Light Therapy Diagnostic Device with Movable Waveguide and Mirrors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical devices used in light therapy applications, such as PDT and PIT, suffer from significant light loss due to their small diameter and microfabrication technologies, leading to reduced illumination and light reception, and subsequently, lower resolution in biological observations.
Innovation Solution
A light therapy diagnostic device featuring a catheter shaft with a movable optical waveguide, lateral and distal emission windows, and strategically placed mirrors to redirect light, enhancing light utilization efficiency by minimizing losses associated with vignetting and aperture eclipse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If small diameter optical devices are used for light therapy, then device flexibility and ease of insertion are improved, but light amount and observation resolution deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-direction light path to a multi-dimensional light routing system using mirrors. The first mirror redirects light laterally, while the second mirror on the catheter inner surface reflects light back toward the distal direction, creating a three-dimensional light path that maximizes light utilization within the constrained small diameter space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers light that would otherwise be lost through the lateral emission window. The second mirror positioned on the inner surface of the catheter shaft captures light attempting to escape laterally and redirects it back toward the distal direction, effectively recovering lost photons and improving overall light utilization efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If small diameter optical devices are used for light therapy, then device flexibility is improved, but observation resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a three-dimensional light routing architecture using multiple mirrors to maximize the effective light path length and light gathering capability within the small diameter constraint, thereby improving observation resolution without sacrificing device flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
By recovering light that would otherwise be lost through lateral emission using the second mirror, the system increases the effective light amount available for observation, directly improving measurement precision and resolution despite the small device diameter.
3Volume of moving object
If microfabrication technologies are used, then device miniaturization is achieved, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The second mirror on the catheter inner surface captures and redirects light that would otherwise be lost laterally, recovering energy and improving light utilization efficiency. This addresses the light loss problem inherent in small diameter microfabricated devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-dimensional light routing with mirrors creates an efficient light path that maximizes light utilization within the miniaturized device, reducing energy loss through strategic light redirection and reflection.
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 device effectively reduces light loss and improves light utilization efficiency, enabling higher resolution biological observations and more effective light therapy applications.
Implementation Method 1
a first mirror is provided on a distal end part of the optical waveguide and reflects the first light toward a lateral direction of the catheter shaft
Implementation Method 2
a second mirror is provided on an inner surface of the catheter shaft, located distal to a distal end of the lateral emission window, and reflects the first light reflected by the first mirror toward a distal direction of the catheter shaft
Implementation Method 3
an optical waveguide disposed in the lumen of the catheter shaft and being movable forward and backward in the longitudinal direction; wherein the optical waveguide guides a first light and a second light
Data Source
AI summary
A light therapy diagnostic device comprising a shaft, and an optical waveguide disposed in a lumen of the shaft and being movable forward and backward in a longitudinal direction, wherein: the optical waveguide guides a first light and a second light; the shaft has a lateral emission window which allows the first light and the second light to be emitted toward a lateral direction and a distal emission window which allows the first light to be emitted toward a distal direction; a first mirror is provided on a distal end part of the optical waveguide and reflects the first light toward a lateral direction of the shaft; and a second mirror is provided on an inner surface of the shaft, located distal to a distal end of the lateral emission window, and reflects the first light reflected by the first mirror toward a distal direction of the shaft.