MARKED-UP SUBSTITUTE SPECIFICATION
`
`PHOTORADIATION DEVICE AND PHOTORADIATION
`
`THERAPY/PROPHYLAXIS DEVICE COMPRISING SAME
`
`THIS APPLICATION IS A US. NATIONAL
`
`PHASE
`
`APPLICATION
`
`OF
`
`PCT
`
`INTERNATIONAL
`
`APPLICATION
`
`PCT/JP2012/OO5243.
`
`TE CHNI CAL FIELD
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`The present
`
`invention relates to a photoradiation device
`
`capable of uniformly irradiating an irradiation target body with light
`
`and a photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis
`
`device
`
`including the
`
`photoradiation device.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Conventionally, as a photoradiation device for irradiating an
`
`irradiation target
`
`body, various
`
`devices have been proposed.
`
`Examples thereof include a photoradiation device provided with a light
`
`guide member for planarly irradiating irradiation target bodies which
`
`are disposed uniformly and spread planarly.
`
`Furthermore, as a photoradiation device provided with an
`
`irradiation member, a lighting apparatus for a vending machine has
`
`been proposed according to demands for energy-saving, space-saving,
`
`and miniaturization, or the like (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
`
`
`
`PHOTORADIATION DEVICE AND PHOTORADIATION
`
`THERAPY/PROPHYLAXIS DEVICE COMPRISING SAME
`
`THIS APPLICATION IS A US. NATIONAL
`
`PHASE
`
`APPLICATION
`
`OF
`
`PCT
`
`INTERNATIONAL
`
`APPLICATION
`
`PCT/JP2012/OO5243.
`
`TE CHNI CAL FIELD
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`The present
`
`invention relates to a photoradiation device
`
`capable of uniformly irradiating an irradiation target body with light
`
`and a photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis
`
`device
`
`including the
`
`photoradiation device.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`Conventionally, as a photoradiation device for irradiating an
`
`irradiation target
`
`body, various
`
`devices have been proposed.
`
`Examples thereof include a photoradiation device provided with a light
`
`guide member for planarly irradiating irradiation target bodies which
`
`are disposed uniformly and spread planarly.
`
`Furthermore, as a photoradiation device provided with an
`
`irradiation member, a lighting apparatus for a vending machine has
`
`been proposed according to demands for energy-saving, space-saving,
`
`and miniaturization, or the like (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
`
`
`
`The lighting apparatus for a vending machine disclosed in
`
`Patent Literature 1 includes a flat diffusion panel disposed in adjacent
`
`to a plurality of vertically and horizontally arranged commodity
`
`samples, a flat reflection sheet disposed facing an opposite side (rear
`
`side) to the commodity samples of the diffusion panel, and a light
`
`emitting unit disposed on both one lateral sides of the diffusion panel
`
`and the reflection sheet. The reflection sheet is disposed inclined
`
`toward the diffusion panel in such a manner that the distance to the
`
`diffusion panel is shortened (narrowed) as the reflection sheet is apart
`
`10
`
`from the light emitting unit.
`
`Then,
`
`the lighting apparatus for a vending machine allows
`
`radiation light radiated from the light emitting unit to be reflected by
`
`the reflection sheet and to enter the diffusion panel. At this time, as a
`
`distance from the light emitting unit
`
`is increased, a (clearance)
`
`distance from the reflection sheet to the diffusion panel is shortened.
`
`That is to say, as an optical path length of each radiation light from the
`
`light emitting unit to the reflection sheet is increased, an optical path
`
`length of each radiation light from the reflection sheet to the diffusion
`
`panel is shortened. Therefore, the reflection sheet is disposed such
`
`that a distance from the light emitting unit to the reflection sheet and
`
`a distance from the reflection sheet to the diffusion panel are the same
`
`as each other, and the optical path length of each radiation light
`
`reflected by the reflection sheet and reaching the diffusion panel from
`
`light emitting unit becomes uniform.
