Field of the invention

The present invention relates generally to an allergen-modifying device and an allergen-modifying method and more specifically to a pollen modifying device and a pollen modifying method.

Background

Allergy is an immune mediated disorder. Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a foreign substance (allergen), such as pollen. The immune system of allergic people makes antibodies that identify a particular allergen as harmful, even though it isn't. The allergic response is caused by binding of allergens to specific IgE antibodies found in people with allergies to that allergen, and the subsequent release of histamine or other inflammatory chemical mediator compounds by the mast cells and/or basophils triggered by the allergen-antibody complex. For example, people with grass allergy have circulating antibodies directed against grass allergens. Various allergens causes all kinds of adverse effects in human beings.

For example, human beings suffering from allergies, such as pollen allergy, typically experiences one or more of the following symptoms - runny nose (also known as rhinorrhea); nasal congestion; watery, itchy, and red eyes (allergic conjunctivitis); sneezing; coughing; itchy nose, roof of mouth, or throat; swollen skin under the eyes (allergic shiners); postnasal drip; fatigue, etc. Afflicted persons can have one or more of these symptoms varying from mild to quite severe symptoms causing a degradation in the quality of life and well-being of the afflicted person. For severe cases, the symptom(s) may be quite debilitating and even affect the every-day and working capabilities of the afflicted person to a very large extent.

Many different plants give off the pollen allergens, which may trigger an allergic reaction. Such plants include trees like oak, ash, elm, birch, maple, alder, and hazel, as well as hickory, pecan, and box and mountain cedar. Evergreen juniper, cedar, cypress, and sequoia trees are also likely to cause allergy symptoms. Grasses like Timothy, Kentucky blue grass, Johnson, Bermuda, redtop, orchard grass, sweet vernal, perennial rye, salt grass, velvet, and fescue are also known to cause allergy symptoms. And weeds like ragweed, sagebrush, redroot pigweed, lamb's quarters, goosefoot, tumbleweed (Russian thistle), and English plantain are further known to cause allergy symptoms.

Other allergens which may trigger an allergic reaction include allergens from food or food processing. Major food allergens include milk, eggs, fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod), shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp), tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans), peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.

Treating allergy, such as pollen allergy, and other allergens, or at least alleviating the symptoms thereof, typically involves an intake of suitable medication(s) (e.g. anti-histamine medication), receiving immunotherapy tablets or shots, using appropriate nasal sprays or other inhalators, etc., which is inconvenient and costly for the persons in question. Costs may also be involved for a public health-care system, an insurance company, etc. Additionally, such aids are administered on a person-by-person basis and a fair number of people with severe allergy responds very poorly to some or all of the above available treatments.

Accordingly, it would be an advantage to provide an efficient allergen-modifying device and method so that allergic persons are not detrimentally affected by the modified allergen or at least affected to a lesser degree. It would be an advantage to particularly provide an efficient pollen modifying device and method, so pollen allergic persons are not detrimentally affected by the modified pollen or at least affected to a lesser degree. It would be an additional advantage to provide an efficient allergen modifying device particularly suited for production by mass production. An additional advantage would be to provide an efficient pollen modifying device and method that is safe use in the vicinity of humans.

Summary

It is an object to provide an allergen-modifying device and allergen-modifying method, each respectively alleviating one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks at least to an extent. According to a first aspect, this is achieved, at least to an extent, by an allergenmodifying device comprising

- a housing,

- a control element configured to output a control signal, and

- a UV light-emitting element configured to emit, in response to the control signal, far-UVC light modifying protein structure of allergen irradiated by at least a part of the emitted far-UVC light so that recognition and/or binding of the allergen to one or more allergen-specific antibodies is/are prevented or at least reduced.

In this way, a UV light-emitting device is provided efficiently modifying allergen/allergens irradiated by the emitted far-UVC light. In effect, the allergen exposed to the emitted far-UVC light will be modified, i.e. have its structure changed. Due to the change in structure of the allergen, persons allergic to the allergen are not detrimentally affected by the modified allergen or at least affected to a lesser degree. The term “far-UVC” as used herein is meant as UV light having or comprising a wavelength or peak wavelength selected from a range of 200 nm (nanometres) to 230 nm or from a range of about 200 nm to about 230 nm. Different to this, is the designation “UV-A” that typically is used for UV light having a wavelength of 315 nm to 400 nm and the designation “UVB” or “UV-B” that typically is used for UV light having a wavelength of 280 nm to 315 nm. The allergenmodifying device is accordingly an allergen-modifying UV light emitting device or more particularly an allergen-modifying far-UVC light emitting device.

