment protocols, and outcomes over populations of patients; 
 ii. perform computational analysis; 
 iii. determine an initial phototherapy dose based on a skin type or susceptibility to erythema of a user; and 
 iv. determine subsequent phototherapy doses using image analysis of an image of a treated area of skin and surrounding skin tissue, the analysis comprising an analysis of a degree of erythema of the treated area of skin or the surrounding tissue; 
   d) a database communicatively connected to the server, the database storing patient records and prescribed treatment protocols; and   e) a remote computing device configured to communicate with the server, the remote computing device comprising a processor and a memory, the remote computing device configured to:
 i. display a graphic user interface allowing a health care provider to enter the one or more conditional prescription parameters; 
 ii. transmit a first communication to the server; and 
 iii. receive a second communication from the server.