Electro-Optical Irradiation Control for Pulsed PBM Dose Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-optical devices for photobiomodulation (PBM) are limited by high energy consumption, inefficient delivery, and the need for specialized equipment, making them inaccessible to the general public and posing risks of overexposure.
Innovation Solution
An electro-optical device with a control circuit and driver circuit that adjusts emission characteristics, including a timer and dose calculation unit, to deliver PBM radiation efficiently and safely by pulsing electromagnetic radiation within a specific intensity and dose range, integrated into everyday objects like smartphones and luminaires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high power PBM radiation is delivered continuously, then the PBM effect is enhanced, but energy consumption increases and overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsing of the electro-optical element rather than continuous operation. The driver circuit delivers radiation in pulsed sequences with specific duty cycles (e.g., 10% duty cycle with 1 second on-time and 9 seconds off-time), which maintains the PBM effect while dramatically reducing average energy consumption and preventing overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous delivery of beneficial PBM radiation through strategic pulsing. By maintaining the element in an on-state during specific intervals and using the off-state for cooling, the system achieves both continuous therapeutic effect and thermal management, resolving the contradiction between continuous action and energy consumption.
2Reliability
If high intensity radiation is applied directly to the skin, then the PBM effect is achieved, but specialized equipment is required and the device becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the PBM electro-optical element into general-purpose devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops that are already part of daily life. The element is positioned to emit radiation toward the user during normal device usage, eliminating the need for separate specialized PBM equipment while maintaining the therapeutic effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the device's existing structural features and usage patterns to deliver PBM radiation. The electro-optical element leverages the device's housing, display, and user interaction patterns to automatically provide therapeutic radiation without requiring additional specialized components or user actions.
3Illumination intensity
If the electro-optical element operates at high power continuously, then the required irradiation intensity is maintained, but the device cannot be handheld or portable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pulsing to deliver high peak irradiation intensities during brief on-periods while maintaining low average power consumption during off-periods. This enables handheld devices with limited battery capacity and thermal management capabilities to provide effective PBM treatment without requiring continuous high-power operation that would make portability impractical.
4Temperature
If PWM modulation is used to reduce average irradiation, then overheating is prevented, but the PBM effect may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the pulse parameters (duty cycle, pulse width, frequency) to ensure that the cumulative PBM effect is maintained while keeping average thermal load manageable. By carefully selecting pulse parameters that align with the biological response thresholds for PBM, the system achieves both thermal management and effective treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts pulse parameters including duty cycle, pulse width, and frequency based on treatment requirements and thermal conditions. This allows optimization of the balance between delivering sufficient PBM dose and controlling average power to prevent overheating.
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 provides a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and safe PBM effect by targeting specific areas with controlled radiation doses, ensuring optimal exposure without overheating or harmful effects, accessible through general-purpose devices.
Implementation Method 1
at least one (first) electro-optical element (EL1) arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation having a peak emission wavelength between 700-1400 nm
Implementation Method 2
The driver circuit may be configured to drive the electro-optical element with a pulse-width, frequency and radiation level
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-optical device (100) capable for providing a photobiomodulation effect in a user of the device (100), having at least one electro-optical element (EL1) arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation having a peak emission wavelength between 700-1400 nm, a control circuit (120, 130), and a driver circuit (110). The control circuit (120, 130) has a timer (135) configured to determine an on-period for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electro-optical element (EL1), and/or has a dose calculation unit configured to determine an accumulated dose of the electromagnetic radiation at the user. The control circuit (120, 130) is configured to instruct the driver circuit (110) to shut off the electro-optical element (EL1), if a predetermined maximum on-period is exceeded, and/or if a predetermined dose of the electromagnetic radiation at the user is exceeded.