LED Vaginal Light Therapy for Drug-Free Infection Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections, often involve antibiotics or antifungal medications that can lead to resistance, side effects, and incomplete treatments, with a need for alternative therapies that are effective and convenient.
Innovation Solution
A light-based vaginal therapy device emitting germicidal and bactericidal light at specific wavelengths, integrated with a housing and tether, for localized treatment of infections without systemic effects, optionally with a controller and battery for operation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antibiotics or antifungal medications are used to treat vaginal infections, then the infections are effectively treated, but resistance and side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical pharmacological treatment with a physical light-based therapy system. The device uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to deliver specific wavelengths of light (blue, red, near-infrared) directly to the vaginal tissue, substituting chemical antibiotics/antifungals with a non-invasive optical treatment modality that eliminates drug resistance and systemic side effects while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes specific wavelength parameters of light (405-480nm blue, 620-750nm red, 750-950nm near-infrared) to achieve therapeutic effects. By controlling the spectral parameters and delivery duration of light energy, the system targets pathogens and promotes tissue healing without the harmful effects associated with chemical medications
2Object-affected harmful factors
If light-based therapy is used for vaginal treatment, then resistance and side effects are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device integrates multiple LED light sources emitting different wavelengths (blue, red, near-infrared) within a single vaginal applicator unit. This multi-functional design allows one device to address various aspects of vaginal health (pathogen elimination, tissue repair, inflammation reduction) simultaneously, managing complexity through functional integration rather than multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested structure where the light-emitting components, battery, and control circuitry are integrated within a compact vaginal insert body. The tether mechanism provides external control while maintaining internal self-containment, creating a hierarchical nesting arrangement that manages device complexity through spatial organization
3Ease of operation
If a tether is added to the device for easy removal, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tether as an intermediary element that connects the internal light-emitting device to the external environment. This simple cord or string component enables easy insertion and removal operations without requiring complex mechanical interfaces, buttons, or electronic controls on the vaginal insert itself, thereby improving ease of operation with minimal added complexity
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
Provides a non-invasive, effective, and convenient treatment for vaginal infections, reducing the risk of resistance and side effects, while allowing for easy use and potential prevention of recurrence.
Implementation Method 1
one or more light sources configured to emit light outwardly from the body at one or more wavelengths within a range of germicidal and/or bactericidal light
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments herein provide an LED based vaginal light therapy device for a plurality of bacterial and fungal infections. The device comprises an LED body, a cervix support, a single or a plurality of LEDs, a switch, a tether, microchip and a battery. One end of the device comprises a cervix support to place the device smoothly against the cervix. A plurality of LEDs is provided over the LED body. The LED body comprises one or more LEDs and each LED emits a light having a wavelength in a therapeutic zone of light. The light emitted are in a range of blue light and/or red light. The microchip is housed within the LED body. The microchip connects a battery to the single or plurality of LED's and is further connected to the switch.