Light energy delivery head
AssigneePalomar Medical Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGregory B. Altshuler, Henry M. Zenzie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims29
A head for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium having an outer layer including:
- a thermally conductive mount having an energy emitting surface;
- at least one optical energy emitting element mounted in said mount and in proximity to said energy emitting surface, each said element being in thermal contact with said mount and oriented to direct light energy through said surface;
- a transparent layer over said surface and in thermal contact therewith, said layer configured to be in contact with said outer layer of the medium, being at most a few millimeters thick, and having good thermal transfer properties;
- and
- a cooling mechanism for said mount, said mount when cooled sinking heat both from said at least one element and from said transparent layer.
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.
A head for applying light energy to a selected depth in a scattering medium including:
- a mount having an energy emitting surface;
- at lease one energy emitting element mounted to apply light energy to said medium through an aperture;
- and
- a reflecting layer mounted to retroreflect light energy back-scattered from said medium;
- the aperture having a minimum value D for a dimension D of the aperture which is:
- D min = d · 1 f · R · r f - 1 - 1 .
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.