The recognition of the allergens by the allergen-specific antibodies as well as the interaction between the allergen-specific antibodies and allergens is very specific, so even small or smaller changes in the structure of the allergen will influence the interactions and typically prevent the recognition and/or the binding of the allergen to the allergen-specific antibodies. Therefore, changing the structure of an allergen sufficiently or appropriately will prevent any allergic reaction to that allergen when a person otherwise being allergic to that particular allergen is exposed to the allergen, such as from direct contact with the allergen (e.g. touching a body part of the person) or taking in or ingesting the allergen (inhaling, consuming, etc.). It has surprisingly been found that far-UVC light is particularly effective in causing a sufficient/appropriate change in the structure of allergens thereby effectively making the interaction between an allergen and the allergen-specific antibodies impossible or at least less likely to occur to a high degree. Far-UVC light has high absorption in protein and exposure of proteins to far-UVC light will result in transfer of energy to the protein. The absorbed energy will, if the amount of absorbed energy is sufficient/adequate, cause sufficient structural changes in the protein. Allergens are made of protein and therefore (adequate) exposure to far-UVC-light will efficiently change the structure of allergens. Accordingly (adequate) exposure of allergens to far-UVC-light will prevent the allergens from causing allergic reactions since the far- UVC-light modifies and thereby inactivates the allergens (by changing their structure) and thereby prevents allergic reactions.

A further advantage is that the allergen-modifying device is not, as such, allergen specific i.e. specific to a singly type of allergen. The allergen-modifying device may then readily be manufactured or configured to emit far-UVC light capable of modifying the protein structure of several different allergens in order to prevent their respective recognition and/or binding to their respective allergen-specific antibodies. This is an advantage compared to other allergen specific immunotherapy treatments. Furthermore, since it is the allergens that may be modified or ‘treated’ rather than the persons suffering from allergy, it also addresses the issue of people with severe allergy responding poorly to other available treatments, even if helping some.

Additionally, detrimental effects for humans due to exposure of UV-A and/or AV-B light are known and e.g. include skin aging, increasing risk of cancer, skin irritation (erythema), eye irritation (conjunctivitis), etc., which the use of far-UVC light avoids or at least reduces.

Preferably, or at least in some embodiments, the emitted far-UVC light irradiates allergen particles (and modifies at least a part of the protein structure of the respective allergen particles), and in particular airborne allergen particles. In some embodiments, the allergens may also be irradiated in an aqueous solution.

A further effect of the allergen-modifying device is that it affects or treats (allergens in) an environment surrounding people rather than directly affecting or treating the people themselves. The allergens are modified by the far-UVC light prior to the human subject being exposed to said modified allergens. Additionally, allergens modified as disclosed herein will not have any detrimental effects to both allergic and non-allergic people.

In some expedient embodiments, the allergen is pollen, e.g. or in particular selected from

- tree pollen,

- grass pollen, or

- weed pollen.

The above is efficiently achieved in particular by emitting far-UVC light comprising or having a wavelength (or peak wavelength) selected from about 200 nanometres to about 230 nanometres or even more particularly selected from about 210 nanometres to about 225 nanometres, e.g. such as at 210 or about 210 nanometres, at 222 or about 220 nanometres, or at 224 or about 224 nanometres. Far-UVC light, and in particular far-UVC light with these/such wavelengths has a high (actually maximum) absorbance in proteins; higher than e.g. UV-A and UV-B. As allergens to a large extent comprise proteins, they are especially susceptible to efficient exposure of far-UCV light within this context, and in particular to exposure by far-UVC light comprising or having a (peak) wavelength as mentioned above and herein.

The allergen-modifying device is particularly effective in modifying pollen, e.g. grass pollen, so that the modified pollen does not activate an allergic reaction in a person (otherwise being allergic to the pollen) when ingesting the modified pollen.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element is configured to emit far-UVC light

- comprising or having a wavelength or peak wavelength of 230 nanometres or about 230 nanometres or less, i.e. light with a wavelength shorter than 230 or about 230 nanometres,

- comprising or having a wavelength or peak wavelength selected from about 200 nanometres to about 230 nanometres, or - comprising or having a wavelength or peak wavelength selected from 210 or about 210 nanometres to 225 or about 225 nanometres.

