Laser-Ozone Device for Onychomycosis Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for fungal infections, particularly onychomycosis, face challenges such as high recurrence rates, significant costs, and risks, with laser treatments alone being inefficient due to difficulty in penetrating deeper nail layers without causing collateral damage and requiring subsequent medication.
Innovation Solution
A device combining laser technology at different wavelengths with ozone in a gaseous state, using a sealed treatment chamber with ozone generation and emission control, and laser emitters arranged to ensure uniform energy density, allowing for non-invasive and painless fungal pathogen elimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If laser radiation is used to treat fungal infections, then the treatment can be non-invasive, but the laser energy cannot penetrate deeper nail layers without causing collateral damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ozone therapy with laser irradiation in a visible to near infrared range. The ozone is introduced into the treatment area and activated by the laser, creating a synergistic effect that enhances fungal cell membrane permeability and allows deeper penetration without increasing laser energy to harmful levels.
Solution Approach 2:
Ozone acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates deeper treatment penetration. The ozone molecules can penetrate the nail layers and when activated by laser radiation, they generate reactive oxygen species that effectively kill fungal cells at deeper levels without requiring high-energy laser that would cause collateral damage.
2Productivity
If laser treatment alone is applied, then the procedure is simple, but the efficiency is low and subsequent medication is required
Solution Approach 1:
The device integrates both ozone generation and laser irradiation capabilities into a single unified system. The ozone generator and laser emitter are combined in one apparatus, allowing simultaneous or sequential application of both treatments without requiring separate devices or multiple visits.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment device performs multiple functions: it generates ozone, delivers laser irradiation, and can apply both treatments in combination. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate medication applications that would otherwise be required after laser treatment alone.
3Reliability
If higher laser energy is used to penetrate deeper nail layers, then treatment depth increases, but collateral damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes laser wavelengths in the visible to near infrared range, which have different penetration characteristics compared to higher energy wavelengths. This parameter selection allows adequate penetration depth while avoiding the collateral damage associated with higher energy levels. The ozone enhancement further improves efficacy at these lower energy levels.
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 combination of ozone and laser light enhances oxidative stress, reducing ozone exposure time and concentration, thereby maximizing fungicidal effect and optimizing treatment outcomes for fungal infections, including onychomycosis, with reduced side effects and faster clinical cure times.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of laser emitters arranged in an electronic board, the light from which is radiated on a treatment chamber
Implementation Method 2
pumped with a pre-established concentration of ozone by means of an ozone generating system
Data Source
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AI summary
Device combining laser technology with ozone and its use in a method to treat fungal infections. The invention relates to a device(1) to apply laser technology at different wavelengths in combination with ozone in a gaseous state. To do so it uses a plurality of laser emitters (14) arranged in an electronic board (13), the light from which is radiated on a treatment chamber (2) where a sealed bag (4) containing the affected limb is introduced, and which is pumped with a pre-established concentration of ozone by means of an ozone generating system. The device (1) is used as an effective method to treat fungal infections.