Phototherapy Device Pain Location Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current phototherapy devices lack the ability to precisely target pain locations on the body and are inefficient in terms of battery power usage, as they often provide uniform illumination that may not correspond to the individual's specific pain areas and require frequent recharging.
Innovation Solution
A phototherapy device with a controllable light source system and user interface that allows users to input the exact location of pain using a touch-sensitive panel, enabling spatially directed phototherapy, adjustable light parameters, and reduced power consumption by focusing illumination on specific areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If uniform illumination is provided across the entire body part, then the phototherapy device can cover a large area, but it consumes excessive battery power and cannot target specific pain locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling the phototherapy device to provide different illumination intensities to different regions of the body. The control system activates only the light sources corresponding to the user's indicated pain location, concentrating therapeutic energy where needed rather than uniformly illuminating the entire patch area, thus reducing overall power consumption while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the illumination system into multiple independently controllable light source groups corresponding to different body regions. This segmentation allows the control system to activate only the specific segment (light sources) needed for the user's pain location, avoiding unnecessary power consumption from illuminating unrelated areas.
2Illumination intensity
If the phototherapy device provides high intensity illumination across the entire area, then therapeutic effect is improved, but unnecessary heat is generated in areas without pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by directing high-intensity illumination only to the specific region where the user experiences pain, as indicated through the user interface. The control system modulates each light source group independently, ensuring that high intensity therapeutic light is applied only where needed, thereby avoiding unnecessary heat generation in non-pain areas while maintaining effective treatment intensity at the target location.
3Ease of manufacture
If the device uses a generic light source system for large body areas, then manufacturing is simplified, but it cannot provide individualized pain relief
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a controllable light source system with multiple independently modulated light source groups that can be dynamically activated or deactivated based on real-time user input. The generic patch structure maintains manufacturing simplicity, while the dynamic control system allows individualized treatment by activating only the light sources corresponding to the user's specific pain location, thus achieving adaptability without complicating the basic device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by designing a generic patch structure with multiple light source groups that can treat various body areas. The same device can be applied to different body parts (back, neck, shoulders, etc.) and can address different pain locations within each area by selectively activating appropriate light source groups, making a single device design versatile enough to handle multiple pain scenarios without requiring custom manufacturing for each application.
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
This solution enhances pain relief by individualizing phototherapy according to user needs, conserves battery power, and allows for longer treatment sessions without recharging, as it delivers higher intensity light only where needed, reducing unnecessary heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
The patch has an array of blue Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in its inner part which can be switched on so as to deliver phototherapeutic blue light
Implementation Method 2
the user interface further comprises a touch sensitive panel arranged on the patch structure, the touch sensitive panel arranged on the opposite side to the side confirming with the at least a part of the body part
Implementation Method 3
Increased temperature will stimulate thermal receptors in deep tissue. The thermal signal that the body generates then inhibits transmission of nociceptive signals
Data Source
AI summary
A phototherapy device with pain location input phototherapy device for relieving nociceptive pain of a body part of a user by illumination of at least a part of the body part. A controllable light source system (LS1, LS2, LS3) comprises at least one light source arranged on a patch structure (PS) so as to allow phototherapeutic illumination of a body part. A user interface (U_I), e.g. a touch panel (TP), is arranged to receive an input from the user regarding a spatial position on the body where the user feels pain. A control system (CS) is arranged to control the controllable light source system (LS1, LS2, LS3) in accordance with said input from the user, e.g. to spatially intensify illumination at the position where the user indicates a sensation of pain. E.g. the device may be wirelessly controlled from the a smart phone, where a map of the body can be displayed, and where the user indicates on this map where he/she feels pain.