Device for irradiating tissue
First Claim
1. A method for irradiating tissue having absorption characteristics, comprising:
- directing pump radiation within a narrow spectral hand from a laser onto a fluorescent element;
responsively generating radiation by spontaneous emission at the fluorescent element, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having peak emission outside said narrow spectral band of the radiation, and at least a portion of which emitted radiation matches said absorption characteristics; and
delivering at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation to a tissue target for treatment of said tissue, said portion having sufficient fluence for therapeutic effect.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for irradiating tissue includes a fluorescent element for receiving pump radiation and responsively emitting radiation having different spectral characteristics than the pump radiation. A redirector receives emitted radiation promulgated in a direction away from a tissue target and redirects the radiation toward the target. The pump radiation may be supplied, for example, by a flashlamp or frequency-doubled neodymium-doped laser. Use of the device provides an inexpensive and effective alternative to conventional dye laser-based systems for various medical therapies, including treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions, tattoo and hair removal, and photodynamic therapy (PDT).
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for irradiating tissue having absorption characteristics, comprising:
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directing pump radiation within a narrow spectral hand from a laser onto a fluorescent element; responsively generating radiation by spontaneous emission at the fluorescent element, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having peak emission outside said narrow spectral band of the radiation, and at least a portion of which emitted radiation matches said absorption characteristics; and delivering at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation to a tissue target for treatment of said tissue, said portion having sufficient fluence for therapeutic effect. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for irradiating tissue having absorption characteristics, comprising:
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directing pump radiation onto a fluorescent element; responsively generating radiation by spontaneous emission at the fluorescent element, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having spectral characteristics substantially different from the incident radiation, and at least a portion which emitted radiation matches said absorption characteristics; receiving a portion of the diffuse, spontaneously emitted radiation at a redirector; and redirecting the received portion of the emitted radiation toward a tissue target for treatment of said tissue, wherein the step of redirecting the emitted radiation includes reflecting the emitted radiation from the boundary between a waveguide core and cladding material, the cladding material having a substantially lower index of refraction than the waveguide core, said portion having sufficient fluence for therapeutic effect.
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12. A device for irradiating tissue having absorption characteristics, comprising:
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a fluorescent element positioned to receive pump radiation from a laser having a narrow spectral band and responsively generate radiation by spontaneous emission, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having peak emission outside said narrow spectral band, and at least a portion of which emitted radiation matches said absorption characteristics; and the fluorescent element delivering at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation toward a tissue target for treatment of said tissue, said portion having sufficient fluence for therapeutic effect. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A device for irradiating tissue, comprising:
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a fluorescent element positioned to receive pump radiation having a narrow spectral band and responsively generate radiation by spontaneous emission, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having peak emission outside said narrow spectral band; and the fluorescent element delivering at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation toward a tissue target, wherein the fluorescent element comprises a liquid fluorescent dye solution. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A device for irradiating tissue, comprising:
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a fluorescent element positioned to receive pump radiation having a narrow spectral band and responsively generate radiation by spontaneous emission, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having peak emission outside said narrow spectral band, the fluorescent element delivering at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation toward a tissue target; and a diffuse reflector for redirecting at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation toward the tissue target, wherein the diffuse reflector has a frustro-conical shape.
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26. A device for irradiating tissue, comprising:
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a fluorescent element positioned to receive pump radiation having a narrow spectral band and responsively generate radiation by spontaneous emission, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having peak emission outside said narrow spectral band, the fluorescent element delivering, at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation toward a tissue target; and a substantially transparent window having a proximal face positioned adjacent to the fluorescent element and a distal face for contacting the target. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A device for irradiating tissue, comprising:
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a fluorescent element positioned to receive pump radiation and responsively generate radiation by spontaneous emission, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having substantially different spectral characteristics with respect to the incident radiation; and a redirector for redirecting at least a portion of the diffuse, spontaneously emitted radiation toward a tissue target, wherein the redirector comprises a waveguide including a reflective entrance face and reflective walls, the entrance face having a substantially transmissive aperture formed therein for admitting pump radiation into the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for irradiating tissue having absorption characteristics, comprising:
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a pump radiation source for generating pump radiation from a laser having a narrow spectral band; a fluorescent element positioned to receive the pump radiation and responsively generate radiation by spontaneous emission, the spontaneously emitted radiation being diffuse and having peak emission outside said narrow spectral band, and at least a portion of which emitted radiation matches said absorption characteristics; and a redirector for redirecting at least a portion of the diffuse emitted radiation toward a tissue target for treatment of said tissue, said portion having sufficient fluence for therapeutic effect.
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Specification