Patent · US Expired

Flexible microcircuits for internal light therapy

US5800478A · kind A · utility

176Cited by
14References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 7, 1996
Grant dateSep 1, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 7, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N2005/0652
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A plurality of embodiments for a flexible probe used to provide photodynamic therapy (PDT) and to effect other medical procedures at an internal treatment site inside a patient's body. Each of the embodiments of the flexible probe (100, 108, 130, 158, 182, 190, 220, 280, 370, 390, 440, 460, 520) includes a flexible substrate (102, 184, 196, 222, 250, 282, 412, 462, 482, 502, 522) on which are disposed conductive traces (414, 466, 468, 488, 490, 504, 506, 524, 526) electrically connected to leads through which electrical current and signals are conveyed. A plurality of light sources (104, 192, 256, 286, 418, 436, 470, 492, 508, 542) or other micro-electronic circuits are connected to the conductive traces and mounted on the flexible substrate. Each of the embodiments of the flexible probes is enclosed within a transparent, biocompatible polymer envelope (106, 110, 464, 522). Due to the characteristic elastic properties of the flexible substrate, the flexible probe can readily be bent, folded, or rolled while being disposed at the internal treatment site, thereby enabling the probe to pass through a guide tube (120), an incision, a catheter (150), or a lumen(154) of relatively small …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.