Fiber optic light delivery, monitoring and apparatus therefor
Inventors
Lilge, Lothar • Mandel, Arkady • Embree, Wayne • LEM, Don • Wu, Jenny • Dumoulin-White, Roger
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11241587-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatus for illuminating comprises one or more fibers, the one or more fibers including fiber portions meeting at an apex and a bottom location to form a three dimensional cage; a detector attached to each of the fiber portions for receiving light and transmitting light along each of the fiber portions, respectively; and an illumination member situated within the cage. A method for illuminating a hollow member includes the steps of inserting one or more fibers into the hollow member, wherein one or more fibers include fiber portions that meet at a location to form a three-dimensional cage; permitting light to emit from within the three-dimensional cage and towards the fiber portions; receiving light at distinct locations on each of said fibers; and allowing each of the fibers to transmit the light received on each of the fiber portions out of the hollow member.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus for illuminating a three-dimensional space defined by a plurality of fibers. The plurality of fibers are separated into a plurality of groups and include fiber portions meeting at an apex and a bottom location to form a three-dimensional cage, with at least one optical sensor integrated in each fiber portion for receiving light and transmitting the light along each of the fiber portions, respectively.
An illumination member is situated on a central member within the three-dimensional space defined by the plurality of fibers of the cage. The optical sensor is formed as a notched section of the fiber portions from which an amount of cladding and core have been removed, and the optical sensor has an acceptance angle of 1–2 Pi sterad.
A method is also provided for illuminating a hollow member by inserting the apparatus into the hollow member and emitting light from within toward the fibers forming the three-dimensional cage. Reflected light is received at distinct fiber locations and transmitted out through the hollow member via the fibers for monitoring.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes one independent apparatus claim and one independent method claim. The main inventive features span the three-dimensional fiber cage geometry with an apex and bottom location, optical sensors integrated into notched fiber portions with a defined acceptance angle, and a central illumination member positioned within the cage space, together with a method that uses illumination from within, reception of reflected light at distinct fiber locations, and transmission out for monitoring.
Three-dimensional fiber cage with apex and bottom location
A plurality of fibers separated into a plurality of groups, the plurality of fibers including fiber portions meeting at an apex and a bottom location to form a three-dimensional cage.
Integrated optical sensor in notched fiber portions
At least one optical sensor integrated in each of the fiber portions for receiving light and transmitting the light along each of the fiber portions, respectively, wherein the optical sensor comprises a notched section of the fiber portions from which an amount of cladding and core have been removed.
Central illumination member within cage space
An illumination member situated on a central member within a three-dimensional space defined by the plurality of fibers of the cage.
Sensor acceptance angle of 1–2 Pi sterad
The at least one optical sensor has an acceptance angle of 1–2 Pi sterad.
Illumination of a hollow member using reflected light at distinct locations
A method for illuminating a hollow member by inserting an apparatus, emitting light from within a three-dimensional cage toward fiber portions, receiving reflected light at distinct fiber locations, and transmitting the reflected light out through the hollow member via the fibers.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is the combination of a three-dimensional cage formed by fiber portions meeting at an apex and a bottom location, optical sensors integrated as notched sections in the fiber portions with an acceptance angle of 1–2 Pi sterad, and a central illumination member located within the cage space, together with a method that illuminates a hollow member from within and monitors reflected light received at distinct fiber locations.
Stated Advantages
Enables more homogeneous illumination during therapies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and related light-activation treatments.
Documented Applications
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and related light-activation treatments in a hollow member.
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