| abstract |
The photo therapy apparatus of the present invention comprises one or more light sources which are integrated with a breast pump for providing photo therapy treatment to the breast and nipple of women during pumping of breast milk. The light sources can be lasers, light emitting diodes (LEDs), lamps, or any other types of light sources which produce therapeutic light in a desired wavelength range. The therapeutic light is delivered through the breast-shield or flange of the breast pump to the breast and nipple and produces a variety of photochemical processes, e.g. increase of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), triggering of photo neurological response and activation of enzymes, changes in local pressure, increases in temperature, and deformation of cellular membranes. Such photochemical reaction helps to reduce pain and promote healing of nipple lesion and in the meantime enhance yield of breast milk. |