Light delivery device

A method of photodisinfection of a cavity comprising:

• (a) providing a light delivery device comprising an optical fiber having:
• (i) a core and a cladding layer that covers at least a portion of the core, wherein the cladding layer has a lower refractive index than that of the core;
• and (ii) a non-feature portion of the optical fiber and a feature portion of the optical fiber having features that force light to couple out radially from the feature portion and provide a desired diffused radial light output pattern wherein:
• (1) the core of the feature portion is circumferentially covered by the cladding layer;
• (2) the features are selected from the group consisting of threads, radial cuts, axial cuts, and a combination thereof;
• and
• (3) at least a portion of the core of the feature portion and at least a portion of the cladding layer of the feature portion contain the features wherein each of the features is made into both the cladding layer and the core located directly beneath the cladding layer;
• (b) applying a photosensitizing composition to treatment site within the cavity;
• (c) inserting at least a portion of the device into the cavity;
• and
• (d) applying light delivered by the device from a light source to the treatment site within the cavity at a wavelength absorbed by the photosensitizing composition so as to inhibit or eliminate microbes located at the treatment site.

A light delivery device comprising a polymer optical fiber having;

• (i) a core and a cladding layer that covers at least a portion of the core, wherein the cladding layer has a lower refractive index than that of the core;
• and
• (ii) a non-feature portion of the polymer optical fiber;
• and
• (iii) a feature portion of the polymer optical fiber having features that force light to couple out radially from the feature portion and provide a desired diffused radial light output pattern wherein:
• (a) the core of the feature portion is circumferentially covered by the cladding layer;
• (b) the features are selected from the group consisting of threads, radial cuts, axial cuts, and a combination thereof;
• and
• (c) at least a portion of the core of the feature portion and at least a portion of the cladding layer of the feature portion contain the features wherein each of the features is made into both the cladding layer and the core located directly beneath the cladding layer.