Wearable Fluorescence Visualization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical and dental devices for fluorescence-based tissue differentiation are expensive and cumbersome, necessitating the development of portable, user-wearable solutions for effective illumination and visualization of healthy versus diseased tissues.
Innovation Solution
A multi-light lamp assembly with multiple light-emitting sources and a user-wearable device equipped with filters that selectively allow the viewing of specific wavelengths, enabling practitioners to distinguish between healthy and diseased tissues through tailored light output and filtering capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If specialized fluorescence devices are used to distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates illumination and observation functions into distinct components: a headlamp assembly provides excitation light while separate filtered lenses in goggles observe fluorescence emission, allowing each component to be optimized independently for its specific function
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful excitation light wavelength is extracted and blocked from the observer's view using specific filters in the goggles, while allowing the beneficial fluorescence emission wavelength to pass through, thus separating the useful signal from the harmful background
2Measurement precision
If specialized fluorescence devices are used to distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The headlamp assembly integrates multiple light sources (violet LED at 405nm and blue LED at 450nm) and control features (touch sensor, foot pedal) into a single wearable unit, combining illumination and control functions for simplified operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves multiple functions simultaneously: the headlamp provides both direct illumination and fluorescence excitation, while the goggles provide both fluorescence observation and protection from harmful excitation light, reducing the need for separate devices
3Measurement precision
If multiple light sources are used to generate expected response wavelength, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses intermittent illumination cycles, alternating between violet LED excitation and blue LED excitation, rather than continuous operation of all light sources, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective fluorescence detection
Solution Approach 2:
Each LED target is paired with its specific color filter to create dedicated excitation pathways, ensuring energy is concentrated at the optimal wavelength for each fluorophore target rather than using broad-spectrum illumination, improving energy efficiency
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 solution provides a lightweight, portable, and user-friendly method for distinguishing healthy from diseased tissues, enhancing visualization during medical and dental procedures while preventing harmful wavelengths from being viewed by the practitioner.
Implementation Method 1
A first light emitting source transmits a first light having a first wavelength and a second light emitting source transmits a second light having a second wavelength
Implementation Method 2
A first filter blocks the first wavelength and a second filter blocks the second wavelength
Implementation Method 3
Fluorescence is a form of photoluminescence, which through the absorption of light by an object, or by a tissue, etc., causes the generation and spontaneous emission of light of a different wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
A user-wearable fluorescence based visualization system comprising a multi-light lamp assembly that provides for the selected output of light using multiple light emitting sources, wherein the outputted light may be tailored to generate response wavelength by the interaction of the emitted light and a tissue illuminated by the emitted light, through the process of fluorescence, and a viewing system that allows a practitioner view the fluorescent light generated by the tissue, and distinguish between healthy and diseased tissues.