Illuminator devices for ultraviolet light delivery and methods of making same

A device for delivering ultraviolet light to an in vivo treatment site, the device comprising:

• an optical fiber having a fiber core and a circumferential covering, the fiber core having a major axis, and acceptance end upon which light is incident, and a distal end, the device having the covering removed from the fiber core along the predetermined length thereof and an optical scattering material radially surrounding the core along the predetermined length to form an illumination window, the distal end of the optical fiber having a reflective surface formed thereon to reflect light incident from the acceptance end back toward the illumination window.

A method of forming a device for delivering ultraviolet light to an in vivo treatment site, the method comprising:

• removing a covering from an optical fiber core to expose the core along a predetermined length thereof;
• shaping a circumferential contour of the core along the predetermined length whereby a ray travelling in the core parallel to a major axis makes an angle of incidence with the circumferential contour of the core along the predetermined length thereof;
• surrounding the core along the predetermined length with an optical scattering material.

A device for delivering ultraviolet light to an in vivo treatment site, the device comprising:

• an optical fiber having a fiber core and a circumferential covering, the fiber core having the covering removed from the fiber core along a predetermined length thereof;
• the core being shaped to have differing radii along the predetermined length;
• an optical scattering material radially surrounding the core along the predetermined length.

A device for delivering ultraviolet light to an in vivo treatment site, the device comprising:

• an optical fiber having a fiber core and a circumferential covering, the fiber core having the covering removed from the fiber core along a predetermined length thereof;
• the core having a multitapered contour along the predetermined length;
• an optical scattering material radially surrounding the core along the predetermined length.

A device for delivering ultraviolet light to an in vivo treatment site, the device comprising:

• an optical fiber having a fiber core and a circumferential covering, the fiber core having the covering removed from the fiber core along a predetermined length;
• the core having a first contour segment along a first portion of the predetermined length and a second contour segment along a second portion of the predetermined length;
• an optical scattering material radially surrounding the core along the predetermined length.

A device for delivering ultraviolet light to an in vivo treatment site, the device comprising:

• an optical fiber having a fiber core and a circumferential covering, the fiber core having the covering removed from the fiber core along an illumination window, the illumination window being spaced away from a distal end of the optical fiber whereby the circumferential covering extends over the distal end of the optical fiber;
• an essentially totally reflective mirror situated at a distal end of the optical fiber to reflect light toward the illumination window;
• an optical scattering material radially surrounding the core along the illumination window.