The UV light-emitting element may e.g. be a KrCI excimer lamp or lighting device configured to emit far-UVC light comprising or having a wavelength or a peak wavelength of 222 nanometres or about 222 nanometres. Alternatively, the UV lightemitting element may e.g. be a HeAg laser or lighting device configured to emit far- UVC light comprising or having a wavelength or a peak wavelength of 224 nanometres or about 224 nanometres. As another alternative, the UV light-emitting element may e.g. be an AIN (aluminum nitride) FED (field emission device) configured to emit far-UVC light comprising or having a wavelength or a peak wavelength of 210 nanometres or about 210 nanometres. As another alternative, the UV light-emitting element may be an iodine FED configured to emit far-UVC light comprising or having wavelength or a peak wavelength of 206 nanometres or about 206 nanometres.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element is configured to emit far-UVC light comprising or having a peak wavelength of 222 nanometres or about 222 nanometres.

In some embodiments, the UV light-emitting element is configured to emit, in response to the control signal, far-UVC light modifying protein structure of allergen particles, e.g. or in particular airborne allergen particles, irradiated by at least a part of the emitted far-UVC light. In this way, the allergen-modifying device is an air-treatment device.

In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device further comprises one or more user interface elements and wherein the control element is configured to output the control signal in response to one or more signals provided by or obtained from the one or more user interface elements.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element is or comprises at least one far-UVC LED, at least one far-UVC field emission device, and/or at least one far- UVC laser. In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element is a far-UVC excimer lamp.

The far-UVC excimer lamp may e.g. be a KrCI excimer lamp e.g. or preferably configured to emit light comprising or having a peak wavelength of 222 nanometres or about 222 nanometres.

In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device or the UV light emitting element comprises an optical band-pass filter configured to filter the far-UVC light, where the band-pass filter is configured to pass wavelengths between 200 nanometres or about 200 nanometres to 230 nanometres or about 230 nanometres, a wavelength sub-interval selected from an interval between about 200 nanometres to about 230 nanometres, or a wavelength interval comprising a wavelength of 222 (or 210 or 224) nanometres or about 222 (or about 210 or about 224) nanometres.

In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device or the UV light emitting element is configured to emit the far-UVC light with an energy level of about 400 millijoule (mJ) per square centimeter (cm ² ) or more, e.g. or preferably at a wavelength mentioned above; about 450 millijoule (mJ) per square centimeter (cm ² ) or more, e.g. or preferably at a wavelength mentioned above; or about 500 millijoule (mJ) per square centimeter (cm ² ) or more, e.g. or preferably at a wavelength mentioned above.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element is configured to emit coherent light obtained by sum-frequency generation.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element is or comprises a light source device, the light source device comprising

- at least one pump laser/pump source configured to emit light at a first predetermined wavelength, and

- an electromagnetic radiation frequency, or equivalent wavelength, converter, wherein

- a guiding module of the electromagnetic radiation frequency, or equivalent wavelength, converter is configured to receive and guide at least a part of the emitted light from the at least one pump laser light source, and

- an output light signal has a second predetermined wavelength different from the first predetermined wavelength. The above and/or one or more of the subsequent embodiments, readily enables an application of the nonlinear process known as Cherenkov nonlinear generation, allowing for compact devices that convert laser light to wavelengths otherwise hard or impossible to obtain with existing laser technologies and in particular also in an economically viable way needed for mass production. We refer to applicant’s copending patent application PCT/EP2022/060725 for further details and further embodiments (and hereby incorporate that application by reference).

In some embodiments, the electromagnetic radiation frequency, or equivalent wavelength, converter comprises

- a nonlinear optical component or part comprising or consisting of a predetermined nonlinear optical material, and

- the guiding module, the guiding module o having a predetermined geometry defining or controlling an effective refractive index of the guiding module, and o configured to receive and guide pump light resulting in a guided pump beam, and wherein the nonlinear optical component or part is

- bonded with or joined to the guiding module, where the bonding is configured to allow at least a part of the guided pump beam to overlap and/or evanescently couple into the nonlinear optical material, and

- configured to nonlinearly convert the guided pump beam in the nonlinear optical material to an un-guided signal mode radiated as an output light signal at a different frequency or an equivalent wavelength.

In some embodiments, the electromagnetic radiation frequency, or equivalent wavelength, converter comprises an optic coupler configured to receive light and provide it to the guiding module.

In some embodiments, the guiding module comprises at least one waveguide and the nonlinear component or part is bonded with or joined to the at least one waveguide of the guiding module.

