Light energy delivery head
First Claim
1. A method for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium having an outer layer, the method comprising:
- providing a thermally conductive mount having an energy emitting surface;
mounting at least one optical energy emitting element in the mount adjacent the energy emitting surface, each energy emitting element being in thermal contact with the mount and oriented to direct light energy through the surface to the medium;
forming a thin, transparent, thermally conductive layer over the surface and in thermal contact therewith, the layer being in contact with the outer layer of the medium when the energy emitting element is applying light energy thereto; and
activating the energy emitting element to apply energy to the medium while cooling the mount to sink heat from both the energy emitting element and the outer layer of the medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light energy delivery head is provided which, in one aspect, mounts laser diode bars or other light energy emitters in a heat sink block which is adapted to cool both the emitters and a surface of a medium with which the head is in contact and to which it is applying light energy. In another aspect, various retroreflection configurations are provided which optimize retroreflection of back-scattered light energy from the medium. The size of the aperture through which light energy is applied to the medium is also controlled so as to provide a desired amplification coefficient as a result of retroreflection.
181 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium having an outer layer, the method comprising:
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providing a thermally conductive mount having an energy emitting surface;
mounting at least one optical energy emitting element in the mount adjacent the energy emitting surface, each energy emitting element being in thermal contact with the mount and oriented to direct light energy through the surface to the medium;
forming a thin, transparent, thermally conductive layer over the surface and in thermal contact therewith, the layer being in contact with the outer layer of the medium when the energy emitting element is applying light energy thereto; and
activating the energy emitting element to apply energy to the medium while cooling the mount to sink heat from both the energy emitting element and the outer layer of the medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium comprising:
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providing a block having an energy emitting surface;
deploying at least one source of light energy in the block, each the source directing light energy through a selected portion of the surface;
forming a reflective layer along the energy emitting surface covering substantially all of the surface except apertures associated with each light source through which light energy is directed, and activating at least one light source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium the method comprising:
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providing a mount having an energy emitting surface;
deploying at lease one energy emitting element in the mount to apply light energy to the medium through an aperture;
applying a reflecting layer to the mount to retroreflect light energy back-scattered from the medium; and
sizing the aperture to have a minimum value Dmin for a dimension D of the aperture which is;
wherein f is a desired amplification coefficient as a result of retroreflection from the reflecting layer, and wherein R and r are reflecting coefficients of the medium and the reflecting layer, respectively.
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Specification