Flexible Light-Emitting Module for Uniform Skin-Conforming Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing photodynamic therapy equipment is not portable or bendable, making it difficult to conform to the skin for effective treatment and diagnosis, and it requires a distance from the skin to maintain uniform luminous intensity.

Innovation Solution

A light-emitting module with a flexible carrier, multiple light-emitting units, and a protection layer that allows the module to bend and conform to body contours, while maintaining uniform light distribution and a surface temperature safe for skin contact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid lamp structure is used for photodynamic therapy, then the luminous intensity can be maintained uniformly, but the device cannot conform to skin contours and is not portable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to conform to skin contoursVSAvoidstructural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a flexible substrate (polyimide film) as the base structure for mounting LED arrays, replacing traditional rigid lamp housings. This flexible substrate allows the entire light-emitting module to bend and conform to skin contours while maintaining structural integrity and uniform light distribution through proper LED arrangement and optical design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Ease of operation

If the lamp is positioned close to the skin for portability, then the device becomes more portable, but the luminous intensity becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoiduniformity of luminous intensity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs local quality by using individual LED chips with specific emission characteristics arranged in arrays on the flexible substrate. Each LED unit can be optimized for its local position, and the overall arrangement pattern is designed to ensure uniform light distribution across the treatment area even when the device is positioned close to the skin

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple light-emitting units are integrated on a flexible carrier, then the device becomes bendable and portable, but the heat management becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebendabilityVSAvoidsurface temperature of light-emitting units
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible polyimide substrate that inherently provides thermal management capabilities while maintaining bendability. The thin film structure allows heat to dissipate across the flexible carrier surface, and the distributed LED array configuration prevents heat concentration at any single point, enabling safe skin contact temperatures even during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures combining the flexible polyimide substrate with thermally conductive but electrically insulating materials for heat dissipation pathways. This composite approach allows the device to maintain both flexibility for conforming to skin and adequate thermal management to control operating temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 module provides a portable, bendable, and safe photodynamic therapy solution that can conform to body contours, ensuring uniform light distribution and effective treatment with minimal heat transfer to the skin.

Implementation Method 1

The first inner layer and the second inner layer have a refractive index larger than that of the outer layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3299063B1Therapeutic light-emitting module
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 ENNOSTAR CORP
  • EP3299063B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3299063B1 patent drawingFigure 1C~1D
  • EP3299063B1 patent drawingFigure 1E~2

AI summary

A light-emitting module includes a carrier, a plurality of light-emitting units, and a protection layer. The carrier has a lighting portion and an extending portion. The plurality of light-emitting units is disposed on the lighting portion. The protection layer covers the plurality of light-emitting units and the lighting portion, and exposes the extending portion.