Pulsed Light Phototherapy Apparatus for Brain Tissue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for neurologic conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury lack effective therapies to restore functional recovery and halt disease progression, with existing phototherapy methods facing challenges in delivering light energy to brain tissue due to absorption and scattering by intervening tissues, potentially causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A phototherapy apparatus and method using pulsed light with specific temporal and spatial parameters, including a wavelength range of 630-1064 nanometers, temporal pulsewidths between 0.1 milliseconds and 150 seconds, and time-averaged irradiances between 10 mW/cm2 and 10 W/cm2, to modulate membrane potentials and enhance cell survival and function without causing tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If continuous light therapy is applied to treat neurologic conditions, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but tissue damage may occur due to excessive energy delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic pulsed light therapy instead of continuous light therapy. The light source delivers energy in discrete pulses with specific durations (0.1-150 seconds) and intervals, allowing tissue to recover between pulses while maintaining cumulative therapeutic effect. This periodic delivery pattern reduces peak power density and prevents tissue damage while achieving reliable therapeutic outcomes.
2Use of energy by moving object
If high power light is used to penetrate brain tissue, then energy delivery is improved, but absorption and scattering by intervening tissues increases causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The pulsed light delivery system uses periodic illumination with controlled pulse durations and intervals. This allows the tissue to dissipate heat and recover between pulses, enabling higher cumulative energy delivery without causing thermal damage. The periodic action manages the absorption and scattering effects by distributing energy over time rather than delivering it continuously at high power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs specific parameter ranges for pulse duration (0.1-150 seconds), irradiance (10 mW/cm² to 10 W/cm²), and wavelength (630-1064 nm) to optimize energy delivery. By carefully controlling these parameters, the system achieves effective penetration of brain tissue while minimizing harmful absorption and scattering effects that would occur with higher, uncontrolled power levels.
3Use of energy by moving object
If pulsed light with long pulsewidth is used, then energy delivery is enhanced, but treatment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light delivery system dynamically adjusts pulse duration and frequency based on treatment requirements and tissue response. The programmable controller can adapt pulsewidth (0.1-150 seconds) and pulse frequency to optimize the balance between energy delivery and treatment time. This dynamic control allows the system to deliver sufficient energy for therapeutic effect while minimizing total treatment duration through intelligent parameter adjustment.
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 approach effectively delivers light energy to brain tissue, promoting neuroprotection, enhancing cognitive and motor functions, and improving quality of life for patients with neurologic conditions by minimizing tissue damage and optimizing energy delivery.
Implementation Method 1
The pulsed light has a temporal profile comprising an average irradiance per pulse, a temporal pulse width, and a pulse duty cycle. The temporal profile is selected to modulate membrane potentials in order to enhance, restore, or promote cell survival, cell function, or both of the irradiated brain cells.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus irradiates a surface with at least one pulsed light beam emitted from an emission surface of an optical element. The at least one pulsed light beam comprises a plurality of pulses having a temporal pulsewidth in a range between about 0.1 millisecond and about 150 seconds. The at least one pulsed light beam has a beam cross-sectional area at the emission surface greater than about 2 cm2 and a time-averaged irradiance in a range between about 1 mW/cm2 and about 100W/cm2.