Importance

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Abstract

Illumination devices (20, 20', 20', 20'') for delivering ultraviolet light to an in vivo treatment site comprise an optical fiber (22) having an illumination window (40, 40', 40', 40''). A circumferential contour (46, 46', 46', 46'') of the core is shaped along the illumination window so that, for an internally reflected ray travelling in the core, the internally reflected ray has differing angles of incidences along the illumination window. In addition, the contour of the circumferential core causes rays travelling parallel to a major axis of the optical fiber to strike the core-scattering layer interface, thereby resulting in greater irradiance. In one embodiment, in the illumination window (40') a circumferential contour (46') of the core is shaped by etching to have an essentially semi-conical shape. In another embodiment, in the illumination window (40') the circumferential contour of the core has a plurality of circumferential segments (46a', 46b', 46c'), one of which has an essentially semi-conical shape and another of which has a reduced radius annular shape. In another embodiment, a reflective surface (60) is formed at a distal end of the optical fiber. An optical scattering material (48, 48', 48') is formed over the fiber core in the illumination window. The optical scattering material is preferably an admixture of optical epoxy and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

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First Claim