COB LED Array with Liquid Light Guide for Medical PDT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor light emitting apparatus for medical applications face challenges in delivering high intensity light efficiently due to increased heat generation and beam divergence issues, particularly when using high intensity chip-on-board (COB) LEDs, which require inconvenient placement and inadequate heat dissipation, and traditional fiber optic light guides become rigid and inefficient for high intensity applications.
Innovation Solution
A high intensity light emitting apparatus utilizing a COB packaged LED array with a thermal conductive substrate for improved heat dissipation and a flexible liquid light guide for efficient light energy delivery, allowing for higher drive currents and adjustable output intensity, including pulsed mode operation, while maintaining a flexible design for hard-to-reach areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high intensity COB LED arrays are used to increase light output, then light intensity is improved, but heat generation increases causing temperature increase at treatment site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source (LED array) from the treatment site by introducing an optical fiber light guide that transports light from a remote location to the treatment area. This separation allows the LED array to be positioned where heat can be managed effectively while delivering light to the treatment site without transferring the heat source directly to the patient.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber light guide acts as an intermediary between the high-power LED array and the treatment site. It transmits optical energy while isolating the heat generation from the treatment area, enabling high light intensity delivery without direct heat transfer to the patient.
2Temperature
If glass or plastic fiber optic light guides are used for light energy delivery, then heat transfer to treatment site is reduced, but the light guides become rigid when diameter is increased reducing flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the light guide from traditional glass or plastic fibers to a flexible material composition that maintains optical transmission properties while providing enhanced flexibility. This allows the light guide to be bent and maneuvered to access hard-to-reach treatment areas while still effectively isolating heat from the treatment site.
3Use of energy by moving object
If LED array is placed close to treatment site for direct illumination, then light delivery efficiency is improved, but heat induces significant temperature increase at treatment site
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat source function from the light delivery system by separating the LED array from the treatment site. The optical fiber light guide carries only the optical energy while leaving the thermal energy at the source location, achieving efficient light delivery without problematic heat transfer to the treatment area.
4Illumination intensity
If fiber optic light guide is composed of plurality of optical fibers bundled together, then light energy delivery is achieved, but filling factor and hot spot issues occur with bright and dark regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the non-uniform light output issue by ensuring the flexible light guide provides homogeneous light distribution across the treatment area. The design and construction of the light guide are optimized to eliminate bright and dark regions, creating a uniform illumination pattern that is essential for effective and consistent photodynamic therapy treatment.
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 light intensities greater than 1,000 mW/cm^2 with improved heat management and flexibility, enabling effective photodynamic therapy, photobiostimulation, and photo-sterilization while avoiding temperature increases and filling factor issues, with enhanced penetration depth and uniform light output.
Implementation Method 1
Semiconductor light emitting apparatus, preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs), are considered to be an ideal candidate for photo-dynamic-therapy (PDT), photobiostimulation (photobiomodulation), photo-sterilization, photo-curing
Implementation Method 2
A high intensity light emitting apparatus utilizing a COB packaged LED array with a thermal conductive substrate for improved heat dissipation
Implementation Method 3
a flexible liquid light guide for efficient light energy delivery
Data Source
AI summary
A light emitting apparatus is disclosed for medical applications including photo-dynamic-therapy (PDT), photobiostimulation (photobiomodulation), photo-sterilization, and photo-curing. The light emitting apparatus comprises a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements, preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce a high intensity light beam, and a liquid light guide for delivering the light beam from the light source to the treatment site.