Optical Fiber Wound Patch for Sterile Light Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound disinfection devices face challenges such as lack of sterility, cost-effectiveness, and safety concerns due to the integration of light sources directly into bandages, which are prone to degradation and heat conduction issues, especially in high humidity conditions, and pose risks from electrical connectivity and electromagnetic fields.
Innovation Solution
A visible light photo-disinfection patch system that uses a radiation conduit optically coupled to a remote radiation source, featuring a flexible panel with disrupted surfaces to emit light, made of sterilizable materials, and a light conduit that conveys flora-lethal wavelengths without heat conduction, allowing for patient safety and ease of sterilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If light sources are integrated directly into the bandage material, then the device can be applied directly to the wound site, but the device becomes prohibitively expensive and unsuitable for disposable use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical fibers as an intermediary to transmit light from a remote source to the wound site. The optical fibers are incorporated into the bandage material, allowing light delivery without integrating expensive light sources directly into the bandage. This mediator approach enables disposable bandage use while maintaining cost effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source is extracted from the bandage material and placed remotely. Only the optical fibers remain in the bandage, which are inexpensive and suitable for disposable use. This separation allows the bandage to be simple, cheap, and disposable while still delivering light therapy effectively.
2Productivity
If light/radiation emitters are located in proximity to the wound, then direct treatment is achieved, but heat generated by the emitters cannot be conducted away from the patient
Solution Approach 1:
Optical fibers serve as the intermediary between the remote light source and the wound site. These fibers transmit light efficiently while having minimal thermal mass and heat conduction to the patient. The intermediary nature of the optical fibers allows direct treatment at the wound without transferring harmful heat from the light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces thermal conduction mechanisms with optical transmission. Instead of relying on thermal conduction to deliver energy (which would harm the patient), the system uses optical fiber transmission to deliver light energy directly to the wound while minimizing thermal transfer through the intermediary optical fibers.
3Use of energy by moving object
If wiring is used for electrical connectivity between light sources and power source, then electrical power is delivered to emitters, but the patient is exposed to electrically energized components and electromagnetic fields
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical components (power source and wiring) are extracted from the bandage assembly and placed remotely. The bandage itself contains only optical fibers and no electrical components, eliminating exposure risks for the patient while still enabling power delivery to the light source through remote wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical fibers act as an intermediary that transmits energy from an electrically powered source to the wound site without requiring electrical connectivity within the bandage. This mediator approach allows power delivery while maintaining electrical isolation from the patient, as the optical fibers themselves carry no electrical current.
4Illumination intensity
If OLEDs are used as light sources, then light emission is achieved, but the organic material degrades when exposed to sterilizing agents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embraces the disposable nature of the bandage, using inexpensive optical fibers that can be sterilized along with the bandage packaging. The OLEDs remain in the remote power pack, which can be sterilized separately or replaced. This approach accepts that the bandage portion is single-use but maintains light source functionality through the durable, remotely located emitters.
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 nosocomial infections by providing patient-safe, flora-lethal visible light to wounds without inducing thermal harm, while being cost-effective and disposable, addressing the limitations of prior art devices.
Implementation Method 1
When light traveling in an optically conducting medium reaches a boundary having an angle larger than the critical angle for the boundary, the light is completely reflected. This is called total internal reflection (TIR). The TIR of an optical fiber confines light within the optical fiber.
Implementation Method 2
Disturbing the surface of a fiber creates a region where some of the conducted light escapes the fiber. These areas are called dispersion areas.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method and device are presented for providing patient safe light to a wound. The device includes a radiation source producing flora lethal radiation wavelengths, a radiation conduit detachably optically coupled to the radiation source, and a patch remotely located from the radiation source configured to at least partially conform to a surface contour of the wound. The patch includes a flexible panel formed of a radiation transmitting material able to withstand sterilization, including at least one surface with a disturbed surface area configured to emit radiation upon the wound.