METHODS AND PRODUCTS FOR ILLUMINATING TISSUE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical article comprising:
- a flexible polymeric film having opposite first and second major surfaces;
a viscoelastic lightguide layer disposed on a major surface of the film; and
a light source optically coupled to the viscoelastic lightguide layer,wherein light emitted by the light source enters the viscoelastic lightguide layer and is transported within the viscoelastic lightguide layer by total internal reflection; and
wherein the medical article is sterilized or sterilizable and conformable to a body part of a patient.
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Abstract
Methods and products for illuminating the tissue of a patient wherein the products include a conformable polymeric layer.
33 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A medical article comprising:
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a flexible polymeric film having opposite first and second major surfaces; a viscoelastic lightguide layer disposed on a major surface of the film; and a light source optically coupled to the viscoelastic lightguide layer, wherein light emitted by the light source enters the viscoelastic lightguide layer and is transported within the viscoelastic lightguide layer by total internal reflection; and wherein the medical article is sterilized or sterilizable and conformable to a body part of a patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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14. A medical article adhered to a patient, the medical article comprising:
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a flexible polymeric film having opposite first and second major surfaces; a conformable polymeric layer disposed on a major surface of the film; a light source; and a lightguide, wherein light emitted by the light source enters the lightguide and is transported within the lightguide by total internal reflection; wherein the medical article is adhered to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17)
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18-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method of illuminating tissue of a patient, the method comprising:
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providing a medical article comprising; a conformable polymeric lightguide layer having opposite first and second major surfaces; and a light source optically coupled to the conformable polymeric lightguide layer; wherein light emitted by the light source enters the conformable polymeric lightguide layer and is transported within the conformable polymeric lightguide layer by total internal reflection; adhering the medical article to the patient such that it conforms to the shape of the tissue of the patient and illuminates the tissue of the patient using light emitted from a major surface and/or an edge of the medical article. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification