Fiber optic light diffuser
First Claim
1. A cylindrical diffuser comprising an optical fiber having a proximal and a distal end, said fiber including a cladding for reflecting light back into said fiber and a protective sheath thereabout, said fiber including a distal end portion from which said cladding and said sheath are removed, said distal end portion including a ring of a material to reflect light back into said portion for providing a relatively even distribution of light and thus even distribution of heat in human or animal tissue at said distal end portion said diffuser including a sleeve enclosing said distal end portion and connecting to said clad portion, said sleeve and said distal end portion having conical shapes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Heat and light generating, fiber optic, cylindrical diffusers are structured to operate more efficiently and with increased uniformity by the inclusion of rings of prescribed indicies of refraction about the unclad distal end portion of the diffuser. Such a diffuser also includes a conical distal tip. A sealed Teflon (TM) sleeve containing diffusing material in place over the entire length of the diffuser also improves the uniformity of heat distribution.
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Citations
9 Claims
- 1. A cylindrical diffuser comprising an optical fiber having a proximal and a distal end, said fiber including a cladding for reflecting light back into said fiber and a protective sheath thereabout, said fiber including a distal end portion from which said cladding and said sheath are removed, said distal end portion including a ring of a material to reflect light back into said portion for providing a relatively even distribution of light and thus even distribution of heat in human or animal tissue at said distal end portion said diffuser including a sleeve enclosing said distal end portion and connecting to said clad portion, said sleeve and said distal end portion having conical shapes.
Specification