Fiber optic positioner

• US 5,671,317 A
• Filed: 07/16/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Health Research Incorporated Roswell Park Division
• Original Assignee: Health Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Weishaupt, Kenneth R., Wood, Leroy, Potter, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kang, Ellen Eunjoo
• Application Number:
  US08/680,936
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 385/136, 385/137, 385/117, 385/118, 604/20, 606/15, 606/16, 606/17
• US Class Current: 385/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0633 Arrangements for lifting or hinging the frame which supports the light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

Method and apparatus for stabilizing a fiber optic relative to the skin surface of a patient so that radiation from the fiber optic strikes a defined surface area on the skin independently of patient movement. The apparatus comprises a polypod support having a fiber optic supporting platform and at least three legs to form a tripod. Each of the legs has two ends, a first of which is secured to the fiber optic supporting platform and the second of which is securely attached to the skin of the patient, either directly or by means of a foot attached to the second end. The method of the present invention comprises attaching a polypod, as above described, to the skin of a patient and irradiating a defined surface area by means of an end of a fiber optic held by the polypod support.

Claims

1. Apparatus for stabilizing a fiber optic relative to the skin surface of a patient so that radiation from the fiber optic strikes a defined surface area on the skin independently of patient movement, said apparatus comprising a polypod support having a fiber optic supporting platform and at least three legs to form a tripod, each of the legs having two ends, a first end being secured to the fiber optic supporting platform and the second end being adapted for secure attachment to the skin of the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the polypod is a tripod.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second ends of the legs are provided with feet for attachment to the skin.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform is a block having a vertically oriented hole therein sized to accept a fiber optic including a focusing lens.

5. A method for irradiating a desired area of skin of a patient which comprises:

Attaching the second ends of the legs of the apparatus of claim 1 to the skin of a patient arranged so that the second ends are essentially equidistant from each other, the legs extending from the platform toward the skin at an angle of from 10to 45degrees from the vertical and so that the area of skin to be irradiated is directly below a fiber optic held by the platform; and

Passing light through the fiber optic to the desired skin area.

6. A method for irradiating a desired area of skin of a patient which comprises:

Attaching the feet of the second ends of the legs of the apparatus of claim 3 to the skin of a patient by means of a cyanoacrylate adhesive, said feet being arranged so that the second ends are essentially equidistant from each other, the legs extending from the platform toward the skin at an angle of from 10 to 45 degrees from the vertical and so that the area of skin to be irradiated is directly below a fiber optic held by the platform; and

passing light through the fiber optic to the desired skin area.