`
`That is to say, a conventional lighting apparatus for a vending
`
`machine is designed such that illumination intensity on the diffusion
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`panel becomes uniform by adjusting the optical path length of
`
`radiation light radiated from the light emitting unit to the reflection
`
`sheet in order not to lower the illumination intensity of the radiation
`
`light irradiated from the diffusion panel even if a distance from the
`
`light emitting unit is increased.
`
`However, the above-mentioned lighting apparatus for a vending
`
`machine corresponds to irradiation of an irradiation target body from
`
`only one side. Therefore, for example, when the irradiation target
`
`body is a hand, in order to irradiate both the palm and the back of a
`
`hand with light at the same time, a lighting apparatus for a vending
`
`machine must be disposed facing each of the both sides of the hand.
`
`In the
`
`above-mentioned configuration,
`
`there have been
`
`problems including increase of the number of components and increase
`
`of consumed energy. Therefore, a photoradiation device capable of
`
`uniformly irradiating a plurality of irradiated faces such as both sides
`
`of
`
`the hand by a
`
`single light emitting unit has been strongly
`
`demanded.
`
`Citation List
`
`Patent Literature
`
`PTL 11 Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2009-282725
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`In
`
`order
`
`to
`
`solve
`
`the
`
`above-mentioned
`
`problems,
`
`a
`
`photoradiation device of
`
`the present
`
`invention includes
`
`a
`
`light
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`
`
`emitting unit that radiates radiation light; a reflection unit that
`
`reflects the radiation light; and a light guide unit that guides the
`
`radiation light reflected from the reflection unit to an irradiation
`
`target body. The light guide unit includes a first light guide face and
`
`a second light guide face.
`
`The reflection unit
`
`includes a first
`
`reflection unit that reflects a part of the radiation light to the first
`
`light guide face, a second reflection unit that reflects entering light to
`
`the second light guide face, and a third reflection unit formed of a main
`
`body part provided with a transmission unit which reflects a part of
`
`10
`
`remainder of the radiation light to the second reflection unit as the
`
`entering light. Furthermore, the third reflection unit is disposed with
`
`a transmission unit side inclined toward a light emitting unit such
`
`that the shorter a distance of the transmission unit to the light
`
`emitting unit
`
`the larger an amount of transmission light of the
`
`15
`
`radiation light.
`
`Thus, the radiation light radiated from one light emitting unit
`
`is equally distributed to the first light guide face and the second light
`
`guide face. That is to say, the radiation light can be radiated to a
`
`plurality of light guide faces by one light emitting unit, and thereby an
`
`irradiation target body such as a hand having both front and rear sides
`
`can be irradiated simultaneously.
`
`Furthermore,
`
`it
`
`is possible to
`
`uniformly adjust illumination intensity distribution in the first light
`
`guide face by the transmission unit of the third reflection unit.
`
`Furthermore,
`
`the present
`
`invention is
`
`a photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device for carrying out treatment or prevention by
`
`irradiating a specific site of a living body with radiation light radiated
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`from a photoradiation device,
`
`further
`
`including a wavelength
`
`transmitting unit which is disposed on an optical path of the radiation
`
`light radiated from the light emitting unit through the light guide unit ,
`
`and allows radiation light in a wavelength range of not less than 566.5
`
`nm and not more than 780 nm in the radiation light radiated from the
`
`light emitting unit. A specific site of a living body is irradiated with
`
`the radiation light which is allowed to transmit
`
`through the
`
`wavelength transmitting unit.
`
`Thus, production of inflammatory cytokine can be inhibited so
`
`as to prevent affection of, for example, an inflammatory disease and to
`
`reduce or inhibit symptoms at the time of affection of the disease.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`Fig. 1A is a graph showing a production amount of a vascular
`
`endothelial cell growth factor
`
`(hVEGF)
`
`for each wavelength in
`
`accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Fig. 1B is a graph showing a production ratio of inflammatory
`
`cytokine for each wavelength in accordance with the exemplary
`
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Fig.
`
`2
`
`is
`
`a control circuit diagram of a photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis
`
`device
`
`in
`
`accordance with the
`
`exemplary
`
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`Fig. 8 is an entire perspective view of the photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis
`
`device
`
`in accordance with this
`
`exemplary
`
`embodiment.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`
`
`Fig.
