Phototherapy apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is directed to a phototherapy apparatus which can selectively provide different wavelengths of light for phototherapeutic treatment.
The apparatus of the present invention includes a filter unit which is configured to be coupled to a light producing unit.
The light generating unit includes a plurality of light sources and an electrical control board which can regulate and control the power applied to the light sources so as to affect the power output of the light sources.
The filter unit includes a housing which contains a filter slide that is movable within the housing.
The filter slide includes a plurality of filter elements and apertures which separate adjacent filter elements.
The filter slide is movable between first and second positions within the housing.
When positioned in the first position, light produced by the light generating unit passes through the apertures in the filter slide.
When positioned in the second position, light produced by the light generating unit passes through the filter elements in the filter slide.
According to one embodiment of the present invention white light in the range of about 300 to about 780 nm passes through filter unit when the filter slide is in its first position and blue light in the range of about 400 to about 600 nm passes through the filter unit when the filter slide is in its second position.
In order to adjust the power output of light which passes through the filter unit, the power to the light sources in the light generating unit is increased when the filter slide is in its second position.
For example, according to one embodiment, the power to the light sources is controlled to provide a power output of about 50 watts when the filter slide was in its first position, and to provide a power output of about 75 watts when the filter slide was in its second position.
As can be understood, the increase in output power of the light sources compensates for the loss of intensity as the light passes through the filter elements in the filter slide