Gallium Nitride Based Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) for Pathogen Elimination, Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration

Rainbow Communications proposes to investigate a compact, high-output-power, cost efficient, light-emitting diodes (LED) based on III-V nitride materials, quantum-well, and a tapered-optical-amplifier structure for applications in pathogen eliminations,wound healing, and tissue regeneration. The LED will be capable of producing more than 50-mW output power in the UV and/or visible wavelength region. Several unique features distinguish it. First, Rainbow will monolithically integrate a light emittingwaveguide, and a tapered optical amplifier into a INGaN/AlGaN quantum well substrate. Second, a tapered waveguide structure will increase the coupling efficiency between the LED section and the optical amplifier section, and improve the optical amplifierefficiency. Third, by providing different wavelengths and broad-beam characteristics, the LED source will be a superior method for wound healing and tissue regeneration comparing to traditional suturing or lasers. Forth, the LED source can be used toexcite visible fluorescence from the light sensitive detergent, thus providing the residual distribution of pathogens. In Phase I, Rainbow will demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed Gallium Nitride (GaN) LED source for medical usage. In Phase II, aLED source based sensing, decontaminating, and regenerating system will be developed and demonstrated under in vivo stimulation of tissue growth condition. This project will enable development of a compact, low-cost, reliable, highly efficient, high-power LED source for use in pathogen eliminations, wound healing, and tissue regeneration for wounded soldiers caused by chemical, biological, thermal, andradiation burns. The resulted products can be used in effective sterilization of contacted surfaces in a medical treatment facility without any residual chemical by-products.