`
`4
`
`is
`
`a
`
`sectional view of an optical
`
`system of
`
`the
`
`photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with this
`
`exemplary embodiment.
`
`Fig. 5A is a front view showing a third reflection unit of the
`
`photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with this
`
`exemplary embodiment.
`
`Fig.
`
`5B is
`
`a partially enlarged sectional view showing
`
`arrangement of
`
`the third reflection unit of
`
`the photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis
`
`device
`
`in accordance with this
`
`exemplary
`
`10
`
`embodiment.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Fig. 6 is a graph showing spectral characteristics of radiation
`
`light of a band-pass filter (a wavelength transmitting unit) used for the
`
`photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with this
`
`exemplary embodiment.
`
`Fig. 7A is a distribution diagram of illumination intensity in an
`
`irradiation target surface of radiation light irradiated from a first light
`
`guide face of the irradiation target surface of the photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with Example of
`
`this
`
`exemplary embodiment.
`
`Fig. 7B is a distribution diagram of illumination intensity in an
`
`irradiation target surface of radiation light irradiated from a second
`
`light guide face of the irradiation target surface of the photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with Example of
`
`this
`
`exemplary embodiment.
`
`
`
`Fig. 8A is a distribution diagram of illumination intensity in an
`
`irradiation target surface of radiation light irradiated from a first light
`
`guide face of the irradiation target surface of the photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with a Comparative Example
`
`of the exemplary embodiment.
`
`Fig. 8B is a distribution diagram of illumination intensity in an
`
`irradiation target surface of radiation light irradiated from a second
`
`light guide face of the irradiation target surface of the photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with a Comparative Example
`
`10
`
`of the exemplary embodiment.
`
`Fig. 9A is a graph showing a relation between a position of an
`
`irradiation target surface of the radiation light irradiated from the
`
`first light guide face and illumination intensity in the illumination
`
`intensity
`
`distribution
`
`diagram
`
`of
`
`the
`
`photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device in Example of Fig. 7A and Comparative
`
`Example of Fig. 8A.
`
`Fig. 9B is a graph showing a relation between a position of an
`
`irradiation target surface of the radiation light irradiated from the
`
`second light guide face and illumination intensity in the illumination
`
`intensity
`
`distribution
`
`diagram
`
`of
`
`the
`
`photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device in Example of Fig. 7B and Comparative
`
`Example of Fig. 8B.
`
`Fig. 10A is a front view showing the third reflection unit of
`
`another example of the photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in
`
`accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`Fig. 10B is a front view showing the third reflection unit of still
`
`another example of the photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in
`
`accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DES CRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
`
`Hereinafter, a photoradiation device in accordance with an
`
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device having the same are described with
`
`reference to drawings. Note here that the present invention is not
`
`10
`
`necessarily limited to this exemplary embodiment.
`
`(EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT)
`
`Hereinafter,
`
`a photoradiation device
`
`in accordance with
`
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention and a photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device having the same are described with
`
`15
`
`reference to drawings.
`
`Firstly, an action for inhibiting production of inflammatory
`
`cytokines of a photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in this
`
`exemplary embodiment is described with reference to Figs. 1 and 1B.
`
`The inflammatory cytokines are one type of cytokines that are a
`
`20
`
`generic name of soluble protein responsible for various intercellular
`
`information in a
`
`living body.
`
`In particular,
`
`the inflammatory
`
`cytokines are involved as a causative factor that causes various
`
`inflammation symptoms in a living body, and produced from activated
`
`macrophages or activated blood vessel endothelial cells.
`
`
`
`Specific examples of the inflammatory cytokines include typical
`
`inflammatory cytokines verified in experiments and the like, that is,
`
`(h)VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), TNFOL (tumor necrosis
`
`factor-0L),
`
`IL-lB
`
`(interleukin-1B),
`
`IFNY
`
`(interferony),
`
`IL-6
`
`(interleukin-6), IL-12a (interleukin-12a), and the like.
