Special Project Team

A collaboration of undergraduate students, clinicians, and biomedical engineers undertook developing a therapy for vasospasm symptoms in patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon in 2017. Our journey began with a written request by a physician on behalf of his wife, seeking a non-pharmacologic therapeutic option for her Raynaud’s symptoms. We explored the pathophysiology of the disorder, and current therapy. We decided to pursue cellular signaling mechanisms of microvascular structures. Our collective experience in photonics, medical devices, and management of patients with this disorder proved beneficial.

Among the challenges was creating a precision low-level light source at a specified light wavelength to modulate a signaling pathway of the microvascular structures. This is different than relatively high-energy consuming thermal-only techniques. The Phototherapy Device has evolved from a foam-board mockup, through three prototypes, to the present research tool. Hopefully, what we learned can be translated into low-energy consuming hand and feet garments, with embedded light sources for patient use.

On January 9, 2024, the authors and the University of Minnesota received a utility patent (U.S. 11,865,357) for the light-based treatment devices and methods. 

On March 26, 2024 the project was published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, titled: An Experimental Phototherapy Device for Studying the Effects of Blue Light on Patients with Raynaud’s Phenomenon.

A clinical study was approved by the University of Minnesota Institutional Review Board. Once funded and underway, this will begin the development phase for a potential treatment option.