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Low profile apparatus and method for phototherapy

  • US 9,554,856 B2
  • Filed: 08/13/2013
  • Issued: 01/31/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2008
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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:

  • 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.

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