`
`The inflammatory cytokines exhibit directional activity as a
`
`whole while many types of cytokines form a complicated network in a
`
`living body. That is to say, the inflammatory cytokine is similarly
`
`produced from blood cells and elicits a disease state in which an
`
`inflammation reaction is excessive when a balance with respect to the
`
`anti-inflammatory
`
`cytokine
`
`having
`
`an
`
`activity
`
`of
`
`inhibiting
`
`inflammation is lost.
`
`Note here that it has been proved from experiments or the like
`
`that
`
`IL-4
`
`(interleukin
`
`lot,
`
`interleukin-4)
`
`as
`
`one
`
`of
`
`the
`
`anti-inflammatory cytokines does not have an effect of inhibiting the
`
`production of inflammatory cytokines.
`
`However,
`
`the applicant of the present application has found
`
`that the above-mentioned inflammatory cytokine inhibits a production
`
`amount of hVEGF at a specific wavelength of
`
`irradiation light
`
`(radiation light) irradiated from, for example, a discharge tube more
`
`strongly as compared with the other wavelength.
`
`Specifically, as shown in Fig. 1An irradiation light irradiated to
`
`a human epidermal cell by illuminating a xenon discharge tube is
`
`divided by a band-pass filter having a half width of 40 nm for each
`
`predetermined center wavelength, and production amounts of hVEGF
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-10-
`
`for each center wavelength are compared with each other. As a result,
`
`it is shown that the production amount of hVEGF becomes minimum in
`
`the range from the center wavelength of 600 nm to the center
`
`wavelength of 700 nm.
`
`Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 1B, similarly, irradiation light
`
`irradiated to a human epidermal cell by illuminating a xenon
`
`discharge tube is separated by the band-pass filter having a half width
`
`of 40 nm for each predetermined center wavelength, and production
`
`ratios of inflammatory cytokines for each center wavelength (a ratio
`
`with respect to a case in which irradiation is not carried out as a
`
`reference) are compared with each other. As a result, it is shown that
`
`the production ratio of the inflammatory cytokines becomes the lowest
`
`(strongly inhibited) in the center wavelength of 650 nm.
`
`Note here that
`
`in Fig.
`
`1B,
`
`the production ratio of
`
`the
`
`inflammatory cytokines for each wavelength of the irradiation light is
`
`shown by relative values by defining the production amount of
`
`inflammatory cytokine when the irradiation light is not irradiated as a
`
`reference (“1”). Furthermore,
`
`in Fig. 1B, for each wavelength (for
`
`example, 450 nm and 550 nm), the results of the production ratios of
`
`each inflammatory cytokine are shown sequentially in the orders of
`
`TNFoc, IL-1B, IFNy, lL-6, and lL-12a, from the left.
`
`That is to say, from the above-mentioned results, production of
`
`inflammatory cytokine is inhibited by irradiating an affected area with
`
`irradiation light in appropriate wavelength, and thereby treatment of
`
`inflammatory disease, which has a new mechanism, can be carried out.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-11-
`
`Hereinafter,
`
`a photoradiation device in a first exemplary
`
`embodiment
`
`of
`
`the
`
`present
`
`invention
`
`and
`
`a
`
`photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device using the photoradiation device
`
`are
`
`described with reference to Figs. 2 to 4.
`
`Fig.
`
`2 is a control circuit diagram of
`
`the photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis
`
`device
`
`in
`
`accordance with the
`
`exemplary
`
`embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is an entire perspective
`
`view of the photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance
`
`with this exemplary embodiment.
`
`Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an
`
`optical system of the photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in
`
`accordance with this exemplary embodiment.
`
`As photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis
`
`device
`
`1
`
`of
`
`this
`
`exemplary embodiment, a photoradiation device is described as an
`
`example, which is used for persons to be treated who undergo
`
`preventive treatment for preventing an affection of an inflammatory
`
`disease or reducing a symptom of the disease at the affection, or
`
`persons
`
`to be treated (patients) who undergo treatment of an
`
`inflammatory disease by inhibiting the inflammatory disease.
`
`Firstly,
`
`as
`
`shown
`
`in
`
`Figs.
`
`2
`
`t0
`
`4,
`
`photoradiation
`
`therapy/prophylaxis device 1 of this exemplary embodiment includes at
`
`least light emitting unit 2 which radiates radiation light, reflection
`
`unit 8,
`
`light guide unit 4, wavelength transmitting unit 5,
`
`light
`
`emission control unit 6, light source supply unit 7, and device main
`
`body 8 (see Fig. 3). Reflection unit 3 reflects radiation light radiated
`
`from light emitting unit 2 to light guide unit 4. Light guide unit 4
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-12-
`
`allows reflected light reflected by reflection unit 3 to transmit and to
`
`be guided to an irradiation target body. Wavelength transmitting unit
`
`5 allows radiation light in a specific wavelength in radiation light
`
`radiated from light emitting unit 2 to transmit.
`
`Light emission
`
`control unit 6 controls light emission of light emitting unit 2, and light
`
`source supply unit 7 supplies light emitting unit 2 and light emission
`
`control unit 6 with electricity.
`
`Note here that light emission control unit 6 controls light
`
`emission of light emitting unit 2 by the following light emission
`
`pattern.
`
`For example,
`
`light emission control unit 6 allows light
`
`emitting unit 2 to flash once or a plurality of times. At this time,
`
`when light emission control unit 6 allows light emitting unit 2 to flash
`
`a plurality of times, furthermore, it may allow light emitting unit 2 to
`
`flash with radiated radiating energy suppressed to not more than a
`
`predetermined radiating energy. Furthermore, light emitting unit 2
`
`controls to emit light at predetermined light emitting intervals.
`
`Furthermore,
`
`light source supply unit
`
`7 shown in Fig. 2
`
`includes storage section 34, charging circuit 85, light source unit 36,
`
`and light source switch 87 for turning on and off of light source unit 36.
`
`Note here that light source supply unit 7 is also used as a light source
`
`of light emission control unit 6.
`
`Storage section 34 includes a main capacitor having electric
`
`capacitance necessary for allowing, for example, light emitting unit 2
`
`to emit light and connected in parallel to light source 9, and stores
`
`light-emitting energy of light emitting unit 2. Charging circuit 35
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-13-
`
`charges storage section 34 with electricity supplied via light source
`
`unit 36. Light source unit 36 includes, for example, a plug which is
`
`connected to a plug receptacle (light source outlet) and receives supply
`
`of electricity and a light source cable, and supplies storage section 34
`
`with electricity. Note here that light source unit 36 may include
`
`battery, a battery charger, or
`
`the like.
`
`Thus, portability of a
`
`photoradiation device is improved.
`
`Furthermore, device main body 8 shown in Fig.
`
`3 has a
`
`structure accommodating light emitting unit 2, reflection unit 3, light
`
`guide unit 4, wavelength transmitting unit 5, light emission control
`
`unit 6, and light source supply unit 7, and is capable of irradiating a
`
`region to be prevented or an affected region (a specific region) of a user
`
`with transmitted light (radiation light) transmitted from wavelength
`
`transmitting unit 5.
`
`Then, device main body 8
`
`is
`
`formed in,
`
`for example,
`
`substantially
`
`rectangular
`
`parallelepiped
`
`shape
`
`(including
`
`a
`
`a
`
`rectangular parallelepiped shape) having at least one opening, and has
`
`a casing incorporating light emitting unit 2, reflection unit 3, light
`
`guide unit 4, wavelength transmitting unit 5, light emission control
`
`unit 6, light source supply unit 7, and the like.
`
`Furthermore, device main body 8 includes at least mount part
`
`39, and grasping part 40 for grasping to carry device main body 8.
`
`Mount part 39 is a base on which a user inserts and puts a hand from
`
`opening part 38 formed on one face (hereinafter, which is referred to as
`
`a “front face”) of device main body 8 in order to irradiate, for example,
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-14-
`
`a back of a hand with radiation light having a specific wavelength
`
`range.
`
`Next, light emitting unit 2 accommodated in device main body 8
`
`is described with reference to Fig. 4.
