Longitudinal Scattering Structures in Optical Waveguide Diffusers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diffuser elements for medical illumination systems, particularly in PDT and EVLT, face challenges in achieving homogeneous lateral emission with high scattering efficiency and thermal resistance, leading to high manufacturing costs and limited reusability.
Innovation Solution
A diffuser element with a longitudinal axis and scattering elements aligned along or angled to it, combined with homogenizing means at the distal end and transition area, ensures lateral emission intensity deviation within ±50% from the average, using materials like glass or fused silica for robustness and compatibility with high power densities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If scattering particles are embedded in a silicone matrix to create diffuser elements, then lateral emission homogeneity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable diffuser elements made from inexpensive materials like silicone or plastic matrices with embedded scattering particles. These single-use diffusers are manufactured cost-effectively and discarded after each medical procedure, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and sterilization processes while maintaining adequate emission homogeneity for the required application duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous or microstructured scattering particles embedded within the diffuser matrix. These porous structures provide enhanced light scattering properties that improve lateral emission homogeneity without requiring complex manufacturing processes, as the porous structure can be formed through simple embedding techniques during manufacturing
2Reliability
If glass or fused silica materials are used for the optical waveguide and diffuser, then thermal resistance and reusability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent primarily employs disposable diffuser elements made from cost-effective materials like silicone and plastic rather than expensive glass or fused silica. This approach prioritizes cost-effectiveness and ease of manufacturing while achieving sufficient thermal resistance for single-use applications, eliminating the need for expensive reusable glass components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the material parameters by selecting silicone or plastic matrices with specific thermal properties that are sufficient for single-use medical applications. By changing from high-cost glass materials to lower-cost polymers with adequate thermal resistance for the intended application duration, the patent achieves cost-effectiveness while maintaining reliability for disposable use
3Loss of energy
If high scattering efficiency is achieved with embedded particles, then heat input into tissue is reduced, but emission homogeneity deteriorates due to particle conglomerates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous scattering particles with controlled pore structures that distribute scattering centers uniformly throughout the diffuser matrix. This porous structure prevents particle conglomeration while maintaining high scattering efficiency, thereby achieving both low heat input and uniform emission homogeneity simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite materials by embedding scattering particles within a silicone or plastic matrix, forming a homogeneous composite structure. This composite approach distributes scattering centers uniformly throughout the material volume, preventing particle conglomeration while maintaining high scattering efficiency for reduced heat input and uniform lateral emission
4Duration of action of stationary object
If diffuser elements are designed for repeated use and sterilization, then reusability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts a disposable approach where diffuser elements are manufactured as single-use components. This eliminates the need for complex sterilization processes and reusability design considerations, significantly simplifying manufacturing while providing adequate performance for the required application duration through proper material selection and design
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 provides cost-effective, reproducible, and reusable diffusers with homogeneous emission, suitable for both low and high power applications, meeting homogeneity and thermal resistance requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the diffuser base body includes at least one scattering element, wherein the at least one scattering element is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the diffuser base body substantially parallel thereto or is arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser base body
Implementation Method 2
means for homogenizing the emission intensity along the longitudinal axis of the diffuser base body are provided at the distal end of the diffuser base body and/or surrounding the transition area between the optical waveguide and the diffuser base body
Implementation Method 3
using materials like glass or fused silica for robustness and compatibility with high power densities
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination system is provided that includes a laser light source and an optical waveguide connected to and/or associated with the laser light source at a proximal end thereof. The illumination system includes a diffuser element at the distal end of the optical waveguide with a longitudinal axis extending perpendicular to the coupling surface of the optical waveguide into the diffuser element. The diffuser element emits light over its active length laterally of the longitudinal axis and has at a base body with a scattering element. The scattering element is aligned along the longitudinal axis substantially parallel or at an angle thereto. An emission intensity homogenizer along the longitudinal axis is provided. The illumination system exhibits an intensity distribution of lateral emission deviating by at most ±50% from an average lateral emission intensity.