Adjustable PDT Illuminator With Lighted Hinges for Uniform Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adjustable illuminators for photodynamic therapy (PDT) suffer from optical dead spaces due to non-adjacent light sources at panel edges, leading to non-uniform light distribution and reduced treatment effectiveness, particularly in treatments requiring precise light intensity and wavelength uniformity, and are limited in adjustability to treat various body contours.
Innovation Solution
The illuminator employs panels of varying widths with nested hinges and individually configurable LED arrays to minimize optical dead spaces, ensuring uniform light distribution across contoured surfaces by adjusting power output and intensity at each diode, allowing for infinite configurations to treat diverse body areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If panels are joined by hinges to enable rotation and adjustment, then adaptability to treat various body contours is improved, but optical dead spaces are created at panel edges where light sources do not adjoin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the central panel narrower than the side panels, creating an asymmetric configuration where the central panel specifically fills the optical dead space gap between side panels. This localized dimensional variation ensures continuous light emission across the entire panel assembly while maintaining rotational adjustability through hinges.
2Device complexity
If all panels are equally sized and driven at the same power level, then device complexity is reduced, but light distribution uniformity deteriorates due to optical dead spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements asymmetry by configuring the central panel with a different width compared to the side panels. This asymmetric design intentionally creates a narrower central panel that fits precisely between the side panels, eliminating gaps and ensuring continuous light coverage while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
3Area of stationary object
If light sources are placed at panel edges to maximize coverage, then area of treatment is increased, but optical dead spaces are created at hinge locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the illuminator into multiple rotatable panels with light sources distributed across each panel. The hinges allow independent rotation of each panel segment, enabling the system to conform to various body contours while the specific dimensional configuration ensures continuous light coverage without dead spaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves highly uniform light distribution across a wide range of body surfaces, enhancing treatment efficacy by reducing optical dead spaces and accommodating various body contours, ensuring consistent light intensity and wavelength delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The illuminator employs panels of varying widths with nested hinges and individually configurable LED arrays
Implementation Method 2
The area in which the photoactivatable agent is administered is then exposed to visible light, which causes chemical and/or biological changes in the agent
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable illuminator for photodynamically diagnosing or treating a surface includes a plurality of first panels and at least one second panel. The plurality of first panels have wider widths and the at least one second panel has a narrower width. The narrower width is less than the wider widths. The illuminator further includes a plurality of light sources, each mounted to one of the plurality of first panels or the at least one second panel and configured to irradiate the surface with substantially uniform intensity visible light. The plurality of first panels and the at least one second panel are rotatably connected. The at least one second panel is connected on each side to one of the plurality of first panels. The second panel acts as a “lighted hinge” to reduce or eliminate optical dead spaces between adjacent panels when the illuminator is bent into a certain configuration.