`
`As shown in Fig. 4, light emitting unit 2 includes at least light
`
`source 9, reflector 10, and Fresnel lens 11. Fresnel lens 11 is installed
`
`on an opening part of reflector 10 and matches a light-entering angle of
`
`radiation light entering wavelength transmitting unit 5.
`
`At this time, light emitting unit 2 is provided at an opposite
`
`side (upper side in the drawing) to an irradiation target body with
`
`respect to tangent line A (in this exemplary embodiment, a line on a
`
`face on which first light guide face 12 of light guide unit 4 that is an
`
`extended face).
`
`Furthermore, light source 9 of light emitting unit 2 is formed of,
`
`for example, a (flash) discharge tube such as a xenon discharge tube
`
`and a halide discharge tube, and irradiates a region to be prevented or
`
`an affected region of a living body with radiation light
`
`in the
`
`wavelength which inhibits production of
`
`inflammatory cytokines.
`
`This exemplary embodiment describes an example in which a xenon
`
`discharge tube is used for light source 9.
`
`Furthermore, reflector 10 of light emitting unit 2 reflects, for
`
`example, radiation light 2a, which travels to an opposite side to an
`
`irradiation target body side of light guide unit 4 with respect
`
`to
`
`tangent line A that is in contact with first light guide face 12 of light
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`
`
`-15-
`
`guide unit 4,
`
`to reflection unit 3 or light guide unit 4. Similarly,
`
`reflector 10 reflects, for example, radiation light 2b, which travels
`
`toward tangent line A, that is, toward irradiation target body side of
`
`light guide unit 4, to reflection unit 3 or light guide unit 4.
`
`Furthermore, Fresnel lens 11 is provided when a filter having
`
`light-entering angle dependence is used in, for example, wavelength
`
`transmitting unit 5. At this time, Fresnel lens 11 is provided in such
`
`a manner that a light-entering angle entering from light source 9 is
`
`within a permissible light-entering angle of wavelength transmitting
`
`unit 5 to be used. Note here that Fresnel lens 11 may be omitted
`
`when,
`
`for example, a colored glass
`
`filter which does not have
`
`light-entering angle dependence is used for wavelength transmitting
`
`unit 5.
`
`Furthermore, reflection unit 3 controls an irradiation range of
`
`radiation light which is radiated into substantially all directions
`
`(including all directions) from light source 9 so as to irradiate a region
`
`to be prevented or an affected region (a specific region) with radiation
`
`light that has transmitted through wavelength transmitting unit 5.
`
`Then, reflection unit 3 of this exemplary embodiment includes
`
`first reflection unit 16 reflecting radiation light radiated from light
`
`emitting unit 2 to first light guide face 12 of light guide unit 4, third
`
`reflection unit 20 reflecting a part of the radiation light radiated from
`
`light emitting unit 2 to second reflection unit 19, and second reflection
`
`unit 19 reflecting radiation light reflected by third reflection unit 20 to
`
`second light guide face 18 that is different from first light guide face 12
`
`10
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`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-16-
`
`of light guide unit 4.
`
`At this time, as shown in Fig. 4, first reflection unit 16 of
`
`reflection unit 3 is disposed facing first light guide face 12 of light
`
`guide unit 4. First reflection unit 16 of reflection unit 3 and first light
`
`guide face 12 of light guide unit 4 are formed such that a space
`
`therebetween is narrower as a distance from light emitting unit 2 is
`
`increased. That is to say, first reflection unit 16 and first light guide
`
`face 12 are disposed such that an optical path length between a
`
`reflection face of first reflection unit 16 and first light guide face 12 of
`
`light guide unit 4 is shortened as a position at which the reflected light
`
`of light guide unit 4 is allowed to transmit is more distant from light
`
`emitting unit 2.
`
`Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, as shown
`
`in Fig. 4, for example, first reflection unit 16 of reflection unit 3 is
`
`provided in a horizontal direction, and first light guide face 12 of light
`
`guide unit 4 is provided inclined such that a distance with respect to
`
`first reflection unit 16 of reflection unit 3 is shortened (narrowed) from
`
`a light emitting unit 2 side toward an opposite side (left side in the
`
`drawing) of light emitting unit 2. Note here that first reflection unit
`
`16 is formed substantially continuously (including continuously) from
`
`reflector 10 of light emitting unit 2, and provided to a position of an
`
`end portion at the opposite side to light emitting unit 2 with respect to
`
`first light guide face 12.
`
`On the other hand, second reflection unit 19 of reflection unit 3
`
`is disposed opposite side facing first reflection unit 16 with first light
`
`guide face 12 and second light guide face 18 constituting light guide
`
`unit 4 sandwiched therebetween. Second reflection unit 19 is formed
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-17-
`
`such that a space between second reflection unit 19 of reflection unit 8
`
`and second light guide face 18 of light guide unit 4 becomes narrower
`
`as a distance from light emitting unit 2 is increased. That is to say,
`
`second reflection unit 19 and second light guide face 18 are arranged
`
`such that an optical path length between a reflection face of second
`
`reflection unit 19 and second light guide face 18 of light guide unit 4 is
`
`shortened as a position at which the reflected light of light guide unit 4
`
`is allowed to transmit is more distant from light emitting unit 2.
`
`Specifically,
`
`in this exemplary embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, for
`
`example, second light guide face 18 of light guide unit 4 is provided in
`
`a horizontal direction, and second reflection unit 19 of reflection unit 8
`
`is provided inclined such that a distance with respect to second light
`
`guide face 18 of light guide unit 4 is shortened (narrowed) from a light
`
`emitting unit 2 side toward an opposite side (left side in the drawing)
`
`of light emitting unit 2. Note here that the inclination of second
`
`reflection unit 19 of reflection unit 3 is formed in the middle of second
`
`light guide face 18 of light guide unit 4, but it is needless to say that
`
`the inclination is not necessarily limited to this. The reason for the
`
`above mention is because the photoradiation device of this exemplary
`
`embodiment is configured with irradiation of front and rear surfaces of
`
`the hand with radiation light is considered. That is to say, since a
`
`palm side has less production of inflammatory cytokine, irradiation to
`
`the palm is not carried out.
`
`Furthermore, third reflection unit 20 of reflection unit 3 is a
`
`reflection plate that reflects radiation light radiated from light source
`
`9 of light emitting unit 2, and is disposed such that, for example, it
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-18-
`
`bridges between light guide unit 4 and wavelength transmitting unit 5.
`
`Third reflection unit 20 is disposed inclined toward Fresnel lens 11
`
`constituting light emitting unit 2 and wavelength transmitting unit 5
`
`provided to reflection unit 3. That is to say, third reflection unit 20 is
`
`disposed such that a tip side at wavelength transmitting unit 5 side of
`
`third reflection unit 20 is inclined toward light emitting unit 2 with a
`
`predetermined angle,
`
`for example, 45° with respect
`
`to wavelength
`
`transmitting unit 5 around the axis perpendicular to the direction from
`
`light emitting unit 2 to first reflection unit 16.
`
`Hereinafter, a configuration and an effect of third reflection
`
`unit 20 are described in detail with reference to Figs. 5A and 5B.
`
`Fig. 5A is a front view showing a third reflection unit of the
`
`photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with the
`
`exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5B is a partially
`
`enlarged sectional view for
`
`illustrating arrangement of the third
`
`reflection unit of the photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in
`
`accordance with this exemplary embodiment.
`
`As shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, third reflection unit 20 includes
`
`main body part 26 that reflects radiation light radiated from light
`
`emitting unit 2 to second reflection unit 19, and transmission unit 27
`
`that allows a part of the radiation light radiated from light emitting
`
`unit 2 to transmit and forms an optical path to first reflection unit 16
`
`by allowing.
