Flash Lamp Volume Emitter Plasma Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flash lamps with small bore sizes and high current densities are inefficient for treating organic tissue due to limited electromagnetic radiation output, requiring additional filters to remove harmful wavelengths, which further reduces efficacy.

Innovation Solution

A flash lamp design with a larger bore size and lower current density to create a volume of optically transparent plasma, allowing for efficient electromagnetic radiation emission and transmission, thereby increasing electro-optical efficiency and reducing heat production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional flash lamps use small bore size and high current density to maximize surface emission, then electro-optical efficiency is improved for laser pumping, but electromagnetic radiation output is limited and harmful wavelengths require additional filters reducing treatment efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectro-optical efficiencyVSAvoidelectromagnetic radiation output

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional flash lamp design by using a large bore size instead of small, and low current density instead of high. This reversal creates volume emission from optically transparent plasma rather than surface emission from opaque plasma, fundamentally changing the emission mechanism to achieve both high electro-optical efficiency and high electromagnetic radiation output suitable for medical and cosmetic treatments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key operating parameters: bore size is increased to large dimensions, and current density is reduced to low levels. These parameter changes transform the plasma characteristics from opaque surface-emitting to transparent volume-emitting, enabling efficient electromagnetic radiation generation across a broader spectrum without requiring harmful wavelength filters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If flash lamp bore size is minimized to maximize surface area to volume ratio, then electromagnetic radiation transmission through plasma is improved, but the arc-length to bore ratio becomes large and current density must be high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectromagnetic radiation transmissionVSAvoidarc-length to bore ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of minimizing bore size to improve transmission, the patent uses a large bore size combined with low current density to create optically transparent plasma. This inversion eliminates the need for small bore dimensions while achieving excellent electromagnetic radiation transmission through the volume of plasma, simplifying the arc-length to bore ratio

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Illumination intensity

If high current density is used to drive flash lamp for blue-shifted emission, then peak wavelengths suitable for laser pumping are achieved, but heat production increases and treatment speed is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeak wavelength emissionVSAvoidheat production

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the current density parameter from high to low, which fundamentally alters the emission mechanism from surface emission requiring blue-shifted high-energy radiation to volume emission producing broad-spectrum electromagnetic radiation. This parameter change reduces heat production while maintaining sufficient emission intensity for medical and cosmetic treatments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the previously harmful effect of low current density (insufficient emission intensity) into a benefit by combining it with large bore size to create volume emission. The low current density that previously produced inadequate output now generates efficient broad-spectrum electromagnetic radiation with reduced heat when combined with the large bore volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 design achieves twice the electro-optical efficiency of conventional flash lamps, reducing electrical and cooling demands, increasing treatment speed, and extending the flash lamp's operating lifetime, while providing effective treatment with reduced discomfort and cost.

Implementation Method 1

providing current to a flash lamp at a current density adapted for forming a volume of optically transparent plasma within a bore of the flash lamp, where the volume of optically transparent plasma is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation and allowing transmission of the electromagnetic radiation through the volume of optically transparent plasma

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma emission: Plasma

Data Source

PatentUS8858229B2Volume emitter

Publication Date: 2014.10.14 GUSTAVSSON MORGAN

AI summary

An apparatus for treating organic tissue includes: (i) a flash lamp defining a bore; (ii) a current source adapted for providing current to the flash lamp and operating at a current density adapted for forming a volume of optically transparent plasma within the bore, where the volume of optically transparent plasma is capable of emitting electromagnetic radiation and allowing the transmission of the electromagnetic radiation through the volume of optically transparent plasma; and (iii) a delivery system adapted for employing at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation to treat the organic tissue.