Method and system for therapeutic use of ultra-violet light

1. A wound care system comprising:

a power unit;

a processor coupled to the power unit;

an ultra-violet light-emitting diode array electrically coupled to the processor;

a thermoelectric element thermally exposed to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

a probe optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

a pump electrically coupled to the processor and that is fluidly coupled to the probe, the pump applying vacuum pressure to a wound area via the probe;

an exudate bottle fluidly coupled to the pump;

a probe solenoid disposed between, and fluidly coupled, to the pump and the exudate bottle;

a first pressure sensor disposed between the probe solenoid and the pump;

a second pressure sensor disposed between the probe solenoid and the exudate bottle;

wherein, when closed, the probe solenoid isolates the probe and the exudate bottle for pressure testing via the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor to ensure that a seal is present between the probe and the wound area; and

wherein the thermoelectric element absorbs excess heat from the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array and transfers the excess heat to an exhaust thereby optimizing the ultra-violet light emitting diode array.

2. The wound care system of claim 1 , wherein the pump operates in at least one of a high vacuum state and a low vacuum state.

3. The wound care system of claim 1 , comprising:

a pump solenoid fluidly coupled to the pump and electrically coupled to the processor; and

a vent solenoid fluidly coupled to the pump and electrically coupled to the processor.

4. The wound care system of claim 3 , wherein vacuum pressure is applied to the wound area via selective actuation of the pump solenoid, the probe solenoid, and the vent solenoid.

5. The wound care system of claim 1 , wherein the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array comprises at least one first diode and at least one second diode.

6. The wound care system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one first diode emits UV-A light and the at least one second diode emits UV-C light.

7. The wound care system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one second diode emits UV-C light for a duration of approximately three minutes per approximately 12 hours.

8. The wound care system of claim 1 , wherein the probe is at least one of a patch probe, a spot probe, and a point probe.

9. The wound care system of claim 1 , comprising:

a UV interlock optically coupled to the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array and electrically coupled to the processor; and

wherein the UV interlock deactivates the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array upon disconnection of the probe.

10. A method for treating a wound area, the method comprising:

coupling a probe to a control unit via a control fiber port;

applying the probe to a wound area;

generating ultra-violet light via an ultra-violet light-emitting diode array;

providing the ultra-violet light to the wound area via the probe;

cooling the ultra-violet light-emitting diode array via a thermoelectric element that is thermally exposed to the light-emitting diode array;

applying vacuum pressure to the wound area via a pump;

isolating the probe from the pump via a probe solenoid disposed between the pump and an exudate bottle; and

pressure testing the probe to ensure that a seal is present between the probe and the wound area via a first pressure sensor disposed between the pump and the probe solenoid and a second pressure sensor disposed between the probe solenoid and the exudate bottle.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying vacuum pressure comprises selective actuation of a probe solenoid, a vent solenoid, and the pump solenoid.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying vacuum pressure comprises:

applying a first vacuum pressure to the wound area for a first period of time; and

applying a second vacuum pressure to the wound area for a second period of time.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first period of time includes a range of approximately 24 to approximately 48 hours following a surgery.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second period of time follows the first period of time.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first vacuum pressure is greater than the second vacuum pressure.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the generating ultra-violet light comprises:

generating UV-A light via at least one first diode; and

generating UV-C light via at least one second diode.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the UV-C light is generated for a duration of approximately 3 minutes every 12 hours.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the applying a probe comprises applying at least one of a patch probe, a spot probe, and a point probe.