Method and apparatus for in vivo blood irradiation

Abstract

In vivo irradiation of blood is performed via catheters which can also or alternately be used to introduce fluids into blood vessels. The catheters include narrow tubular portions which are at least partially inserted into blood vessels. The narrow tubular portions utilize optical material to carry light radiation into blood vessels for irradiation of blood therein. In some embodiments, the tubular portions of the catheters are made of optical material to directly carry light radiation. The tubular portions are then made to diffuse the light along at least a portion of their lengths or to carry light to diffusing and preferably radio-opaque tips from which the majority of the light is diffused. In alternate embodiments, the tubular portions include inner catheter tubes covered with thin outer sleeves made of optical material and tapered and/or otherwise adapted to diffuse light radiation along their lengths, preferably primarily along the portions of their lengths received within blood vessels, or at their ends. Light radiation is coupled into the catheters by optical couplers formed as portions of the narrow tubular portions of the catheters, as portions of hubs which receive the narrow tubular portions of the catheters or as integral portions of catheters formed as unitary structures. The catheters include luer fittings for coupling fluid carrying tubes and light sources thereto, and preferably include tapered luer fittings for the optical couplers to facilitate connection of light sources, such as lasers, to the optical couplers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.