Pulsed Laser Array for Medical Treatment Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical laser systems face challenges with high energy causing thermal damage due to large laser spot sizes and low energy density, leading to inefficient treatments and potential harm to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a series of focused pulsed lasers with reduced duration (less than 50 ps) and smaller spot sizes, allowing for increased energy density and controlled scan patterns to enhance treatment efficiency and minimize thermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single high power laser is applied directly to the target, then treatment efficiency is improved, but surrounding tissues are damaged due to thermal effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single high-power laser beam into multiple lower-power laser spots arranged in an array. Each spot delivers reduced energy density that avoids thermal damage to surrounding tissues, while the collective array provides sufficient total energy for effective treatment. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing the harmful thermal effect across multiple lower-intensity points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point (0D) or line (1D) laser application to a two-dimensional array of laser spots. This dimensional expansion allows energy to be distributed across a larger area, reducing the energy density at each point and thereby minimizing thermal damage to surrounding tissues while maintaining overall treatment effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an array of splitting laser beams is applied on the skin surface, then thermal damage is reduced, but treatment efficiency is not ideal due to relatively low laser power density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple laser spots into a unified scan pattern that systematically covers the treatment area. By merging the effects of multiple lower-power spots delivered in a coordinated sequence, the system achieves both the thermal safety of distributed low-power application and the treatment efficiency of concentrated energy delivery through the scan pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a continuous scan pattern that moves the laser spot array across the treatment area in a systematic manner. This continuous action ensures complete coverage of the target region, maintaining treatment efficiency despite the lower power density of individual spots, while the pulsed nature of each spot preserves thermal safety.
3Area of stationary object
If laser spot size is increased to cover larger treatment area, then treatment area coverage is improved, but energy density is reduced leading to lower treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment area into multiple smaller laser spot positions arranged in an array. Each spot maintains small size and high energy density for effective treatment, while the array configuration collectively covers the entire large treatment area. This segmentation allows simultaneous achievement of both large coverage and high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the area-density tradeoff by transitioning from a single large spot to a two-dimensional array of small spots. This dimensional approach allows the system to cover large areas through spatial distribution while maintaining high energy density at each individual spot location, effectively decoupling the relationship between coverage area and energy density.
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 achieves higher treatment efficiency and effectiveness by concentrating energy density without causing thermal damage, allowing precise control over treatment areas and parameters through adjustable scan patterns.
Implementation Method 1
A laser source is provided that generates a series of pulsed lasers
Implementation Method 2
An optical module is provided that provides a series of focused laser spots on the patient based on the series of pulsed lasers
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of systems and methods for medical treatment using a series of pulsed lasers are disclosed. In an example, a system for medical treatment includes a laser source, an optical module, and a controller coupled to the optical module. The laser source is configured to generate a series of pulsed lasers. The optical module is configured to provide a series of focused laser spots on a patient based on the series of pulsed lasers. The controller is configured to control the at least one of the optical module and a stage for holding the patient to move the series of focused laser spots on the patient to form a scan pattern.