Low profile apparatus and method for phototherapy
First Claim
1. An apparatus for irradiating a tissue surface, said apparatus comprising an optical assembly, said assembly configured to be coupled by an optical transmission device to a light source, wherein the optical assembly comprises:
- a) a light-transmitting contact surface configured to transmit light to the tissue surface;
b) a sapphire light guide plate having a light input surface at a lateral surface, said light guide plate adapted to receive light from the optical transmission device, the light propagating through the light guide plate;
c) a reflecting plate separated from the proximal surface of the light guide plate;
d) an extraction space defined by the proximal surface of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate;
e) extraction features within the extraction space, the extraction features formed such that light reflected from the extraction features is transmitted to the tissue surface through the light-transmitting contact surface in a uniform distribution, the extraction features being in direct physical contact with the reflecting plate, the extraction features comprising a mixture of a binding material and inorganic crystalline microparticles, said microparticles having an index of refraction substantially greater than that of sapphire and a diameter of approximately 1 micron or larger, and where the binding material comprises a polymer and inorganic crystalline nanoparticles, said nanoparticles having an index of refraction substantially than that of sapphire and a diameter of approximately 25 to 50 nm or smaller, such that the binding material has an index of refraction approximately equal to the index of refraction of sapphire; and
f) a housing enclosing at least a portion of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate and having an opening at the lateral input surface of the light guide plate.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are optical assemblies having thin, low profile shapes. These optical assemblies may be used with fiber coupled lasers and other light sources, including high power sources, to irradiate tissue at a wavelength suitable for inducing ablation or coagulation to a target depth, denaturation, thermal modification of a tissue, and/or preferential injury to a target tissue structure. Example optical assemblies can produce substantially uniform illumination patterns that are useful for treating superficial tissue, including the internal or luminal (e.g., esophageal) tissue. Some examples may have capability for cooling superficial tissue or skin, such as a detachable, reusable heat sink for active cooling without consumables, fluid pumps, or other cooling equipment.
45 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for irradiating a tissue surface, said apparatus comprising an optical assembly, said assembly configured to be coupled by an optical transmission device to a light source, wherein the optical assembly comprises:
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a) a light-transmitting contact surface configured to transmit light to the tissue surface; b) a sapphire light guide plate having a light input surface at a lateral surface, said light guide plate adapted to receive light from the optical transmission device, the light propagating through the light guide plate; c) a reflecting plate separated from the proximal surface of the light guide plate; d) an extraction space defined by the proximal surface of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate; e) extraction features within the extraction space, the extraction features formed such that light reflected from the extraction features is transmitted to the tissue surface through the light-transmitting contact surface in a uniform distribution, the extraction features being in direct physical contact with the reflecting plate, the extraction features comprising a mixture of a binding material and inorganic crystalline microparticles, said microparticles having an index of refraction substantially greater than that of sapphire and a diameter of approximately 1 micron or larger, and where the binding material comprises a polymer and inorganic crystalline nanoparticles, said nanoparticles having an index of refraction substantially than that of sapphire and a diameter of approximately 25 to 50 nm or smaller, such that the binding material has an index of refraction approximately equal to the index of refraction of sapphire; and f) a housing enclosing at least a portion of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate and having an opening at the lateral input surface of the light guide plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of irradiating a tissue surface comprising:
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a) guiding light via an optical assembly, said assembly configured to produce a uniform distribution of light and configured to be coupled by an optical transmission device to a light source, wherein the optical assembly comprises; i) a light-transmitting contact surface configured to transmit light to the tissue surface; ii) a sapphire light guide plate having a light input surface at a lateral surface, said light guide plate adapted to receive light from the optical transmission device, the light propagating through the light guide plate; iii) a reflecting plate separated from the proximal surface of the light guide plate; iv) an extraction space defined by the proximal surface of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate; and v) extraction features within the extraction space, the extraction features formed such that light reflected from the extraction features is transmitted to the tissue surface through the light-transmitting contact surface in a uniform distribution, the extraction features being in direct physical contact with the reflecting plate, the extraction features comprising a mixture of a binding material and inorganic crystalline microparticles, said microparticles having an index of refraction substantially greater than that of sapphire and a diameter of approximately 1 micron or larger, and where the binding material comprises a polymer and inorganic crystalline nanoparticles, said nanoparticles having an index of refraction substantially than that of sapphire and a diameter of approximately 25to 50 nm or smaller, such that the binding material has an index of refraction approximately equal to the index of refraction of sapphire; and vi) a housing enclosing at least a portion of the light guide plate and the reflecting plate and having an opening at the lateral input surface of the light guide plate; and b) irradiating the tissue surface with light guided by the optical assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification