The multi-spectral transillumination of the nasal sinuses with μLEDs is the application example from the medical technology, which was conceived in the extensive product pallete of art photonics GmbH.
Sinusitis, also known as a sinus infection or rhinosinusitis, is an inflammation of the air cavities within the passages of the nose. Sinusitis can be acute, orvchronic, which usually lasts for 3 to 8 weeks and can continue for months or even years; recurrent, which is several acute attacks within a year. The optical diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the nasal sinuses had in the past, in spite of its long history, a number of serious disadvantages that oppose its use in the routine of clinics and practices.
Together with a clinical partner from Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, art photonics developed new, innovative concepts for light diagnostics for the ENT. In the re-discovery of diaphanoscopy, miniaturized and improved applicators with powerful LEDs are in the forefront of the use in minimally invasive medicine. The focus of the development of these innovative procedures for the screening of the nasal sinuses is the geometrical and ergonomic design of the applicator, the digitalisation of images and the establishment of the modern image processing methods for the evaluation of the scattered light images. An old, forgotten method of transillumination of the human skull gains therefore a new value in the light diagnosis of the inflammation of the nasal sinuses.
The aim of the project is the development of an equipment for minimally invasive diagnosis of inflammatory diseases of the paranasal sinuses by illumination with visible and near infrared light as a condition of the formation and evaluation of light scattering patterns to low‐cost, non‐invasive, free of ionizing radiation screening for diagnosis and follow‐up.
Advantages:
- Noninvasive diagnosis of sinusitis without X‐ray, CT and biopsy to reduce the radiation exposure
- Selection of optimal wavelengths for the beam source to distinguish between
- different forms of inflammation
- Anatomical ‐ based shape of applicator for comfortable transillumination
- Development of a diagnostic wizards to simplify and increase the diagnostic accuracy
- Cost reduction through the introduction and adaptation of optical technologies
Current status
A universal LED applicator was developed:
