Light Diffuser and Process for Producing the Same
First Claim
1. A light diffuser (10) made of an at least partly transparent diffuser material, the light diffuser comprising a proximal end suitable for coupling light supplied by a light conductor (11) into the light diffuser (10), light scattering surface areas through which the light coupled into the light diffuser is deflected diffusely out of the light diffuser (10), and wherein the light scattering surface areas comprise structures (5) which are produced by interpenetration of the diffuser material in a liquid state in a boundary layer (4) of a porous shaping material (2) and which therefore comprise undercut forms induced by a surface tension.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light diffuser (10), which is particularly suitable for introducing diffuse light into a tissue, is produced by interpenetration of a diffuser material in a liquid state into a boundary layer (4) of a porous shaping material, by which process a diffuser surface is formed having a surface structure which represents essentially a negative of the pore structure of the shaping material and comprises undercut structures induced by a surface tension. The light diffuser (10) is, for example, produced by introducing a diffuser blank (1) comprising material which is liquefiable through mechanical vibration into the shaping material and simultaneously stimulating it with mechanical vibrations, such that the liquefiable material liquefies at least there where it is in contact with the shaping material and is pressed into the shaping material.
120 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A light diffuser (10) made of an at least partly transparent diffuser material, the light diffuser comprising
a proximal end suitable for coupling light supplied by a light conductor (11) into the light diffuser (10), light scattering surface areas through which the light coupled into the light diffuser is deflected diffusely out of the light diffuser (10), and wherein the light scattering surface areas comprise structures (5) which are produced by interpenetration of the diffuser material in a liquid state in a boundary layer (4) of a porous shaping material (2) and which therefore comprise undercut forms induced by a surface tension.
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11. A method for producing a light diffuser (10) comprising the steps of:
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providing a light diffuser comprising;
a proximal end suitable for coupling light supplied by a light conductor (11) into the light diffuser (10). light scattering surface areas through which the light coupled into the light diffuser is deflected diffusely out of the light diffuser (10), pressing the diffuser material in a liquid state in a boundary region into pores of a porous shaping material (2) and then bringing the diffuser material into a solid or gel-like state to form structures in the light scattering surface areas, the structures comprising undercut forms induced by a surface tension. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A diffuser (1) blank that is pin-shaped and consists at least partly of a transparent, thermoplastic diffuser material and comprises
a distal end, a proximal end (1.1, 1.2), wherein the proximal end (1.2) is suitable for coupling light into the diffuser blank and for mechanical vibrations to be applied to the diffuser blank, and surface areas on the diffuser blank'"'"'s circumferential surface and/or on the diffuser blank'"'"'s distal end, where the diffuser material is to be liquefiable for the generation of a light scattering surface structure (5) and able to be pressed into a porous shaping material (2), and which to this purpose protrude beyond further surface areas or are furnished with protruding energy directors (21) and are situated on the diffuser blank (1) in such a manner that they are able to be brought into contact with the porous shaping material (2).
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23. A method to introduce diffuse light into an area in a tissue to be treated with light, wherein the light is supplied to the tissue area by means of a light conductor with a distal light conductor end (11), comprising the steps of:
providing a diffuser blank (1) that is pin-shaped and consists at least partly of a clinically applicable, transparent, thermoplastic, biologically resorbable diffuser material and comprises;
a distal end (1.1), a proximal end (1.2), wherein the proximal end (1.2) is suitable for coupling light into the diffuser blank and for mechanical vibrations to be applied to the diffuser blank, and surface areas on the diffuser blank'"'"'s circumferential surface and/or on the diffuser blank'"'"'s distal end, where the diffuser material is to be liquefiable for the generation of a light scattering surface structure (5) and able to be pressed into the porous shaping material (2), and which to this purpose protrude beyond further surface areas or are furnished with protruding energy directors (21) and are situated on the diffuser blank (1) in such a manner that they are able to be brought into contact with a porous shaping material (2) implanting the diffuser blank in the tissue such that its proximal end (1.2) remains accessible and its distal end (1.1) reaches to, or into the tissue area to be treated, and for implantation, mechanical vibrations are applied to the diffuser blank (1) through its proximal end (1.2) and the diffuser blank is pressed into the tissue such that the thermoplastic diffuser material is liquefied in the surface areas protruding or equipped with energy directors (21) and is pressed into the tissue and that then the distal light conductor end (11) is coupled to the proximal end (1.2) and light is coupled into the diffuser. - View Dependent Claims (24, 26, 27)
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25. The method according to claim, wherein a cortical bone layer (20.1) is opened for the implantation of the diffuser blank (1) and the diffuser blank (1) is driven into the spongeous bone (20.2) without providing a opening therein.
- 28. A light diffuser with a light scattering surface, wherein a diffuser cap (14) is situated around the light scattering surface and that the diffuser cap (14) is designed as an instrument or part of an instrument.
Specification