Photobiomodulation Emitter Arrays with Separate User Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing PBM apparatuses face challenges in efficiently and safely delivering near-infrared radiation for photobiomodulation while avoiding interference with user detection functions, particularly in dynamic environments like vehicles, due to difficulties in setting correct radiation intensity, beam direction, and dose estimation.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing separate emitters and activation sequences for near-infrared radiation, with distinct wavelengths and timing, to separately perform user detection and PBM, incorporating features like facial recognition and dose adjustment to ensure safe and effective delivery of PBM without interfering with detection functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous radiation is used to provide sufficient PBM dose in short time, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to difficulty in controlling radiation intensity and direction for moving users
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source is divided into multiple independently controllable emitters arranged in an array. Each emitter can be individually activated or deactivated, allowing selective illumination of different regions. This segmentation enables precise control of radiation intensity and direction without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, thus maintaining high productivity while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pulsed radiation delivery with varying duty cycles instead of continuous radiation. By periodically activating emitters in different patterns, the system can deliver sufficient cumulative PBM dose over time while controlling peak intensity to avoid overheating and simplifying thermal management requirements.
2Device complexity
If pulsed radiation is used to avoid overdosing and reduce component count, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to longer exposure time required
Solution Approach 1:
While individual emitters are pulsed, the system maintains continuous useful action by sequentially activating different emitters in the array. This ensures that radiation delivery is ongoing without interruption, delivering the required PBM dose in a timely manner while still allowing each emitter to be pulsed for thermal management and dose control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty cycle and activation patterns of different emitters based on real-time conditions such as user position, skin temperature, and desired dose. This dynamic control allows the system to optimize between pulsed operation for thermal management and continuous operation for efficient dose delivery.
3Device complexity
If same emitters are used for both user detection and PBM, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to potential interference between detection and treatment functions
Solution Approach 1:
Different emitters in the array are assigned different functional qualities: some emitters are optimized for detection purposes while others are optimized for PBM treatment. This local differentiation allows each emitter to perform its specific function effectively without interfering with the other function, maintaining high reliability while using a unified emitter array structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between detection mode and treatment mode, activating different subsets of emitters at different times. During detection phases, certain emitters are activated for user detection while PBM emitters remain inactive, and vice versa during treatment phases. This temporal separation eliminates functional interference while using the same physical emitter array.
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
Enables efficient, safe, and personalized PBM delivery in vehicle occupants by minimizing interference with user detection systems, ensuring appropriate dosage and beam direction, and adhering to safety standards.
Implementation Method 1
The radiation source may comprise a plurality of emitters for emitting radiation in the near-infrared spectrum
Implementation Method 2
a receiver for receiving radiation in the near-infrared spectrum
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Apparatus for providing radiation for stimulating photobiomodulation (PBM) in a user comprising a plurality of emitters for emitting radiation in the near-infrared spectrum, a receiver for receiving radiation in the near-infrared spectrum, and an emitter driver circuit configured to generate driving currents for energizing the emitters. The apparatus is configured to energize a first portion of the emitters to generate radiation in a first part of the near-infrared spectrum for detecting the user, with a driving current according to a first activation sequence, and to activate the receiver for receiving at least a reflected portion of the radiation from at least the first portion of the emitters for detecting the user. The apparatus is also configured to energize a second portion of the emitters to generate radiation in a second part of the near-infrared spectrum for stimulating PBM in the user, with a driving current according to a second activation sequence. In the apparatus, the first portion of the emitters is different from the second portion of the emitters, and/or the first part of the near-infrared spectrum is different from the second part of the near-infrared spectrum, and/or the first activation sequence of the driving current is different from the second activation sequence of the driving current.