Light Applicator With Flexible Conductor for Moving Organ PDT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light applicators for photodynamic therapy (PDT) face challenges in effectively irradiating moving organs due to organ movement, which can cause the light source to lose precision and damage healthy tissue, and are often complex and expensive, making them unsuitable for disposable use.
Innovation Solution
A light applicator with a flexible conductor element and a rigid insertion sleeve, featuring a radial projection at the distal end for precise positioning and anchoring, uses a miniaturized LED instead of a laser light guide, allowing for cost-effective, disposable, and minimally invasive treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser light guide is inserted into pathological tissue for PDT, then effective light irradiation can be achieved, but the device becomes complex and expensive, making it unsuitable for single-use disposable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive, complex laser light guide system with a simple, disposable light applicator that can be discarded after single use. This eliminates the need for costly laser equipment while maintaining treatment effectiveness through the use of a straightforward LED-based illumination system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the complex mechanical laser delivery system with a simpler electrical-optimical system using an LED. This replacement reduces mechanical complexity while achieving the same therapeutic light delivery function through electrical-to-optical energy conversion.
2Measurement precision
If the insertion sleeve remains in the skin during organ movement, then the light source can be precisely positioned, but healthy tissue damaged by puncture is worsened due to organ movement
Solution Approach 1:
The light applicator is divided into distinct functional segments: a puncture needle for initial tissue penetration, an insertion sleeve for guiding and positioning, and the light-emitting applicator tip. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while minimizing overall tissue trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
The puncture needle creates a pre-defined path through the skin before the insertion sleeve and applicator tip are advanced. This preliminary action ensures accurate positioning of the light source at the target site while confining tissue disruption to the minimal necessary puncture tract.
3Reliability
If the distal end of the laser fiber optic cable remains in the desired tissue location during PDD or PDT, then effective treatment is achieved, but organ movement prevents the light source from remaining in the desired tissue location
Solution Approach 1:
The light applicator incorporates a flexible conductor element that allows the applicator tip to move dynamically with organ movement while maintaining electrical connection and light delivery. This flexibility enables the system to adapt to physiological movements without compromising treatment effectiveness.
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 ensures precise and effective light irradiation during PDT in moving organs with reduced tissue damage and lower costs, enabling the applicator to remain anchored during organ movements and be used as a sterile disposable item.
Implementation Method 1
The light applicator has a distal insertion section with an LED at its distal end for penetrating tissue of the organic body
Implementation Method 2
The aim is to induce the formation of oxygen radicals through the locally concentrated photosensitizer or marker substance, thereby destroying the pathological tissue
Implementation Method 3
A radial projection with an axial stop for a distal end of the insertion sleeve is arranged at the distal end of the conductor element
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2a~2c
Figure 2d
AI summary
The present invention relates to a light applicator (1) for examining and/or treating an organic body, wherein the light applicator has a distal-side insertion portion (9) having an LED (13) on the distal end for piercing tissue (5) of the organic body, the insertion portion (9) having a flexible conductor element (11) for supplying power to the LED (13) and a rigid insertion sleeve (15) which surrounds the conductor element (11) at least in part, the conductor element (11) being axially movable relative to the rigid insertion sleeve (15), and a radial protrusion (17) having an axial stop (19) for a distal end of the insertion sleeve (15) being arranged on the distal-side end of the conductor element (11).