Optical Guiding Element With Non-Planar Reflector for Deep Light Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photodynamic therapy techniques are limited by the shallow penetration of light into tissues due to absorption and scattering, leading to reduced effectiveness and potential damage to healthy tissues, and similar issues exist in optical communications regarding light coupling in waveguides.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device with an optical guiding element, featuring a light source that emits light from two opposite faces, a reflective layer forming a non-planar surface, and optical components to enhance light distribution, using microneedles or waveguides to guide light deeper into tissues or waveguides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If very high light intensity is used to activate photosensitive molecules deeper in tissues, then the penetration depth is improved, but the microcirculation of surrounding healthy tissues is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The light delivery system is segmented into multiple microneedles distributed across the skin surface. Each microneedle acts as an independent light guide, allowing light to be delivered to multiple depth levels simultaneously without requiring excessive intensity at any single location, thus avoiding damage to healthy tissues while achieving deep penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
Microneedles serve as intermediary light guides between the surface illumination and deep tissue targets. These microneedles channel light from the surface through the skin layers to deeper photosensitive molecules, enabling deep penetration while keeping surface illumination levels manageable and avoiding direct exposure of healthy superficial tissues to high intensity light.
2Length of stationary object
If microneedles are used to guide light deeper into tissues, then the penetration depth is improved, but surface illumination is reduced or eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides different light delivery qualities to different locations: microneedles at specific positions deliver focused light to deep tissue targets, while other areas of the skin surface can receive appropriate illumination for treating superficial photosensitive molecules. This localized approach allows deep penetration without completely eliminating surface illumination.
3Productivity
If light is introduced through microlenses focused onto microneedles, then light distribution to deeper areas is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The microneedles themselves serve as the light guiding structure, utilizing their transparent material properties to channel light from the surface to deep tissue targets. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate complex optical components like microlenses, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective light delivery to deeper areas.
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 achieves homogeneous light emission and effective penetration into both superficial and deeper tissue layers, optimizing treatment efficacy and light coupling in waveguides while minimizing surface radiation and reducing damage to healthy tissues.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective layer disposed on the side of the second face of the light source
Implementation Method 2
an optical guiding element... configured to emit the light at least on the side of a first face disposed opposite the optical guiding element
Implementation Method 3
a light source at least partially transparent to at least one light intended to be emitted by the light source, and configured to emit the light
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
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Figure 8~10
AI summary
This description relates to a light-emitting device comprising at least: - an optical guiding element; - a light source at least partially transparent to at least one light intended to be emitted by the light source, and configured to emit the light at least on the side of a first face disposed opposite the optical guiding element and on the side of a second face opposite the first face; - a reflective layer disposed on the side of the second face of the light source; - an optical component disposed between the reflective layer and the optical guiding element and at least partially transparent to the light intended to be emitted by the light source; and in which the reflective layer forms at least one reflective surface conforming to a non-planar surface of the optical component on which the reflective layer is disposed.