Light energy delivery head
AssigneePalomar Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGregory B. Altshuler, Henry H. Zenzie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light energy delivery head is provided which, in one aspect, mounts laser diode bars or other light energy emitters in a heat sink block which is adapted to cool both the emitters and a surface of a medium with which the head is in contact and to which it is applying light energy. In another aspect, various retroreflection configurations are provided which optimize retroreflection of back-scattered light energy from the medium. The size of the aperture through which light energy is applied to the medium is also controlled so as to provide a desired amplification coefficient as a result of retroreflection.
Claims20
A head for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium having an outer layer in physical and thermal contact with said head including:
- a thermally conductive mount having an energy emitting surface;
- at least one optical energy emitting element mounted in said mount adjacent said energy emitting surface, each said element being in thermal contact with said mount and oriented to direct light energy through said surface;
- a thin, transparent, thermally conductive layer over said surface and in thermal contact therewith, said layer being in contact with said outer layer of the medium when the head is applying light energy thereto;
- and
- a cooling mechanism for said mount, permitting said mount to sink heat from both said at least one element and said outer layer of the medium.
A head for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium including:
- a block having an energy emitting surface;
- at least one source of light energy, each said source directing light energy through a selected portion of said surface;
- and
- a layer between said energy emitting surface and said medium and in contact with said medium when the head is applying light energy thereto, said layer including at least a reflective layer covering all portions of said surface except each said selected portion through which light energy is directed, said reflecting layer retroreflecting light energy scattered from said medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.