`
`Main body part 26 of third reflection unit 20 is formed in a flat
`
`shape, and base end part 29 of main body part 26 is fixed to first light
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-19-
`
`guide face 12 of light guide unit 4. On the other hand, tip end part 30
`
`of main body part 26 of third reflection unit 20 is extended to
`
`wavelength transmitting unit 5, and disposed inclined so as to cover a
`
`part of wavelength transmitting unit 5 (a half region of wavelength
`
`transmitting unit 5 in this exemplary embodiment). That is to say, a
`
`transmission unit side of the third reflection unit is disposed inclined
`
`toward a light emitting unit side. Thus, main body part 26 divides
`
`radiation light radiated from light emitting unit 2 into first reflection
`
`unit 16 and second reflection unit 19.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`Furthermore, transmission unit 27 of third reflection unit 20 is
`
`provided in a region of position C from tip end part 80 of main body
`
`part 26 covering an optical path of the radiation light travelling toward
`
`a light emitting unit 2 side of first light guide face 12. At this time, a
`
`plurality of transmission units 27 are formed at, for example, a certain
`
`interval
`
`in wide direction D of main body part 26 (direction
`
`perpendicular to paper of Fig. 5B).
`
`Furthermore, transmission unit 27 of third reflection unit 20 is
`
`formed in a plurality of portions of tip end part 80 of main body part 26
`
`from tip end part 30 to base end part 29 in such a manner that it is
`
`notched in a shape of,
`
`for example, a triangular shape in this
`
`exemplary embodiment. At this time, transmission unit 27 of third
`
`reflection unit 20 is provided such that an opening area is extended as
`
`it is far away from first light guide face 12, that is, it is closer to light
`
`emitting unit 2.
`
`Thus, an amount of transmission light of the
`
`radiation light radiated from light emitting unit 2 to first reflection
`
`unit 16 is increased as transmission unit 27 is farer away from first
`
`
`
`-20-
`
`light guide face 12, that is, it is closer to light emitting unit 2.
`
`Furthermore, light guide unit 4 includes first light guide face 12
`
`and second light guide face 18, which are disposed facing each other, as
`
`shown in Fig. 4. Note here that in this exemplary embodiment, first
`
`light guide face 12 is disposed facing the back of a hand (outside face
`
`from the wrist to the finger tip of the hand) of a user. On the other
`
`hand, second light guide face 18 is disposed facing the palm (inside
`
`face from the wrist to the finger tip of a hand) of a user.
`
`Furthermore, wavelength transmitting unit 5 is disposed on
`
`optical path of radiation light radiated from light emitting unit 2 to
`
`first reflection unit 16 of reflection unit 3 and it is disposed at a light
`
`emitting unit 2 side from third reflection unit 20 of reflection unit 3 in
`
`this exemplary embodiment. Note here that wavelength transmitting
`
`unit 5 is formed of an optical filter through which radiation light of
`
`only one or more specific wavelength ranges—or only one or more
`
`specific wavelength ranges in radiation light from light emitting unit 2
`
`transmits.
`
`Hereinafter, as an optical filter of wavelength transmitting unit
`
`5 of
`
`this exemplary embodiment,
`
`effects and advantageous of
`
`wavelength transmitting unit 5 are described with reference to Fig. 6
`
`taking a band-pass filter (interference filter) that selectively allows
`
`only radiation light in a specific wavelength range (wavelength band)
`
`to transmit is described as an example.
`
`Specifically, wavelength transmitting unit 5 is a band-pass
`
`filter which allows radiation light in the wavelength range from of not
`
`10
`
`15
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`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`-21-
`
`less than 566.5 nm and not more than 780 nm to transmit.
`
`Fig. 6 is a graph showing spectral characteristics of radiation
`
`light of a band-pass filter (wavelength transmitting unit) used in the
`
`photoradiation therapy/prophylaxis device in accordance with the
`
`exemplary embodiment of
`
`the present
`
`invention.
`
`Hereinafter,
`
`band-pass filters having spectral characteristics shown by solid lines C
`
`to E are referred to as band-pass filters C to E, respectively. Note
`
`here that solid line A of Fig. 6 shows spectral characteristic of the
`
`radiation light that does not transmit through the optical filter.
`
`As shown in Fig. 6, firstly, a lower limit value of a wavelength
`
`range of the spectral characterist
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