Reflected Light Sensor for Laser Safety and Battery Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser safety systems in medical devices are large and do not utilize miniaturized components that can perform multiple functions, posing challenges in ensuring eye safety and efficiently managing battery life.
Innovation Solution
The use of a spectrometer with a focusing element, optical element, reflected light sensor, and electrical circuit to monitor laser safety by sensing contact with a sample and control signal sampling rate, allowing for compact device design and extended battery life by deactivating the laser when not in direct contact with the sample and adjusting sampling rates based on activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing laser safety systems are used to ensure eye safety, then safety monitoring is achieved, but device size becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The reflected light sensor is positioned to serve dual purposes: it monitors laser safety by detecting stray light and simultaneously detects sample contact through reflected light from the sample surface. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate safety monitoring components, reducing device size while maintaining safety monitoring capability.
2Measurement precision
If continuous signal sampling is performed to ensure accurate monitoring, then measurement accuracy is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The signal sampling rate is dynamically adjusted based on detected activity levels. When the reflected light sensor detects sample contact, the system transitions to a higher sampling rate for accurate monitoring. When no contact is detected, the sampling rate is reduced or suspended, conserving battery power while maintaining measurement accuracy when needed.
3Reliability
If laser power is continuously high to ensure treatment effectiveness, then treatment efficacy is improved, but risk of eye exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflected light sensor continuously monitors for sample contact before laser activation. The system only permits high-power laser operation when sample contact is confirmed, preventing laser activation when the treatment head is not properly positioned on the patient's skin, thereby eliminating eye exposure risk while ensuring treatment efficacy when contact is made.
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 effectively mitigates the risk of inadvertent eye exposure to laser radiation and extends battery life by utilizing miniaturized components that perform multiple functions, ensuring both safety and efficient power management in compact medical devices.
Implementation Method 1
sensing a reflected light from the sample with the reflected light sensor
Implementation Method 2
focusing an incident light from the laser light source onto a sample with the focusing element
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods of monitoring laser safety by sensing contact of the system with a sample are provided. The system includes a focusing element for focusing an incident light from a laser light source onto a sample, an optical element having a collection zone for collecting a signal from the sample, a reflected light sensor for sensing a reflected light from the sample, wherein the reflected light sensor is located outside the collection zone of the optical element and on an inner surface of a housing of the system, an electrical circuit operably connected to the reflected light sensor and the laser light source and configured to control power to the laser light source in accordance with the reflected light sensed by the reflected light sensor and a spectral analyzer for processing the signal. Methods and other systems are also described and illustrated.