Skin Irradiation Dose Control Using Reflectance and Temperature Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiation-emitting devices for skin treatment face challenges in delivering an effective and safe irradiation dose, particularly for larger areas or full-body treatments, due to variations in skin reflectance, skin type, and device aging, without considering individual subject-specific characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for determining skin reflectance and temperature changes to calculate absorbed energy, adjusting radiation regimes based on individual skin type, and controlling radiation delivery to maintain safe skin temperatures, while accounting for device aging and output variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If radiation-emitting devices are located remote from the skin for irradiating larger areas, then treatment area coverage is improved, but irradiation dose delivery precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously measures skin temperature during irradiation and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust radiation emission intensity, ensuring precise dose delivery across large treatment areas. Temperature sensors positioned near the skin surface provide real-time data to the control system, which modulates the radiation source accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple parameters including radiation intensity, wavelength, pulse duration, and duty cycle based on real-time skin temperature measurements and pre-stored skin type characteristics. This dynamic parameter adjustment enables precise dose control for different skin types and treatment areas, resolving the contradiction between large area coverage and dose precision.
2Ease of operation
If fixed treatment time is used based on physician experience, then ease of operation is improved, but treatment efficacy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of treatment parameters based on real-time skin temperature measurements and pre-stored skin type data. The control system automatically determines optimal treatment duration and intensity without requiring physician intervention during the procedure, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving treatment efficacy through personalized dosing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fixed treatment times to dynamic adaptive treatment protocols that continuously adjust duration and intensity based on skin temperature feedback and individual skin type characteristics, thereby improving treatment efficacy while maintaining operational simplicity through automation.
3Device complexity
If radiation output variation during run-up phase and aging is not considered, then device complexity is reduced, but irradiation dose accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary characterization of the radiation source output characteristics during manufacturing, storing run-up phase curves and aging degradation data in memory. Before each treatment, the system retrieves and applies the appropriate correction factors based on the source age and expected run-up behavior, ensuring accurate dosing without adding complex real-time measurement hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical or hardware-based radiation output stabilization mechanisms with software-based correction algorithms that use pre-stored characterization data. This computational approach maintains device simplicity while achieving high irradiation dose accuracy through digital signal processing and lookup tables.
4Device complexity
If skin reflectance variations by skin type and wavelength are not accounted for, then device complexity is reduced, but absorbed energy calculation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a universal database of skin reflectance characteristics covering multiple skin types (Fitzpatrick scale) and wavelength ranges. This single multi-functional lookup table structure enables accurate absorbed energy calculation for any skin type and wavelength combination without requiring separate measurement devices or complex algorithms, achieving high precision with minimal added complexity.
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
Ensures a subject-specific, safe, and efficient irradiation process by dynamically adjusting radiation settings to optimize dose delivery and maintain skin temperature within safe limits, enhancing treatment efficacy and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The energy absorbed by the skin of the subject depends on the radiation dose emitted from the light device, the distance between the irradiated area and the radiation-emitting source, and the skin reflectance
Implementation Method 2
measuring the change of temperature of the skin of the subject (ΔT) during the defined period of time (Δt)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of determining the skin reflectance of a region of the skin of a subject by supplying a defined amount of energy and irradiating the region of the skin of the subject for a defined period of time and measuring the change of temperature of the skin of the subject (ΔT) during the defined period of time. The present invention further relates to a system for irradiating the skin of a subject comprising: a radiation emitting unit, a radiation energy source connected to the radiation emitting unit, a control unit communicatively connected to the radiation energy source, and a measuring unit for measuring one or more physiological parameters of the subject, further comprising: an user interface configured to store safety and irradiation parameters, wherein the system is configured 1) to interrupt or adjust the energy supply to the radiation emitting unit in case the temperature of the skin of the subject exceeds a maximum temperature, and 2) to execute a radiation regime and wherein the radiation regime is defined such that one or more of the irradiation parameters are taken into account during irradiation.