Hydrophobic Foil Skin Interface for Light Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-based skin treatment devices face inefficiencies in light coupling due to the rough surface of the stratum corneum, leading to loosely focused light beams and reduced laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) creation, as the refractive index mismatch and microstructure variations hinder optimal light intensity and focal spot positioning in the skin.
Innovation Solution
A skin interface element comprising a transparent exit window, a mixture of polar and apolar substances, and a hydrophobic transparent foil with a capillary effect, which improves optical coupling by smoothing out microstructure variations and ensuring uniform light distribution, enhancing the capillary action and contact angle for efficient LIOB creation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an index-matching material is applied to the skin to prevent lens effect, then the refractive index mismatch is reduced, but the light coupling efficiency through the rough stratum corneum remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling foil made of hydrophobic transparent material is introduced as an intermediary layer between the exit window and the skin. This foil, combined with a transparent mixture of polar and apolar substances, acts as a mediator that improves optical coupling through the rough stratum corneum while maintaining refractive index matching. The hydrophobic nature of the foil specifically addresses the microstructure variations in the stratum corneum that prevent effective light coupling.
2Device complexity
If the exit window directly contacts the skin, then the device structure is simple, but the rough stratum corneum causes loosely focused light beams
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling foil serves as an intermediary layer that bridges the exit window and the skin surface. This thin transparent foil with hydrophobic properties smooths out the optical interface by contacting the rough stratum corneum, thereby enabling precise focusing of light beams without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index of the coupling foil is specifically selected to lie between the refractive index of the exit window and the skin. This parameter optimization ensures optimal light transmission and focusing precision while maintaining a simple interface structure.
3Productivity
If a transparent mixture of polar and apolar substances is used with a hydrophobic foil, then light coupling is significantly improved, but the device requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling foil and the transparent mixture of polar and apolar substances are combined into a single integrated coupling assembly. The foil is impregnated with or coated by the transparent mixture, creating a unified component that provides both the hydrophobic interface and the refractive index matching in one element, rather than requiring separate application steps.
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 significantly improves light coupling and LIOB efficiency by overcoming the refractive index mismatch and microstructure issues, resulting in a more focused light beam and increased photon density in the focal spot, thereby enhancing skin treatment outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
A transparent foil is provided on top of the transparent mixture. The transparent foil is more hydrophobic than the transparent exit window
Implementation Method 2
optical elements for focusing the incident light beam in a focal point inside the skin
Implementation Method 3
The optimal treatment depth depends on, e.g., the thickness of the stratum corneum and the epidermis. To prevent a lens effect by the skin and by the curvature of the wrinkle, an index-matching material may be applied to the skin
Data Source
AI summary
A device for light-based skin treatment is provided. The device comprises a light source for providing an incident light beam for treating a skin, optical elements for focusing the incident light beam in a focal point inside the skin, and a skin interface element for, during use of the device, providing optical coupling of the incident light beam from the device into the skin. The skin interface element comprises a transparent exit window for allowing the incident light beam to leave the device, on top of the exit window, a transparent mixture of a polar substance and an apolar substance, and on top of the transparent mixture, a transparent foil, the transparent foil being more hydrophobic than the exit window.