US5928222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic sensing techniques in laser medicine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1996-12-07
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Granted: 1999-07-27
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Expires: 2016-12-07
Abstract
Abstract Methods and devices for medical treatment of biological tissue use fiber optic tips attached to the end of an optical fiber light guide for thermal treatment or photo-irradiation of said tissue, said tip including a photoluminescent material capable of acting as the tip's temperature probe. The photoluminescent material allows the tip to act as a controlled temperature surgical device or as a simple, efficient and easy to fabricate laser light diffuser.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcos Y. Kleinerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/02; G01J5/08; G01J5/0818; G01J5/0821; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; G01D5/353; G01D5/35338; G01D5/35354; G01D5/35358; G01D5/35361; G01D5/35364; G01D5/3537; G01D5/3538; G01J5/0896; G01J5/52; G01J5/60; G01J5/602; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/32; G01K11/3206; G01K11/3213; A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; G01J5/0022; G01J5/0025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for medical treatment of biological tissue by optical irradiation at wavelengths within a pre-selected spectral region, comprising: (a) a source of high power laser radiation of wavelength or wavelengths λ 1 ; (b) a fiber optic light guide having a first end optically coupled to said source and a second end terminated by a cylindrical light-diffusing tip including a photoluminescent material so characterized that when exposed to said laser radiation, it absorbs at least a substantial fraction α of the intensity of said radiation and re-emits the absorbed radiation nearly isotropically around said tip as luminescence radiation diffused into said biological tissue and having wavelengths λ f different from λ 1 and within said pre-selected spectral region for irradiation of said tissue; and (c) means for injecting said laser radiation into said first end of said fiber optic light guide.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for medical treatment of biological tissue by optical irradiation at wavelengths within a pre-selected spectral region, comprising: (a) a source of high power laser radiation of wavelength or wavelengths λ 1 ; (b) a fiber optic light guide having a first end optically coupled to said source and a second end terminated by a cylindrical light-diffusing tip including a photoluminescent material so characterized that when exposed to said laser radiation, it absorbs at least a substantial fraction α of the intensity of said radiation and re-emits the absorbed radiation nearly isotropically around said tip as luminescence radiation diffused into said biological tissue and having wavelengths λ f different from λ 1 and within said pre-selected spectral region for irradiation of said tissue; and (c) means for injecting said laser radiation into said first end of said fiber optic light guide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the value of said fraction α is at least 0.4 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
250 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tip is heated by said laser radiation of preselected wavelength or wavelength λ 1 and wherein said tip is its own temperature probe, said photoluminescent material being additionally so characterized that, when interrogated with interrogating light of a wavelength or wavelengths λ v within a suitable spectral region for said photoluminescent material and an intensity P o injected into said tip, a fraction αP o of the intensity of said injected light is converted within said tip into a light separable from the interrogating light and emitted from the tip at wavelengths λ f different from λ v , the magnitude of α varying in a known manner with variations of the temperature of the tip over a temperature range of operation of the device, said emitted light of wavelengths λ f having an intensity which increases in a known manner with the value of α over said temperature range, the device additionally comprising (a) a source of said interrogating light of wavelength or wavelengths λ v ; (b) means for injecting said interrogating light of wavelength or wavelengths λ v into said first end of said fiber optic light guide; (c) means for directing a fraction of the intensity of said light of wavelengths λ f emitted from said tip to photodetector means; and (d) photodetector means for measuring said fraction of the intensity of said light of wavelengths λ f , said fraction being indicative of the tip temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said photoluminescent material is a solid doped with trivalent inorganic ions chosen from the group comprising the ions of chromium, neodymium, erbium, ytterbium and holmium.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for medical treatment of biological tissue by optical irradiation at wavelengths within a pre-selected spectral region, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a source of high power laser radiation of preselected wavelength or wavelengths λ 1 ; (b) providing a fiber optic light guide having a first end and a second end, said second end terminated by a cylindrical light-diffusing tip including a photoluminescent material so characterized that when exposed to laser radiation of wavelengths λ 1 , it absorbs at least a substantial fraction α of the intensity of said radiation and re-emits the absorbed radiation nearly isotropically around said tip as luminescence radiation diffused into said biological tissue and having wavelengths λ f different from λ 1 and within said pre-selected spectral region for irradiation of said tissue; (c) placing said tip of said light guide in optical communication with said tissue; and (d) injecting said laser radiation into the first end of said light guide, thereby causing the emission of said luminescence radiation and the optical irradiation of said tissue.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for medical treatment of biological tissue by optical irradiation at wavelengths within a pre-selected spectral region, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a source of high power laser radiation of preselected wavelength or wavelengths λ 1 ; (b) providing a fiber optic light guide having a first end and a second end, said second end terminated by a cylindrical light-diffusing tip including a photoluminescent material so characterized that when exposed to laser radiation of wavelengths λ 1 , it absorbs at least a substantial fraction α of the intensity of said radiation and re-emits the absorbed radiation nearly isotropically around said tip as luminescence radiation diffused into said biological tissue and having wavelengths λ f different from λ 1 and within said pre-selected spectral region for irradiation of said tissue; (c) placing said tip of said light guide in optical communication with said tissue; and (d) injecting said laser radiation into the first end of said light guide, thereby causing the emission of said luminescence radiation and the optical irradiation of said tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the value of said fraction α is at least 0.4.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said photoluminescent material is a solid doped with trivalent inorganic ions chosen from the group comprising the ions of chromium neodymium, erbium, ytterbium and holmium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
251 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said tip is heated by said laser radiation of preselected wavelength or wavelengths λ f and wherein said tip is its own temperature probe, said photoluminescent material being additionally so characterized that, when interrogated with interrogating light of a wavelength or wavelengths λ v within a suitable spectral region for said photoluminescent material and an intensity P o injected into said tip, a fraction αP o of the intensity of said injected light is converted within said tip into a light separable from the interrogating light and emitted from the tip at wavelengths λ f different from λ v , the magnitude of α varying in a known manner with variations of the temperature of the tip over a temperature range of operation of the device, said emitted light of wavelengths λ f having an intensity which increases in a known manner with the value of α over said temperature range, the method additionally comprising the steps of: (a) providing a source of said interrogating light of wavelength or wavelengths λ v ; (b) injecting said interrogating light of wavelength or wavelengths λ v into said first end of said fiber optic light guide; (c) directing a fraction of the intensity of said light of wavelengths λ f emitted from said tip to photodetector means; and (d) measuring, with said photodetector means, said fraction of the intensity of said light of wavelengths λ f , said fraction being indicative of the tip temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-07-26 | 2003-01-25 | 2003-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-26 | 2007-01-25 | 2007-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-26 | 2011-01-25 | 2011-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |