Apparatus for the isotropic irradiation of cavity walls

• US 5,354,293 A
• Filed: 02/13/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biolitec Pharma Marketing Ltd., Gesellschaft Fur Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbH Munchen
• Original Assignee: Gesellschaft Fur Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbH Munchen
• Inventors: Beyer, Wolfgang, Jocham, Dieter, Heinze, Armin, Unsoeld, Eberhard, Schmitt, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/833,827
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 606/6-18, 128/395, 128/397, 128/398, 607/88-92
• US Class Current: 606/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22059 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2272 with reflective or refractive surfaces for deflecting the beam A61B2018/2261, A61B2018/2266 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/061 Bladder and/or urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0236 the diffusion taking place within the volume of the element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• 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

An apparatus for the isotropic irradiation of cavity walls includes in a first channel of a catheter a light conducting fiber which has a cortically shaped tip for deflecting a light beam radially outwardly through a transparent portion of the catheter and a resiliently expandable sleeve tightly disposed around the catheter and having its interior in communication by a second channel with a fluid supply for expanding the sleeve so as form a light scattering structure whose scattering characteristics are adjustable dependent on the degree of sleeve expansion.

Claims

1. Apparatus for isotropic irradiation of cavity walls, said apparatus comprising an axially rigid catheter including a first channel, a light conducting fiber disposed in said first channel so as to be movable therein, said fiber having a conically shaped tip with a cone angle adapted to deflect a light beam supplied through said conducting fiber essentially in radial outward direction, a resiliently expandable sleeve tightly surrounding said catheter and being at opposite ends thereof in sealing engagement with said catheter so that, upon expansion of said sleeve, the fiber tip remains in the center thereof, said catheter having a second channel in fluid communication with the space surrounded by said sleeve for admission of fluid thereto to expand said sleeve, depending on the amount of fluid admitted, to an oval to torus shape so as to form a light scattering structure whose distribution characteristic for light emitted from the light conductor tip disposed within the expanded sleeve is adjustably dependent on the degree of sleeve expansion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cone angle of said tip is between 75°

and 95°

.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light scattering structure includes a liquid disposed in the sleeve and used to expand the sleeve.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid is a transparent liquid and said sleeve consists of a light scattering material.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a positioning balloon is disposed around the catheter centrally about said sleeve and means are provided for filling said balloon with an optically clear fluid for centering said catheter in said cavity.