Laser Spot Path Planning for Uniform Cutaneous Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laser treatment systems face challenges in delivering uniform therapy to targeted areas while minimizing collateral damage and pain to surrounding healthy skin, due to geometric constraints imposed by fixed-sized laser spots.

Innovation Solution

A laser treatment system that employs a processing unit connected to sensors and a steering mechanism to generate an optimal treatment path of sequentially arranged laser spots, allowing precise delivery of laser therapy to a targeted therapy region with adjustable patterns and energy density, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If hand-guided lasers are used to treat targeted areas, then the laser can be delivered to the surgical site, but uniform therapy cannot be achieved and collateral damage occurs to surrounding healthy skin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of laser therapyVSAvoidcollateral damage to healthy skin

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment area is divided into multiple discrete laser spots arranged in sequential patterns. The processing unit generates a treatment path that positions individual laser spots at specific locations rather than using a continuous hand-guided approach, enabling precise control over where energy is delivered and preventing overlap into healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The processing unit pre-calculates and generates the optimal treatment path before treatment begins. The system determines the exact sequence and positioning of laser spots in advance, allowing the laser to be delivered precisely to targeted areas without requiring real-time manual adjustment, thereby ensuring uniform therapy and avoiding collateral damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If fixed-size laser spots are used for treatment, then the laser device is simple to operate, but it is difficult to deliver uniform therapy to only the targeted area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of therapy delivery to targeted areaVSAvoidcomplexity of treatment path control

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual hand-guided mechanical operation is replaced with an automated computer-controlled system. The processing unit generates the treatment path and controls laser positioning automatically, substituting complex manual mechanical control with algorithmic computation and automated actuation, thereby achieving high precision without requiring complex manual dexterity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts laser spot parameters including position, spacing, and activation sequence based on the generated treatment path. By changing these parameters systematically rather than using fixed manual positioning, the system achieves precise therapy delivery to targeted areas while managing the complexity through automated parameter control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If laser treatment is delivered to encompass the entire cancerous surgical site, then complete coverage is achieved, but the treatment far exceeds the boundaries of the targeted pigmented lesion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of treatment boundariesVSAvoidamount of healthy tissue treated

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies laser treatment with different characteristics to different locations: targeted laser spots are activated only within the cancerous surgical site boundaries, while surrounding healthy tissue receives no treatment. This local differentiation ensures accurate treatment boundaries and minimizes the quantity of healthy tissue affected by varying the activation status of laser spots based on their location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables uniform and precise laser therapy to targeted areas, reducing collateral damage and pain to surrounding healthy skin, while allowing for adjustable treatment margins to ensure effective treatment of tumors and lesions.

Implementation Method 1

a treatment laser connected to the steering mechanism, and configured to provide the laser therapy to the targeted therapy region based on the treatment path

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

provide laser therapy to a targeted therapy region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS20230201627A1Laser system and methods for cutaneous treatments and surgery

Publication Date: 2023.06.29 DUKE UNIV

AI summary

A laser treatment system includes a sensor configured to detect a targeted therapy region. A processing unit is configured to generate a treatment path that consists of sequentially arranged laser spots to enable the treatment path to fully encompass a targeted therapy region to receive laser therapy. A steering device is alerted to move to a plurality of positions based on the treatment plan generated by the processing unit. A treatment laser provides laser therapy to the plurality of positions and targeted therapy region based on the treatment plan generated by the processing unit.