Phototherapeutic apparatus with diffusive tip assembly
US6270492A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 7, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 7, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/2261
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical transmissive, light-diffusing, fiber tip assembly having a radiation-scattering particles incorporated therein and a reflective end surface is disclosed for use in phototherapy. As radiation propagates through the fiber tip, a portion of the radiation is scattered in a cylindrical (or partially cylindrical) pattern along the length of the fiber tip. Radiation which is not scattered during this initial pass through the tip is reflected by at least one surface of the assembly and returned through the tip. During this second pass, the remaining radiation (or at least a major portion of this returning radiation) again encounters the scatterers which provide further radial diffusion of the radiation. Preferably, the scattering medium and the reflective end cap interact to provide a substantially uniform axial distribution of laser radiation over the length of the tip apparatus. Methods and devices are also disclosed in which a dielectric structure is operatively coupled to phototherapeutic instrument to reflect light without substantial heating. The invention is particularly useful in light diffusive tip assemblies for phototherapy that have components which increase in tempe…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.