Nocturnal Ocular Light Control for Dark Adaptation Hypoxia

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and other eye diseases is exacerbated by dark adaptation, which leads to hypoxia due to increased activity of rod photoreceptors in the retina, necessitating more invasive treatments.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing controlled nocturnal light therapy with adjustable light sources and sensors to minimize dark adaptation by illuminating cone photoreceptors, employing localized and non-localized processing units, and machine learning for personalized light management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If dark adaptation is allowed during sleep, then natural sleep environment is maintained, but rod photoreceptor activity increases causing hypoxia and diabetic retinopathy progression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedark adaptation induced hypoxiaVSAvoidnocturnal light therapy implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system activates light sources before the user goes to sleep and continues them throughout the night to prevent dark adaptation hypoxia. The lighting control unit is pre-configured to provide continuous low-level illumination during sleep periods, proactively preventing the harmful effect rather than reacting to it after occurrence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses sensors to detect user sleep state and automatically adjusts light source activation accordingly. The localized processing unit receives data from sensors about user conditions and modulates the lighting control unit to provide appropriate illumination levels during different sleep phases, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to real-time physiological states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If continuous light therapy is provided during sleep, then rod photoreceptor activity is inhibited reducing hypoxia, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehypoxia reductionVSAvoidlight source energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides light therapy at reduced intensity levels rather than full brightness during sleep periods. The lighting control unit operates at partial power to inhibit rod photoreceptor activity sufficiently to prevent hypoxia while minimizing energy consumption. This partial action approach achieves the therapeutic effect with lower energy cost than continuous full-intensity lighting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic light cycling during sleep periods rather than continuous constant lighting. The lighting control unit alternates between active and inactive states or adjusts intensity in periodic cycles, maintaining sufficient illumination to prevent hypoxia while reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If invasive treatments like laser therapy or eye injections are used, then retinopathy treatment effectiveness is improved, but treatment complexity and risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretinopathy treatment effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts the naturally occurring dark adaptation process, which causes harmful hypoxia and retinopathy progression, into a beneficial controlled environment. By providing targeted nocturnal light therapy, the system transforms the sleep darkness condition into an opportunity for therapeutic intervention that prevents the harmful effect without requiring invasive treatments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces invasive mechanical treatments (laser therapy, eye injections) with a non-invasive optical field approach. Instead of physically penetrating the eye or using surgical interventions, the system uses controlled light emission to inhibit rod photoreceptor activity and prevent hypoxia, substituting a simpler non-invasive mechanism for complex invasive procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system effectively reduces the progression of diabetic retinopathy and enhances ocular health by maintaining optimal oxygen levels in the retina, potentially reducing the need for invasive treatments and improving user comfort.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one light source emits a light in the spectral range of 360 nm to 830 nm

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS12611138B2System for managing ocular health

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 DR GLORIA TAINSH PROFESSIONAL CORP

AI summary

There is provided a system for managing ocular health. At least one light source is controlled by at least one lighting control unit. A localized processing unit controls the light source through communication with the at least one lighting control unit. The localized processing unit is in communication with at least one sensor and uses data streams from the at least one sensor to control the at least one lighting control unit.