SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an applicator device includes a photo-active formulation assembly and a photo-dose assembly operably coupled to the photo-active formulation assembly. The photo-active formulation assembly includes a dispenser portion and one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs. The photo-active formulation assembly is operable to dispense a photo-activatable formulation from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs onto one or more regions of a biological surface. The photo-dose assembly includes at least one illuminator oriented to focus electromagnetic energy onto one or more focal regions of a biological surface. The focused electromagnetic energy is of a character and for a duration sufficient to photo-activate the photo-activatable formulation dispensed from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs.

In one example, the photo-active formulation assembly includes at least one replaceable formulation cartridge. In another example, the photo-active formulation includes one or more photo-active polymers, photo-active oligomers, photo-active monomers, cross-linkable polymers, and the like. In another example, the photo-active formulation assembly includes one or more photo-curable materials. In another example, the photo-dose assembly includes a light ring proximate the dispenser portion.

In an embodiment, the photo-dose assembly includes at least one waveguide structure. In an embodiment, photo-dose assembly includes one or more waveguides structures configured to direct an emitted electromagnetic energy stimulus to one or more focal regions of a biological surface. Non-limiting examples of waveguide structures include electromagnetic energy waveguides, acoustic energy waveguides (e.g., ultrasonic energy waveguides), optical energy waveguides (e.g., optical fibers, photonic-crystal fibers, or the like), radiation waveguides, thermal energy waveguides, and the like. Further non-limiting examples of waveguides structures include diffractive elements (e.g., gratings, cross-gratings, or the like), diffusing elements, etchings, facets, grooves, lens structures, light-diffusing structures, mirrored structures, mirrored surfaces, optical micro-prisms, lenses (e.g., micro-lenses or the like), reflective coatings, reflective materials, reflective surfaces, texturing, thin-films, and the like, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the waveguide structure comprises structures suitable for directing electromagnetic energy waves.

In an embodiment, the waveguide structure comprises at least one of a transparent, translucent, or light-transmitting material, and combinations or composites thereof. Non-limiting examples of transparent, translucent, or light-transmitting materials include those materials that offer a low optical attenuation rate to the transmission or propagation of light waves. Further non-limiting examples of transparent, translucent, or light-transmitting materials include borosilicate glasses, crystals, epoxies, glasses, optically clear materials, plastics, polymers, resins, semi-clear materials, thermal resins, thermo plastics, and the like, and combinations or composites thereof.

In another example, the photo-dose assembly26includes a plurality of waveguide structures. In another example, the photo-active formulation assembly includes a roller assembly for dispensing the photo-activatable formulation onto the one or more regions of the biological surface and the photo-dose assembly includes a light ring proximate the roller assembly. In an embodiment, the photo-dose assembly includes one or more waveguides. In an embodiment, the roller assembly comprises one or more waveguides.

In another example, the photo-dose assembly is configured to modify a spectral parameter based on information indicative of a photo-curing composition type. For example, during operation, the photo-dose assembly includes circuitry configured to modify one more parameters associated with emission intensity, emission phase, emission polarization, emission wavelength (e.g., a peak emission wavelength, a radiation wavelength, an average emission wavelength, or the like), pulse frequency, and the like responsive to one or more inputs indicative of a photo-curing composition type.

In another example, the spectral parameter includes one or more of a wavelength of the focused electromagnetic energy, an intensity of the focused electromagnetic energy, or a duration of the focused electromagnetic energy. In another example, the photo-active formulation assembly dispenses the photo-activatable formulation from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs onto the one or more regions of a biological surface at rate commensurate with a photo-curing rate.

In another example, the at least one illuminator is arranged concentric about the dispenser portion of the photo-active formulation assembly. In another example, the electromagnetic energy is selected based on the photo-activatable formulation in the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs. In another example, the focused electromagnetic energy comprises electromagnetic energy at a plurality of wavelengths, and wherein the plurality of wavelengths are operable to photo-activate a plurality of coatings of photo-activatable formulations. In another example, the photo-active formulation assembly includes at least one photo-activatable formulation nebulizer.

In another embodiment, a method of applying a photo-activatable formulation includes dispensing, by a dispenser portion of a photo-active formulation assembly, photo-activatable formulation from one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs onto one or more regions of a biological surface and focusing, by a photo-dose assembly operably coupled to the photo-active formulation assembly, electromagnetic energy from at least one illuminator onto one or more focal regions of the biological surface. The focused electromagnetic energy is of a character and for a duration sufficient to photo-activate the photo-activatable formulation dispensed from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs.

