POF-yarn weaves: controlling the light out-coupling of wearable phototherapy devices

Abstract

Neonatal jaundice (hyperbilirubinaemia) is common in neonates and, often, intensive blue-light phototherapy is required to prevent long-term effects. A photonic textile can overcome three major incubator-related concerns: Insulation of the neonate, human contact, and usage restraints. This paper describes the development of a homogeneous luminous textile from polymer optical fibres to use as a wearable, long-term phototherapy device. The bend out-coupling of light from the POFs was related to the weave production, e.g. weave pattern and yarn densities. Comfort, determined by friction against a skin model and breathability, was investigated additionally. Our textile is the first example of phototherapeutic clothing that is produced post-processing allowing for faster commercial production.

Light emitting fabrics for photodynamic therapy: Technology, experimental and clinical applications

“…Optical fibers are generally woven as conventional yarn according to various satin weave structures along the fabrics length to control light emission [9][10][11]. As knitting involves bending radii that are too severe to be supported without risk of breakage if the optical fiber is knitted, optical fibers are mainly laid in a partial weft in a warp or weft knitted structures [12] in a straight line or in special patterns [13].…”

Glowing felt textile [Invited]

“…The concept of illuminative fabrics emerged in 1970 as a result of progress in the development of polymeric optical fibers (POFs) in the 1960s [1]. Integration of POFs in textiles enabled the merger of design and functionality towards so-called "smart textiles" in the form of the light distribution systems, flexible flat panel displays, and optical fiber fabric displays which targeted applications covering industrial sectors ranging from medical, healthcare, earthworks, construction, to civil engineering and transport [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Besides, smart clothing fabricated from smart textile has broad applications including phototherapy and three-dimensionally fitted low-level light therapy [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15], wearable sensors [5,6,8,10,11,16] as well as in fashion design [6,8,9,[16][17][18][19][20].…”

“…For data transmission applications, POF is guiding light along the fiber based on the total internal reflection in the fiber core [6]. However, POF in smart textiles has to be side emitting (glowing) to provide illumination functionality [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Side glowing can be achieved by launching light into the fiber at angles larger than critical or by fiber modification.…”

“…Modification minimizes total internal reflection, either by raising the refractive index of cladding or by lowering the refractive index of the core or by enabling scattering to change the critical angle of incident light. The scattering can be enhanced by various techniques including multiple micro-bending of the fiber; mixing of scattering or fluorescent additives into the core or cladding material; creating asymmetries in the core/cladding geometry; chemical processing or laser ablation of the POF surface to create notches [6,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Fabrication and analysis of side‐emitting poly(methyl methacrylate) fibres with non‐circular cross‐sections

“…non‐guided light escapes after launching . An increased radial light emittance can also be achieved by applying macro‐bends and undulations within a textile manufacturing process . Other approaches are based on a modification of the fibre itself.…”