Fiber optic sensing techniques in laser medicine
OwnerMarcos Y. Kleinermaninventor
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Abstract
Methods and devices for medical treatment of biological tissue use fiber optic tips attached to the end of an optical fiber light guide for thermal treatment or photo-irradiation of said tissue, said tip including a photoluminescent material capable of acting as the tip's temperature probe. The photoluminescent material allows the tip to act as a controlled temperature surgical device or as a simple, efficient and easy to fabricate laser light diffuser.
Claims8
A device for medical treatment of biological tissue by optical irradiation at wavelengths within a pre-selected spectral region, comprising:
- (a) a source of high power laser radiation of wavelength or wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 ;
- (b) a fiber optic light guide having a first end optically coupled to said source and a second end terminated by a cylindrical light-diffusing tip including a photoluminescent material so characterized that when exposed to said laser radiation, it absorbs at least a substantial fraction .alpha. of the intensity of said radiation and re-emits the absorbed radiation nearly isotropically around said tip as luminescence radiation diffused into said biological tissue and having wavelengths .lambda..sub.f different from .lambda..sub.1 and within said pre-selected spectral region for irradiation of said tissue;
- and
- (c) means for injecting said laser radiation into said first end of said fiber optic light guide.
A method for medical treatment of biological tissue by optical irradiation at wavelengths within a pre-selected spectral region, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a source of high power laser radiation of preselected wavelength or wavelengths .lambda..sub.1 ;
- (b) providing a fiber optic light guide having a first end and a second end, said second end terminated by a cylindrical light-diffusing tip including a photoluminescent material so characterized that when exposed to laser radiation of wavelengths .lambda..sub.1, it absorbs at least a substantial fraction .alpha. of the intensity of said radiation and re-emits the absorbed radiation nearly isotropically around said tip as luminescence radiation diffused into said biological tissue and having wavelengths .lambda..sub.f different from .lambda..sub.1 and within said pre-selected spectral region for irradiation of said tissue;
- (c) placing said tip of said light guide in optical communication with said tissue;
- and
- (d) injecting said laser radiation into the first end of said light guide, thereby causing the emission of said luminescence radiation and the optical irradiation of said tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.