A team of engineers and doctors at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have designed a unique 3D-printed light-sensing medical device that is placed directly on the skin and gives real-time feedback to correlate light exposure with disease flare-ups.

Figure 1: 3D customized 3D-printing of wearable devices.

Figure 1 shows thatthe device could help millions of people worldwide with lupus and other light-sensitive diseases by providing access to more personalized treatments and information to determine what causes their symptoms. [1]

According to the Lupus Foundation of America about 1.5 million Americans, and at least 5 million people worldwide, have a form of lupus. Light sensitivity is common in people with lupus with 40 to 70 percent of people with lupus finding that their disease is made worse by exposure to sunlight or even artificial light indoors. The symptoms of these flare ups for patients with lupus include rashes, joint pain, and fatigue.

McAlpine’s research group worked with Pearson to develop a first-of-its-kind fully 3D-printed device with a flexible UV-visible light detector that could be placed on the skin. The device is integrated with a custom-built portable console to continuously monitor and correlate light exposure to symptoms.

McAlpine said that developing the device, however, was no easy task. The 3D-printed device consists of multiple layers of materials printed on a biocompatible silicone base. The layers include electrodes and optical filters. [2]

Filters can be changed depending on the wavelength of light to be evaluated. The research team also used zinc oxide collect ultraviolet (UV) light and convert it into electrical signals.

The device is mounted on the cover, and a special console is attached to collect and store data.

The researchers have also filed a patent for the device, and the technology is available for licensing.The research team has received approval to begin testing the device on humans and will soon begin recruiting participants for the study.

McAlpine and Pearson said the 3D printing process is relatively inexpensive and could someday provide easy and quick access to a device without the expensive manufacturing processes of traditional devices.

“At the moment, there is no other device like it with this potential for personalization and this easy to manufacture,” Pearson said. [3]

References:

1. https://sciencenewsnet.in/unique-light-sensing-3d-printed-device-could-help-people-with-lupus/
2. https://vervetimes.com/device-provides-real-time-data-for-more-personalized-treatment-sciencedaily/
3. https://illinoisusanews.com/a-unique-3d-printed-light-sensitive-device-could-help-people-with-lupus/61452/

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), A Unique Light Sensing 3D Printed Device to Treat Lupus, AnaTechMaz, pp.105