LIGHT DIFFUSING TIP

• US 20100016930A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visualase, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Visualase, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gelnett, Marc, Gowda, Ashok, Fox, Matthew, McNichols, Roger
• Application Number:
  US12/559,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements

Abstract

A light diffusing tip is provided. The light diffusing tip comprises a housing and a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing. The monolithic light scattering medium comprises a first scattering region at a first position, the scattering region having a first scattering property and a second scattering region at a second position, the second scattering region having a second scattering property different from the first scattering property, wherein the first scattering region and the second scattering region are coextensive along a substantial portion of a length of the housing. A light diffusing applicator also is provided. The light diffusing applicator comprises at least one optical waveguide, a first termination coupled to a first end of the at least one optical waveguide, the first termination to couple to a light source and a light diffusing tip coupled to a second end of the at least one optical waveguide.

Claims

1. A method of delivering energy to a tissue comprising:

positioning a light diffusing tip proximate to at least one desired region of said tissue; and

providing optical energy to said light diffusing tip; and

delivering said optical energy to said at least one desired region;

wherein said optical energy is variably scattered along at least one axis of said light diffusing tip.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one desired region is a tumor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of said optical energy delivered via said light diffusing tip is substantially uniform along said at least one axis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of said optical energy delivered via said light diffusing tip substantially varies along said at least one axis.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said optical energy is variably scattered along a long axis of said light diffusing tip.

6. A light diffusing tip comprising:

a housing; and

a monolithic light scattering medium disposed within the housing and comprising;

a first scattering region comprising a first scattering material; and

a second scattering region comprising a second scattering material;

wherein said first scattering region at least partially envelops said second scattering region.

7. The light diffusing tip of claim 6, wherein said first and second scattering materials comprise scattering centers suspended in a light transmissive medium.

8. The light diffusing tip of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said scattering centers comprise discrete gas bubbles.

9. The light diffusing tip of claim 6, wherein the concentration of said scattering centers in said light transmissive medium varies along at least one axis of said light diffusing tip.

10. The light diffusing tip of claim 6, wherein said first scattering region contacts the entire outer surface of said second scattering region.

11. The light diffusing tip of claim 6, wherein said second scattering region comprises a portion of an optical fiber.

12. The light diffusing tip of claim 11, wherein said portion of an optical fiber comprises the surface of said optical fiber.

13. A method of forming an applicator, the method comprising:

forming a first scattering region in a housing; and

forming a second scattering region in said housing at least partially coextensively with said first scattering region.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein forming at least one of said first and second scattering regions comprises injecting a liquid or gel into said housing.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said liquid or gel is injected with a needle.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising varying the rate of injection of said liquid or gel into said housing.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising solidifying at least one of said first and second scattering regions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein solidifying at least one of said first and second scattering regions comprises curing.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said forming a second scattering region comprises at least partially displacing the material of said first scattering region in said housing.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

positioning said needle in proximity to said housing; and

injecting said liquid or gel into said housing;

wherein the position of said needle in said housing is varied during said injecting of liquid or gel into said housing.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the positioning of said needle is varied based on observation of the injection of liquid or gel into said housing.