Fluorescent Handpiece Waveguide Circulation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for treating biological tissue using fluorescent light suffer from quenching, bleaching, and heating issues with the fluorescent substance, leading to reduced efficacy and a large, cumbersome system for dye circulation.
Innovation Solution
A fluorescent handpiece with a nonlinear waveguide and a system for circulating a fluorescent substance, which mitigates quenching, bleaching, and heating, allowing for more efficient and compact treatment of biological tissue using modulated electromagnetic radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a fluorescent substance is circulated through a separate base unit to mitigate quenching, bleaching, and heating, then the useful lifetime of the fluorescent substance is extended, but the system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fluorescent substance circulation system directly into the handpiece, merging the base unit functions with the treatment device. This allows the fluorescent substance to be circulated through the waveguide while maintaining a compact, portable system without requiring a separate base unit for storage and circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a circulation system that acts as an intermediary between the fluorescent substance and the waveguide, enabling continuous flow through the treatment area. This mediator system ensures proper circulation and cooling of the fluorescent substance while extending its useful lifetime through controlled temperature management.
2Temperature
If the fluorescent substance is circulated through a separate base unit to cool the dye, then heating is mitigated, but the volume of circulating dye and system size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing cooling specifically at the waveguide treatment area where heating occurs most intensely. The circulation system targets the fluorescent substance in the waveguide for cooling, rather than circulating large volumes through the entire system, thus efficiently managing temperature with minimal dye volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the circulation system into distinct functional zones: a reservoir for storing fluorescent substance, a circulation pathway through the waveguide for localized cooling, and a return path to the reservoir. This segmentation allows efficient cooling with minimal dye volume by focusing circulation where it is most needed.
3Reliability
If a large volume of fluorescent substance is circulated to extend lifetime, then quenching and bleaching are mitigated, but the system becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic circulation system that actively pumps fluorescent substance through the waveguide at controlled flow rates. This dynamic circulation ensures continuous fresh fluorescent substance contact with the treatment area, mitigating quenching and bleaching effects while maintaining a compact system that does not require large static volumes of dye.
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 extends the usable lifetime of the fluorescent substance, reduces system size, and enhances treatment efficiency by delivering modulated electromagnetic radiation effectively to biological tissue, addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
a fluorescent substance or dye for transforming a first predetermined wavelength band of light to a second predetermined pulsed wavelength band of light
Implementation Method 2
a nonlinear waveguide... receives electromagnetic radiation from the source, and delivers modulated electromagnetic radiation to the biological tissue
Implementation Method 3
a fluorescent substance for absorbing a first predetermined wavelength band of light and transforming it to a second predetermined pulsed wavelength band of light
Data Source
AI summary
A handpiece can treat biological tissue using electromagnetic radiation, which can be substantially fluorescent light. The handpiece includes a source of electromagnetic radiation and a waveguide. The waveguide is adjacent the source, receives electromagnetic radiation from the source, and delivers the electromagnetic radiation to the biological tissue. The handpiece also includes a system for circulating a fluorescent substance through the waveguide. The fluorescent substance is capable of modulating at least one property of the electromagnetic radiation.