UV-LED Array Cooling for Wound Care Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wound care technologies face challenges in efficiently promoting wound closure and infection prevention, particularly for larger skin wounds, and existing light therapy devices do not effectively manage heat generated by ultra-violet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs), which affects their efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A wound care system utilizing a thermoelectric element for thermal management of an array of UV-LEDs, coupled with a processor and power unit, to optimize UV-LED performance by cooling the array and providing pulsed UV light therapy to wounds, thereby enhancing wound healing and tissue growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UV-LEDs are used for wound therapy, then wound healing is promoted, but heat generation reduces device reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat management function from the UV-LED array by introducing a separate cooling system. The cooling system includes a cooling plate in thermal contact with the UV-LED array, which actively removes excess heat generated during operation, thereby preventing heat accumulation while maintaining the therapeutic UV light output.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling plate serves as an intermediary element between the UV-LED array and the heat dissipation system. It conducts heat away from the LEDs to a heat sink or cooling mechanism, acting as a thermal mediator that protects the UV-LEDs from heat-induced degradation while allowing continuous operation.
2Productivity
If UV-LED array is cooled, then efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into distinct functional components: a cooling plate for thermal contact, a heat dissipation mechanism (such as heat sink or active cooling), and control electronics. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easier maintenance and replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts cooling parameters such as cooling intensity, UV-LED power output, and pulse duration based on real-time temperature monitoring. By changing operational parameters in response to thermal conditions, the system maintains optimal UV-LED efficiency while managing heat generation through coordinated parameter modulation.
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 effectively cools the UV-LED array, improving its efficiency and reliability, promoting wound healing by accelerating cellular metabolism, repairing damaged skin cells, and stimulating collagen production, while also providing non-invasive and painless treatment.
Implementation Method 1
A thermoelectric element is thermally exposed to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array. The thermoelectric element cools the ultra-violet light emitting diode array thereby optimizing the ultra-violet light emitting diode array.
Implementation Method 2
generating ultra-violet light via an ultra-violet light-emitting diode array and providing the ultra-violet light to the wound area
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a wound care system. The wound care system includes a power unit and a processor coupled to the power unit. An ultra-violet light-emitting diode array is electrically coupled to the processor. A thermoelectric element is thermally exposed to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array. A probe is optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array. The thermoelectric element cools the ultra-violet light emitting diode array thereby optimizing the ultra-violet light emitting diode array.