Skin tanning and light therapy incorporating light emitting diodes

Abstract

The invention relates to a skin tanning chamber, the improvement comprising at least one light emitting diode emitting a UVA light, such as a UVA LED that emits essentially only UVA. Additionally, multiple LEDs of varying types with various characteristic wavelengths are controlled independently to produce an arbitrary light pattern in an arbitrary sequence over time. The chamber can be rigid or flexible. It can be a bed, booth or incorporated into a flexible form, such as a garment or cloth. In one embodiment, the chamber further comprises at least one LED emitting a UVC light, whereby the UVC light sanitizes the chamber surface. Preferably the LED emitting the UVA light is under independent control from the LED emitting UVC light.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 714,824, filed Nov. 17, 2003, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 473,237, filed on May 24, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The most common method of skin tanning involves the process of exposing skin to ultra-violet light. Health research has shown that both the condition of under-exposure to ultra-violet light and the condition of over-exposure to ultra-violet light causes a variety of health problems. Health research has also shown that specific ranges of wavelengths of ultra-violet light are responsible for producing health benefits. Moderate exposure to specific wavelengths of ultra-violet light produces the greatest benefits with the least amount of health risk. Certain methods and devices are useful at controlling the quantity and quality of ultra-violet light exposure in the effort to produce the great...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] The skin tanning chamber preferably is configured to permit ventilation of the LEDs, such as by a fan which blows a gas, such as air, longitudinally or laterally across the LEDs. In one embodiment, the LEDs are disposed within a transparent or translucent, preferably acrylic, tube characterized by one or more perforations which provide for air flow out of the tube. The tube can be characterized by a closed end and an open end, wherein the air is directed through the open end and out the perforations. The density of perforations on the distal end of the tube, with respect to the open end, can be greater than the density of perforations on the proximal end and / or they can be larger than the perforations on the proximal end. This results in improved performance and longer life for the LEDs.

Problems solved by technology

Health research has shown that both the condition of under-exposure to ultra-violet light and the condition of over-exposure to ultra-violet light causes a variety of health problems.

The quality of ultra-violet light exposure by the sun is not simple to control.

Indoor-tanning does not implement systems that are directly dependent on the sun as the source of ultra-violet radiation.

UVB skin tanning has, what some tanners consider, an additional negative effect, UVB tanning will thicken the second layer of skin and as a result increases the visibility of skin lines and wrinkles.

UVB tanning creates a shedding cycle of 5 to 7 days which is undesirable when a UVA tan has a shedding cycle of 28 days.

However, UVB light can also degrade Vitamin-D.

In exceptional conditions such as albinism, the third layer of skin is not capable of producing melanin.

It is common knowledge that all wavelengths of UV over long exposure periods damage the skin in various ways.

Therefore, it has been recommended by various health organizations studying the phenomena that moderate exposure to UV light has a net health benefit, whereas over-exposure or under-exposure of UV results in a net health deficit.

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