Device for irradiating an internal body surface

摘要

The invention provides a device and method for illuminating a body surface. A light source is optically coupled to the proximal end of a light guide and a light scatterer is optically coupled to the distal end of the light guide. The device includes a deployment mechanism that is configured to bring the light scatterer from a small caliber configuration in which the light scatterer is delivered to the body surface to a large caliber configuration in which the light scatterer irradiates the body surface. The invention may be used, for example, irradiate the periadventitial surface of an aneurysmal blood vessel.

主权项

1. A device for illuminating a body surface, comprising:
(a) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the shaft including a light guide having a cross-sectional area and guiding light from the proximal end to the distal end; (b) a light source optically coupled to the proximal end of the light guide; (c) a light scatterer attached to, and optically coupled to, the distal end of the light guide, the light scatter having a small caliber configuration and a large caliber configuration, and further having in the large caliber configuration a concave illuminating surface and having an area greater than the cross sectional area of the light guide; wherein the light scatterer comprises a reflective surface configured to reflect back scattered light in the light scatterer in a forward direction; and (d) a deployment mechanism actuatable to bring the light scatterer from the small caliber configuration to the large caliber configuration, wherein the concave illuminating surface comprises an external facing and concave surface.