Spreading the Power of Light

Photobiomodulation therapy, often called PBM or PBMT, is a non-invasive and non-thermal form of light therapy. It uses non-ionizing light sources to create therapeutic effects at the cellular level.

Light sources used in PBM include lasers and LEDs in the visible and infrared spectra. These wavelengths are often used to support wound healing, tissue regeneration, inflammation reduction, pain relief and cellular function.

PBM is important for medical device designers because the therapeutic effect depends on more than the light source itself. Wavelength, power density, beam shape, delivery method, tissue depth, safety controls and device form factor all affect how well light reaches the target tissue.

For companies developing light-based medical technologies, light therapy for medical devices requires careful control of optical output, wavelength selection and light delivery. Lumitex supports medical device teams that need engineered light delivery for therapy, surgical and diagnostic applications.

Figure 1The Wide Range of Clinical Applications of PBMT

Innovation in manufacturing starts inside the organization. It comes from teams that are encouraged to question old processes, identify better methods and turn practical ideas into real solutions.

Lumitex President and CEO Peter Broer believes there is “a deep mine of potential in mid-size companies throughout Northeast Ohio.” That belief connects closely with the idea that manufacturers can unlock meaningful growth when they empower people inside the company to think creatively.

Lumitex explored this idea alongside MAGNET and Bettcher Industries. We were honored to be featured in MAGNET’s documentary, The Blueprint for Manufacturing in Northeast Ohio: Innovation Documentary.

When thinking about hospital lighting, many people will automatically visualize the bright fluorescent lights throughout the building that make it feel sterile and clean. With advancements in technology and knowledge around the impact light can make on physical and emotional health, hospitals are now starting to consider taking a different approach to their lighting efforts.

Surgical lighting ergonomics is a hot topic in the surgical world. Overhead lights can have limited positioning and may not provide adequate visibility in deep tissue or minimally invasive surgery. Headlamps are popular, but can be extremely cumbersome and can add strain to the neck during long surgeries, especially with additional COVID protective equipment.

One of the biggest and most concerning ergonomic issues caused by surgical lighting can be that unmodulated high-intensity light can result in eye strain and fatigue.

In this article, we will focus on surgical lighting ergonomics related to eye strain and visibility during procedures and new trends that help improve these issues.

Rapid prototyping helps engineering teams turn digital designs into physical models faster. It gives designers a practical way to test form, fit, function and usability before moving into full production.

This process is especially useful when teams need to reduce development risk, speed up product iterations and validate design decisions earlier. Instead of waiting until late-stage manufacturing to identify problems, rapid prototyping helps teams find issues while changes are still easier to make.

For medical, therapeutic and advanced lighting applications, prototype and testing can help teams evaluate light delivery, usability, mechanical fit and product performance before manufacturing.

What is Rapid Prototyping?

Rapid prototyping is a group of techniques used to create a physical model of a part, product or assembly from digital design data. Engineers often start with a 3D CAD model, then use prototyping technology to create a model that can be reviewed, tested and improved.

The main goal is to evaluate an engineering design before full-scale production. This can include checking the product’s shape, size, fit, function, material behavior or user interaction.

Rapid prototyping helps teams move from idea to physical model faster. It supports faster feedback, better design decisions and more efficient product development.

In simple terms, rapid prototyping gives engineers a faster way to build, test and refine product ideas.

There are many ways to build an LED lighting system. Two common methods are edge-lit systems and direct-lit systems. Each one creates a different visual result, uses space differently and affects overall system performance.

Optical fibers are most commonly made of 3 materials: large core plastic fiber, small core plastic fiber, and glass fiber. Large and small core fiber optics differ in diameter and manufacturing process, but are essentially the same in terms of performance and characteristics. Therefore, the main thing to consider are the differences between plastic and glass fiber optics.   

In this article, we cover the differences between glass and plastic fiber and how to determine when it is best to use one over the other. Although similar, they have marked differences in their applications.

Technology breakthroughs in spinal implants are extensive right now.

And it's only getting larger.

The U.S. spine implants market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.29% between 2016 and 2020, according to a Research and Markets report. 

Growing usage of implant procedures and the increased adoption of minimally invasive surgeries allow surgeons to create smaller incisions and better outcomes for the patient. Due to the confines in MIS surgeries (narrower and deeper cavities), the need for better visualization is indispensable.

As a leading custom medical device lighting company, our commitment encourages us to stay on top of the latest spinal implants, spinal surgery techniques and technological advancements in the market. This article covers spinal implant types, usage, and developing trends.