In some embodiments, the guiding module comprises a substrate material, being different from the predetermined non-linear optical material, wherein the at least one waveguide is arranged or deposited on a first side of the substrate material, or

- a substrate material, being different from the predetermined non-linear optical material, and a buffer layer arranged or deposited on a first side of the substrate material and wherein the at least one waveguide is arranged or deposited on a first side of the buffer layer.

In some embodiments, the nonlinear optical component or part and/or the guiding module comprises embedded electrodes and is configured to respectively change the effective refractive index of the nonlinear optical component or part and/or the guiding module in response to a respective change in applied electric field to the embedded electrodes.

In some embodiments, the converter comprises one or more planar optical structures configured to re-route and/or modulate light received or to be received by the guiding module thereby controlling the output light signal.

In some embodiments, the predetermined nonlinear optical material is one selected from the group consisting of:

- barium borate (BBO),

- cesium lithium borate (CLBO),

- lithium borate (LBO),

- potassium dideuterium phosphate (KDP),

- potassium dideuterium phosphate (DKDP),

- ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP),

- yttrium calcium oxoborate (YCOB), and

- potassium fluoroboratoberyllate (KBBF).

In some embodiments, the guiding module is a guiding photonic integrated circuit.

In some embodiments, the at least one pump laser light source is configured to emit visible blue light and the output light signal is or comprises far-UVC light.

In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device or the UV light-emitting element is configured to emit visible light in addition to far-UVC light. The visible light (emitted in addition to the far-UVC light) may e.g. be blue, red, or any other suitable visible light, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device is comprised by or combined with

- an air cleaner or purifier,

- an air condition unit,

- a patio heater or other outdoor heating unit,

- an outdoor regular lighting unit, or

- an indoor regular lighting unit.

Typically (and at least in some embodiments), the allergen-modifying device comprises a power supply (e.g. such as including solar panels) or similar configured to provide electrical power to any elements or parts of the allergen-modifying device that requires it, e.g. to the control element and/or UV light emitting element.

According to a second aspect, one or more of the above objects is/are achieved, at least to an extent, by an allergen-modifying method comprising irradiating protein structure of allergen, e.g. or preferably irradiating the protein structure of respective allergen particles, with far-UVC light emitted by an allergen-modifying device according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect, one or more of the above objects is/are achieved, at least to an extent, by use of an allergen-modifying device according to the first aspect to modify the protein structure of allergen (e.g. pollen or other as described herein) by subjecting the allergen to emitted far-UVC light, emitted by the allergenmodifying device according to the first aspect or by the allergen-modifying method according to the second aspect.

Further details and embodiments are disclosed in the following.

Definitions

All headings and sub-headings are used herein for convenience only and should not be constructed as limiting the invention in any way. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the present invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

This invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law.

The shown figures are schematic representations for which reason the configuration of the different structures as well as their relative dimensions are intended to serve illustrative purposes only.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 schematically illustrates an allergen-modifying device according to one aspect;

Figure 2 schematically illustrates bonding of a nonlinear component to a guiding module photonic integrated circuit (PIC) comprising one or more waveguide cores on top of a substrate material as disclosed herein;

Figure 3 schematically illustrates one embodiment of a frequency converter, as disclosed herein, after bonding;

Figure 4 schematically illustrate a cross-section of a frequency converter (e.g. of Figs. 2 and 3) showing a cross-section of a waveguide sandwiched between a nonlinear component and a substrate (or the buffer layer/oxide cladding for such embodiments) of the guiding module;

Figure 5 schematically shows a sideview of the frequency converter exemplifying second harmonic generation (SHG) of a pump beam emitted by a pump laser light source;

Figure 6 schematically shows further embodiments, additionally comprising an optical input coupler; Figure 7 schematically shows an embodiment of parallel fabrication and alignment of a plurality of complete light sources;

Figure 8 schematically shows an example package of a compact light source/lighting device; and

Figure 9 schematically illustrates data of an in vitro test carried out using an allergen-modifying device/method as disclosed herein, where a blood sample of a human subject allergic to grass pollen is exposed to grass pollen treated with the allergen modifying device or non-treated control grass pollen. CD63 intensity is used as a measure for histamine release - i.e. a measure for allergic response.

Detailed description

Various aspects and embodiments of an allergen-modifying device and an allergenmodifying method as disclosed herein will now be described with reference to the figures.

The shown figures are schematic representations for which reason the configuration of the different structures as well as their relative dimensions are intended to serve illustrative purposes only.

Some of the different components are only disclosed in relation to a single embodiment of the invention, but are meant to be included in the other embodiments without further explanation.

Figure 1 schematically illustrates an allergen-modifying device according to one aspect.

Illustrated is one embodiment of an allergen-modifying device 100 as disclosed herein. The device 100 comprises a housing 200 comprising a suitable power source 105 (e.g. one or more rechargeable and/or replaceable batteries and/or solar panels), a control element 110 configured to output a control signal 111, one or more user interface elements 120, and a UV light emitting element 115.

The UV light emitting element 115 is configured to emit far-UVC light 125 in response to the control signal 111 , and in at least some embodiments, the control element 110 is configured to output the control signal 111 in response to one or more signals 121 provided by or obtained from the one or more user interface elements 120. The one or more user interface elements 120 may e.g. be a simple on/off switch or similar providing a simple on/off signal to the control element 110, which in turn may provide an on/off control signal 111 to the UV light emitting element 115.

As disclosed herein, far-UVC light 125 will efficiently modify allergens irradiated by the emitted far-UVC light 125 so they will no longer incur allergic reactions.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element 115 is configured to emit far- UVC light 125 comprising or having a peak wavelength selected from about 200 nm to about 230 nm. In some additional embodiments, the emitted far-UVC light 125 comprises or has a wavelength or peak wavelength of 230/about 230 nanometres or less. In some further embodiments, the emitted far-UVC light 125 comprises or has a wavelength or peak wavelength selected from 210/about 210 nanometres to 225/about 225 nanometres. In some further embodiments, the emitted far-UVC light 125 comprises or has a peak wavelength of 222 nanometres or about 222 nanometres.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element 115 is or comprises at least one far-UVC LED (light emitting diode) 115, at least one far-UVC field emission device (FED) 115, and/or at least one far-UVC laser 115. In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element is configured to emit coherent light obtained by sum-frequency generation.

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element 115 is a far-UVC excimer lamp 115.

Alternatively, the UV light emitting element 115 is or comprises another type of far- UVC light emitting element.

In some further embodiments, the allergen-modifying device 100 or the UV light emitting element 115 comprises an optical band-pass filter configured to filter the far- UVC light 125, where the band-pass filter is configured to transmit wavelengths between 200 nm to 230 nm or between about 200 nm to about 230 nm. Alternatively, the band-pass filter is configured to transmit wavelengths of a sub-interval selected from the interval between about 200 nm to about 230 nm. As yet another alternative, the band-pass filter is configured to transmit a wavelength of an interval within a predetermined range of a wavelength of 222/about 222 nm or of a different suitable wavelength (e.g. 210/about 210, 224/about 224, etc.).

The band-pass filter may be ‘post’ emission or ‘pre’ emission of the far-UVC light 125, i.e. the band-pass filter may be built-in or included with the UV light emitting element 115 (i.e. ‘pre’) whereby the UV light emitting element 115 will emit far-UVC light 125 after application of the band-pass filter or the band-pass filter may be located in the device 100 in the propagation path of far-UVC light 125 emitted by the UV light emitting element 115 (i.e. ‘post’) prior to or when exiting the device 100.

In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device or the UV light emitting element is configured to emit the far-UVC light with an energy level of about 400 millijoule (mJ) per square centimeter (cm ² ) or more, about 450 millijoule (mJ) per square centimeter (cm ² ) or more, or about 500 millijoule (mJ) per square centimeter (cm ² ) or more, e.g. or preferably at a wavelength of 222 nm or about 222 nm (before or after being influenced by an optical band-pass filter e.g. as mentioned above, if comprising such). In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device or the UV light emitting element is configured to emit the far-UVC light with an energy level of 500 or about 500 millijoule (mJ) per square centimeter (cm ² ) with a wavelength of 222 or about 222 nm (after being influenced by an optical band-pass filter as mentioned above, if comprising such).

In some embodiments, the UV light emitting element 115 is or comprises a light source device as illustrated and explained in connection with Figure 8 (see e.g. 18 in Figure 8). The illustrated light source (and corresponding ones) is (are) relatively cheap to manufacture and particularly suited for mass production. In such embodiments, the light source device comprises at least one pump laser/pump source (see e.g. 13 in Figure 8) configured to emit light at a first predetermined wavelength and an electromagnetic radiation frequency, or equivalent wavelength, converter (see e.g. 17 in Figures 3 and 8), where a guiding module (see e.g. 2, 3, 4, 5 in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) of the electromagnetic radiation frequency, or equivalent wavelength, converter (herein equally referred to simply as frequency converter) is configured to receive and guide at least a part of the emitted light from the at least one pump laser light source and where an output light signal (see e.g. 12 in Figures 5 and 6) has a second predetermined wavelength different from the first predetermined wavelength.

In some further embodiments, the frequency converter comprises

- a nonlinear optical component or part (see e.g. 1 in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) comprising or consisting of a predetermined nonlinear optical material, and

- the guiding module (mentioned above), the guiding module o having a predetermined geometry defining or controlling an effective refractive index of the guiding module, and o configured to receive and guide pump light (see e.g. 11 in Figure 5) resulting in a guided pump beam (see e.g. 11 in Figure 5), wherein the nonlinear optical component or part is

- bonded with or joined to the guiding module, where the bonding is configured to allow at least a part of the guided pump beam to overlap and/or evanescently couple into the nonlinear optical material, and

- configured to nonlinearly convert the guided pump beam in the nonlinear optical material to an un-guided signal mode radiated as an output light signal (12) at a different frequency or an equivalent wavelength.

In some further embodiments, the frequency converter comprises an optic coupler (see e.g. 6 in Figure 6) configured to receive light and provide it to the guiding module.

Additional embodiments of the light source device (as illustrated and explained in connection with Figure 8) and the frequency converter are disclosed elsewhere herein.

In some embodiments, the power supply 105 is configured to provide electrical power to any other element requiring electrical power, such as the control element 110 and the UV light emitting element 115 and e.g. the one or more user interface elements 120 (or one or some thereof).

In some further embodiments, the allergen-modifying device 100 as described above and/or herein is comprised by or combined with an air cleaner or purifier, an air condition unit, a patio heater or other outdoor heating unit, an outdoor regular, i.e. non-UV, lighting unit, an indoor regular, i.e. non-UV, lighting unit, a speaker unit, a wireless network device, and/or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the allergen-modifying device or the UV light-emitting element is configured to emit visible light in addition to far-UVC light. The visible light (emitted in addition to the far-UVC light) may e.g. be blue, red, or any other suitable visible light.

An aspect relates to a use of an allergen-modifying device 100 as described above and/or herein.

A further aspect relates to an allergen-modifying method, the method comprising modifying protein structure of allergen as described above and/or herein.

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates bonding (as indicated by the dashed arrow) of a nonlinear component (1) comprising nonlinear material to a guiding module PIC comprising one or more waveguide cores (2) on top of a substrate material (5) as disclosed herein. Once bonded (see e.g. Fig. 3), the nonlinear component (1) and the guiding module together forms an embodiment of a frequency converter (17) as disclosed herein. More particularly, the nonlinear component (1) is surface bonded with or jointed to one or more waveguide cores (2) of the guiding module. In some embodiments, the PIC has one or more bottom claddings (4) between the substrate (5) and the waveguide cores (2). The figure illustrates the bonding only for a very limited cutout of the overall part to maintain resolvability of individual components (see e.g. also Fig. 7), however an advantage of the surface bonding approach is that it is routinely done on a much larger scale. Further indicated is a length (7) of the waveguide(s).

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates one embodiment of a frequency converter (17), as disclosed herein, after bonding. The frequency converter (17) comprises a nonlinear component or part (1) of a nonlinear material, at least one optical waveguide core (2), a substrate (5), and in some further embodiments at least one bottom cladding (4) then supporting the waveguide core(s) (2). The bottom cladding (4) may e.g. be oxide cladding. The frequency converter (17) function as disclosed herein, and at least in some embodiments in accordance to Cherenkov-enabled nonlinear conversion.

Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a cross-section of a frequency converter (e.g. of Figs.

2 and 3) showing the cross-section of a waveguide core (2) sandwiched between the nonlinear component (1) and the substrate (5) (or the cladding (4) for such embodiments) of the guiding module. The cross-section is perpendicular to a length direction (see e.g. 7 in Fig. 2) of the waveguide core (2). An optical mode profile is shown as a shaded overlay (19) as an example. The illustrated schematic optical mode profile is for a light source being or comprising a pump laser emitting a pump beam (see e.g. 11 in Fig. 5). A thickness (8) of the waveguide core (2) is illustrated that also generally defines the spacing between the nonlinear component (1) and the substrate (5) (or the cladding (4)). To each other side of the waveguide core (2) there is a side cladding (to the opposite sides of the waveguide core (2) and between the nonlinear component (1) and the substrate (5)/the buffer layer/oxide cladding (4)) containing a surrounding cladding material (3), e.g. ambient air. Part of the optical intensity overlaps, i.e. evanescently couple, into the nonlinear material of the nonlinear component (1), allowing for frequency conversion through nonlinear interaction. The effective index and mode profile (19) of the pump beam depends on waveguide geometry (8 and 9). Note that both the nonlinear material and the substrate/cladding extends beyond the figure due to the minuscule waveguide dimensions.

Fig. 5 schematically shows a sideview of the frequency converter exemplifying second harmonic generation (SHG) of a pump beam (11) emitted by a pump laser light source. The pump beam (11) is mostly confined in the waveguide core (2). However, the overlap into the nonlinear material (1) ensures SHG of a signal beam (12) at the Cherenkov angle (10) ensuring phase matching. The requirements for phase matching in the SHG process is indicated graphically through the length and direction of the arrows denoting the pump (11) and signal (12) wavevectors. This figure shows only a part of the frequency converter along the length of the frequency converter, but SHG occurs continuously along the waveguide propagation axis.

Fig. 6 schematically shows further embodiments, additionally comprising an optical input coupler (6). A suitable photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is used to slim down the size of the optical mode through tapering of the waveguide dimension within the optical input coupler (6). The input coupler (6) could further enable combination of multiple pump beams though integrated optical elements such as multimode interference couplers, y-branches, etc. Fig. 7 schematically shows an embodiment of parallel fabrication and alignment of a plurality of complete light sources. Given that laser diodes typically are made as integrated devices in a process very similar to the fabrication process of the PIC in the frequency converter, the two components share similar feature size and overall build-structure, i.e. a functional layerstack (i.e. a laser diode active materials (14)) built upon a substrate material (i.e. a laser diode substrate material (15). This similarity is a significant enabler for a tight coupling between pump laser and frequency converter. Leveraging a unified pitch of the laser diode active materials (14) and of the respective waveguide cores (2) in the respective frequency converters, the optical alignment can be done for multiple devices/light sources simultaneously. Subsequent dicing between the waveguides readily facilitate large scale manufacturing of multiple (hundreds or thousands) devices/light sources. In at least some embodiments, the laser output facets are butt-coupled directly to the waveguide facets on the frequency converters. The efficiency of the coupling can be optimized for instance by tapering the guiding module waveguide towards the facet to match the geometry of the laser emission region.

Fig. 8 schematically shows an example package of a compact light source/lighting device (18). In this example, a diode laser (13) and a frequency converter (17) (e.g. as shown in Figs. 2 - 7) is placed in a TO-can (16). The TO-can (16) is a standardised packaging approach in the field of laser diodes and may be produced in high numbers at low prices. Complying to a standardised package enables compatibility with an entire range of current-supplies, fixtures, thermal management systems, etc.

Such a light source/lighting device 18 (and variants and embodiments thereof as disclosed herein) is particularly efficient as a UV light emitting element (see e.g. 115 in Figure 1) as disclosed herein or a part thereof with respect to emitting far-UVC light (see e.g. 125 in Figure 1), and in particular to emitting far-UVC comprising or having a peak wavelength of 222 nanometres or about 222 nanometres, in order to efficiently modify protein structure of allergen irradiated by the emitted far-UVC light so that the modified allergen no longer will cause an allergic reaction in otherwise allergic persons.

List of Reference Numerals: 1. Nonlinear material e.g., BBO

2. Waveguide core e.g., SiN

3. Surrounding cladding material e.g., Air

4. Bottom cladding material e.g., SiO2

5. Substrate material of the guiding module e.g., Si

6. Spot size converter/combiner on a PIC

7. Length of the waveguide

8. Thickness of the waveguid core

9. Width of the waveguide core

10. Cherenkov angle

11. Pump beam

12. Signal beam

13. First diode laser pump/(first) laser light source

14. Laser diode active material

15. Laser diode substrate material

16. TO-can

17. Frequency converter

18. Light source/light source device

19. Optical mode profile

100. Allergen-modifying UV light emitting device

105. Power supply

110. Control element

111. Control signal

115. UV light emitting element

120. User interface (Ul) element(s)

121. One or more Ul element signals

125. Emitted UV light (far-UVC)

200. Housing

Examples A series of tests have been carried out using various embodiments of an allergen modifying UV light emitting device and method as disclosed herein. Examples 1 and 2 support that the UV light emitting device has a significant allergen modifying effect.

Example 1 : Exposure of grass-pollen to Far-UVC light prevents allergic reactions in vitro

Figure 9 schematically illustrates data of a test carried out using an allergen modifying UV light emitting device or method as disclosed herein, specifically an allergen modifying UV light emitting device comprising an UV light emitting element being a far-UVC excimer lamp configured to emit far-UVC light having a peak wavelength of 222 or about 222 nanometres.

The illustrated data is for an in vitro test carried out using basophilic cells. Basophilic cells are inflammatory cells of the immune system that respond to allergens via the binding of allergen-specific antibodies to allergens. Basophils have protein receptors on their cell surface that bind immunoglobulin IgE, involved in allergy. It is the bound IgE antibody that confers a selective response of these cells to environmental substances, such as allergens, for example, pollen proteins. The response involves release of histamine which causes the clinical symptoms experienced by an allergic person, such as by persons with grass-allergy when exposed to grass-pollen (i.e. grass allergens).

Blood samples from persons with grass allergy contains both antibodies specific for grass-allergens as well as basophilic cells. Adding grass-pollen directly to a blood sample from a person with grass-allergy will cause a measurable release of histamine from the basophilic cells.

Figure 9 shows graphs of in vitro data for a test carried out with an allergen modifying UV light emitting device comprising an UV light emitting element being a far-UVC excimer lamp configured to emit far-UVC light having a peak wavelength of 222 or about 222 nanometres, where a grass allergen was exposed to the far-UVC light. Specifically, grass-pollen extract (in PBS) was exposed to 500mJ/cm2 222nm UVC-light emitted from a KrCI excimer lamp. For control experiments, grass-pollen was not exposed to 222nm UVC-light. Following the far-UVC light exposure, 10 pl grass-pollen extract (100 000 units/ml) was added to 10 ml blood sample from a human subject with known grass allergy, and the release of histidine was measured. As basophilic cell are present in the blood, active grass-pollen will induce the release of histamine. Histamine release was measured using surface marker CD63, as surface expression of CD63 is known to increase when histamine is released. Using flow-cytometric analysis, expression of CD63 on the surface of basophilic cells in the blood sample was measured after the transfer of grass-pollen to the blood. Gating of basophilic cells was performed using specific markers of basophilic cells. As readily can been seen from the data in Figure 9 (comparing the histidine release (surface marker CD63 intensity) for no far-UVC light (control) and far-UVC light (222nm) treatment, respectively), a strong decrease in histidine release was observed in the case where the allergen was exposed to far-UVC light prior to transfer of the allergen to the blood sample, strongly supporting that the far-UVC light exposure using the UV light emitting device has highly reduced the ability of the allergen to induce release of histamine by the basophilic cells. Specifically, 83% of the basophilic cells were positive for CD63 expression in blood samples treated with control grass-pollen. In contrast, the number of basophilic cells with CD63 expression was negligible in the blood samples where grass-pollen has been exposed to 222nm UVC light.

Accordingly it can be seen that the UV light emitting device has a significant allergen modifying effect, as the far-UVC-light inactivates allergens to a degree that prevents allergic reactions by basophilic cells from persons with allergy.

Example 2: Exposure of grass-pollen to Far-UVC light prevents allergic reactions in vivo

Skin prick testing is one of the most common allergy tests. It involves putting a drop of liquid onto your forearm that contains an allergen you may be allergic to. The skin under the drop is then gently pricked. If you're allergic to the substance, an itchy, red bump will appear within 15 minutes.

In vivo data is provided for a test carried out with an allergen modifying UV light emitting device comprising an UV light emitting element being a far-UVC excimer lamp configured to emit far-UVC light having a peak wavelength of 222 or about 222 nanometres, by exposing a liquid comprising a grass allergen extract to the far-UVC light. Following the far-UVC light exposure, a drop of the liquid comprising the grass allergen is put on the forearm of a human subject for performing a skin prick test using this far-UVC light-treated allergen, and the development of any potential itchiness/redness is observed. A grass allergen sample which has not been exposed to the far-UVC light is used as control. A reduction in itchiness and/or redness of the skin is expected for the far-UVC light-treated sample, compared to the non-treated sample.

This allows for testing if exposure of the allergen to Far-UVC-light sufficiently inactivates the allergen to a degree where it has reduced ability of inducing the clinical symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Some preferred embodiments have been shown in the foregoing, but it should be stressed that the invention is not limited to these, but may be embodied in other ways within the subject matter defined in the following claims.

It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, elements, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, steps, components or groups thereof.

In the claims enumerating several features, some or all of these features may be embodied by one and the same element, component or item. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be constructed as limiting the claim. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The word "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the invention as disclosed and/or elements thereof can be combined without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.