Reconnectable Handpiece with Electronic Data Storage for Optical Energy Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical and cosmetic optical energy devices with monolithic handpieces are difficult to clean and sterilize, and require high manufacturing tolerances, limiting their reusability and versatility, especially for fractional treatment methods which demand precise adjustments of functional parameters.
Innovation Solution
Development of reconnectable handpieces with electronically stored characteristic data that can be adjusted using a controller to operate within predetermined tolerances, allowing for interchangeable use with various optical energy systems and sources, enabling easy connection and disconnection by treatment providers for different treatment configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If monolithic handpieces are used in optical energy devices, then structural integrity and simplicity are maintained, but cleaning and sterilization become difficult and versatility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece is divided into separable components including a handpiece body, interchangeable tips, and connector assemblies that can be detached and sterilized separately. This segmentation allows each component to be cleaned and sterilized independently while maintaining overall structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The handpiece incorporates universal connector interfaces and standardized mounting mechanisms that allow different tips and attachments to be interchangeably connected. This enables a single handpiece body to support multiple treatment configurations and be used with various optical energy sources.
2Ease of manufacture
If monolithic handpieces with fixed components are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but precise adjustments of functional parameters are difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece incorporates adjustable components including movable optical elements, variable aperture diaphragms, and tunable filter assemblies that can be dynamically adjusted during operation. These dynamic adjustment mechanisms enable precise control of functional parameters such as beam diameter, wavelength selection, and energy density without requiring complex manufacturing tolerances.
3Manufacturing precision
If high manufacturing tolerances are required for precise adjustments, then treatment precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece replaces precision mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electronic control systems including motorized positioning devices, electronic aperture control, and digitally tunable optical filters. This substitution allows for precise functional parameter adjustments through software control rather than requiring high-precision mechanical manufacturing tolerances.
4Ease of operation
If reconnectable handpieces with electronic data storage are used, then ease of adjustment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handpiece incorporates self-diagnostic and self-adjustment capabilities through electronically stored characteristic data that automatically guides parameter settings. The system can autonomously characterize itself during initial use and maintain calibration information, reducing the need for manual adjustment and expert intervention while managing complexity through automated functions.
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
Facilitates efficient and effective delivery of optical energy treatments by allowing treatment providers to adjust and align handpieces and optical energy systems easily, reducing the need for multiple devices and improving the versatility and precision of fractional treatments.
Implementation Method 1
at least one optical energy delivery system configured to direct optical energy at a portion of tissue to be treated
Implementation Method 2
cellular and interstitial water absorbs optical energy and transforms the optical energy into thermal energy
Data Source
AI summary
Handpieces which comprise characteristic data storage systems electronically storing characteristic data, devices comprising these handpieces, methods of characterizing the device components, and methods of adjusting the device components based on stored characteristic data are described. The handpieces can be repeatedly connected to, disconnected from, and reconnected to an optical energy system comprising at least one optical energy source and at least one controller by a treatment provider. When the handpieces are connected to an optical energy source and a controller, the component characteristic data is accessed and used to adjust one or more of the components in order for the components to function together within a pre-determined tolerance. Once the components are connected and adjusted, the device can be used to provide an optical energy based medical and/or cosmetic treatment to a tissue such as, for example, human skin.