In one example, the photo-active formulation assembly is a part of a replaceable formulation cartridge, and wherein dispensing the photo-activatable formulation includes dispensing the photo-activatable formulation from the replaceable formulation cartridge. In another example, the method further includes removing the replaceable formulation cartridge from an applicator that includes the photo-dose assembly, coupling a second replaceable formulation cartridge to the applicator, and dispensing, from the second replaceable formulation cartridge, a second photo-activatable formulation onto the one or more regions of the biological surface. In another example, the method further includes focusing, by the photo-dose assembly, electromagnetic energy from the at least one illuminator onto the one or more focal regions of the biological surface, the focused electromagnetic energy of a character and for a duration sufficient to photo-activate the second photo-activatable formulation dispensed from the second replaceable formulation cartridge.

In an embodiment, an applicator device includes a photo-active formulation assembly including one or a plurality of dispenser portions and one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs, the photo-active formulation assembly being operable to dispense a photo-activatable formulation from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs onto one or more regions of a biological surface; and a photo-dose assembly operably coupled to the photo-active formulation assembly, the photo-dose assembly including at least one illuminator oriented to focus electromagnetic energy onto one or more focal regions of a biological surface, the focused electromagnetic energy of a character and for a duration sufficient to photo-activate the photo-activatable formulation dispensed from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs.

In an embodiment, the applicator device includes at least one proximity sensor configured to activate the at least one illuminator. In an example, the at least one proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of infrared, acoustic, ultrasound, conductance, dielectric, capacitance, electrochemical, fluorescence, force, heat, thermocouple, thermistor, interdigital, optical, physiological, and inductive sensors. In an example, the proximity sensor requires contact to the biological surface to activate the at least one illuminator.

In an embodiment, the illuminator is operable to project images onto the biological surface. In an example, images include one or more of instructions for a treatment, a target or guide display to direct treatment, or a notification.

In an embodiment, the applicator device includes a camera operable to take images of the biological surface.

In an embodiment, the dispenser portion comprises a biocompatible conductive coating on an exterior of the dispenser portion.

In an embodiment, the dispenser portion includes a ball operable to roll on the biological surface. In an example, the biocompatible conductive coating includes polyethylenedioxythiophene, nano-composites thereof, or grapheme. In an example, the biocompatible conductive coating is an electrode.

In an embodiment, the applicator device includes a shield proximate of the dispenser portion, wherein the shield comprises a one-way mirror operable to allow transmission of light from the at least one illuminator towards the dispenser portion. In an example, the shield is operable to block reflected light. In an example, the shield has a hemispherical shape.

In an embodiment, the photo-active formulation assembly includes a machine readable feature encoded with information. In an example, the machine readable feature is a radio frequency identification tag, a magnetic chip, a barcode, a 2-D barcode, or any electronically readable chip. In an example, the information includes the wavelength, time, amplitude, or a combination thereof, for activating the photo-active formulation.

In an embodiment, the photo-dose assembly includes a reader configured to lie in proximity to the machine readable feature, and the reader can read the information provided on the machine readable feature. In an example, the photo-dose assembly is operable to control the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy delivered by the illuminator, the time the illuminator is on, the amplitude of the electromagnetic energy produced by the illuminator, or any combination, based on the information on the machine readable feature.

In an embodiment, the photo-active formulation assembly includes a machine readable feature encoded with the wavelength, time, or amplitude at which the photo-active formulation is activated, and the photo-dose assembly includes a reader in proximity to the machine readable feature.

In an embodiment, the photo-active formulation assembly includes one or more waveguides fixed to an exterior surface.

In an embodiment, the applicator device includes a cavity between an interior of the photo-dose assembly and an exterior of the photo-active formulation assembly, wherein the interior of the photo-dose assembly and the exterior of the photo-active formulation assembly have a reflective surface. In an example, the cavity forms an elliptical reflector.

In an embodiment, the dispenser portion comprises a ball having a flexible outer surface and a fluid or gel inside the flexible outer surface.

In an embodiment, an applicator device includes a photo-active formulation assembly including one or a plurality of dispenser portions and one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs, the photo-active formulation assembly being operable to dispense a photo-activatable formulation from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs onto one or more regions of a biological surface; and a photo-dose assembly configured to be operably coupled to the photo-active formulation assembly, wherein the photo-active formulation assembly allows insertion into the photo-does assembly in a single orientation, the photo-dose assembly including at least one illuminator oriented to focus electromagnetic energy onto one or more focal regions of a biological surface, the focused electromagnetic energy of a character and for a duration sufficient to photo-activate the photo-activatable formulation dispensed from the one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs.

In an embodiment, a method of applying a photo-activatable formulation includes dispensing, by a dispenser portion of a photo-active formulation assembly, photo-activatable formulation from one or more photo-activatable formulation reservoirs onto one or more regions of a biological surface; reading from a machine readable feature on the photo-active formulation assembly, information for activating the photo-activatable formulation; and focusing, by a photo-dose assembly operably coupled to the photo-active formulation assembly, electromagnetic energy from at least one illuminator onto one or more focal regions of the biological surface, wherein the wavelength of the electromagnetic energy, the time the illuminator is on, the amplitude of the electromagnetic energy, or any combination, is based on the information read from the machine readable feature.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

