CONTROLLED VARIABLE LENGTH AND ILLUMINATION PATTERN LIGHT DIFFUSING OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

An illuming device for use in medically illuminating tissue of interest within a patient generally includes a light diffusing optical fiber and an at least partially optically opaque sheath that is mounted over the fiber for selective, sliding movement along the length thereof. By sliding the sheath relative to the optical fiber after it has been inserted into a patient to illuminate a particular area of tissue, the length, size, and/or shape of the light that is exposed to the tissue can be selectively controlled. Such in situ variation of the properties of the exposed light permit use of a single instrument and a single procedure regardless of variation in the size and shape of the diseased tissue being medically treated.

主权项

1) A method for using a light diffusing optical fiber to illuminate tissue in a patient, comprising:
a) stabilizing an illumination catheter in a position suitable to illuminate the tissue; b) sliding a first sheath through the illumination catheter, wherein the first sheath is at least partially visually opaque; c) sliding a light diffusing fiber through the first sheath; d) moving the first sheath along the length of the light diffusing fiber such that a portion of the light diffusing fiber is able to illuminate the tissue; and e) providing light to the light diffusing fiber, the light passing through the portion of the light diffusing fiber and illuminating the tissue.