EP3635462A1

EP3635462A1 - Positioning device for positioning a light-conducting fibre in a calibration port

Info

Publication number: EP3635462A1
Application number: EP18718803.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dieter Dinges; Wolfgang Fürstenberg; Sönke-Nils Baumann
Original assignee: Omicron Laserage Laserprodukte GmbH
Current assignee: Omicron Laserage Laserprodukte GmbH
Priority date: 2017-06-07
Filing date: 2018-04-18
Publication date: 2020-04-15
Also published as: DE102017112482A1; KR102535367B1; JP7123978B2; RU2019136995A3; CN110741299A; JP2020522745A; US11592606B2; AU2018281723A1; CA3065092A1; KR20200013682A; AU2018281723B2; WO2018224210A1; RU2019136995A; BR112019025767A2; US20200158965A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a positioning device (100) for positioning a light-conducting fibre (206) in a calibration port (208) of a medical device (202) having at least one light source (204) for the light-conducting fibre (206), wherein the positioning device (100) has an elongated body (102) with two end surfaces (110, 112) and at least one side surface (116). A channel (104) for receiving the light-conducting fibre (206) is formed in the body (102), which extends from a first end surface (110) along a longitudinal axis of the body (102). According to the invention, at least in sections in the region of the channel (104), the body (102) consists of an opaque material and/or is coated with an opaque material, and has at least one opening (113, 118) which extends from a side surface (116) and/or the second end surface (112) of the body (102) to the channel (104), such that radiation emitted from the light-conducting fibre (206) can only pass out of the positioning device (100) unhindered through the at least one opening (113, 118).

Description

Positioning device for positioning a light-conducting fiber in one

Kalibrationsport

The invention relates to a positioning device for positioning a light-conducting fiber in a calibration port according to the preamble of claim 1 and a system with a positioning device according to claim 17 and a method for its use according to claim 18. The use of laser radiation is known in medical technology in many variants , In addition to the more well-known applications, such as surgery or ophthalmology, the coherent monochromatic radiation of a laser source is increasingly also used in conjunction with corresponding, activatable by electromagnetic radiation drugs. A prominent example of this is photodynamic therapy (PDT). In the context of PDT, a drug is administered to a patient, which mainly attaches to tumor cells or bacteria. By absorbing electromagnetic radiation of a particular wavelength, activation of the drug takes place, as a result of which the medicament exerts a medicinal effect on the cells to which it is attached. In this way, for example, can fight tumors or made visible by certain bacteria areas of the human body.

In order to pressurize corresponding areas of the human body with electromagnetic radiation or laser radiation, it is known in the art to couple appropriate laser radiation into a light-conducting fiber and at the place of treatment so out of the photoconductive fiber, that the area to be treated with the through the fiber is supplied to the treatment area guided light power. It must always be ensured that the treated areas are exposed to a certain surface area (radiance) of the laser radiation, since otherwise effective treatment is not possible. For example, if the applied area performance is too low, the drug is not activated, while at too high area performance is to be feared a violation of the irradiated tissue.

For this purpose, it is known in the prior art that, before starting a treatment, it is checked which light output is coupled out of a light-conducting fiber at a given input power coupled into the fiber. For this purpose, for example, the light-conducting fiber can be introduced into an integrating sphere, so that the total light output emitted by the fiber can be detected. Since the fiber is then to be used for medical and possibly invasive treatment, it must be ensured that the medically necessary sterility of the light-conducting fiber is maintained even during such a calibration process. For this purpose, it is known from the prior art that the light-conducting fiber is surrounded by a sterile glass sleeve, which serves as a barrier between the sterile fiber and the non-sterile measuring device for determining the decoupled from the fiber power and positioned the sterile fiber in a measuring device.

In the known in the prior art method for calibrating a laser source, there is always the problem that only the total decoupled from the fiber light output is determined, but not the relevant area for a treatment area performance. In this case, the area output coupled out of a fiber can differ for a specific light output coupled out of the fiber in the case of different fiber types. This However, the situation is not illustrated by the methods known in the prior art, in which only the total light output coupled out of a fiber is detected. Consequently, even after a correct calibration of a fiber to a desired decoupled light output, there continues to be a risk of mistreatment of a patient due to improper area performance.

The present invention is based on the object to provide an improved positioning device for positioning a photoconductive fiber in a calibration port, which allows a determined determination of the radiated surface area of a fiber.

This object is achieved with the positioning device according to the characterizing part of claim 1 and with the system according to claim 17 and the method according to claim 18. Advantageous embodiments of each claimed objects are given in the Ansprüche 2 to 16.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a positioning device for positioning a photoconductive fiber in a calibration port of a medical device having at least one light source for the photoconductive fiber. The positioning device comprises an elongated body having two end surfaces and at least one side surface, wherein in the body, a channel for receiving the photoconductive fiber is formed, which extends from a first end face along a longitudinal axis of the body. According to the invention, it is provided that the body at least in sections in the region of the channel consists of an opaque material and / or coated with an opaque material and has at least one recess which extends from a side surface and / or the second end face of the body to the Channel extends so that radiation emitted by the light-conducting fiber can escape unhindered only by the at least one recess from the positioning device. An "opaque" material is to be understood as meaning a material which is not transparent to the radiation conducted in the light-conducting fiber, but rather has a defined absorption or scattering of the radiation coupled out from the light-conducting fiber, thus causing a significant weakening of the opaque material However, radiation that passes through the material does not necessarily have to completely absorb it of the material as "opaque" is to be understood as "not transparent to the radiation coupled out of the fiber".

The embodiment of the positioning device according to the invention has the advantage that the arrangement of the at least one recess in the positioning device, the properties of the positioning device can be adapted to the radiation characteristic of a guided in the positioning light-conducting fiber. In this way it is possible, with a corresponding embodiment of the calibration port, to determine from the radiation characteristic of the light-conducting fiber the area power radiated by the light-conducting fiber. This is possible, for example, if the surface of the photoconductive fiber exposed by the recess is known. If the light output emerging from the positioning device is then measured, it is possible to recalculate the area output exiting from the light-conducting fiber. In this way, with a corresponding calibration process using the positioning device according to the invention, a mistreatment of a patient due to a wrong choice of fiber for a given light power coupled into the fiber and the associated erroneous intensity coupled out of the fiber can be avoided.

The light source of the medical device is preferably a laser source, such as one or more laser diodes. The laser diodes can be connected via a corresponding optics with the photoconductive fiber, so that the decoupled from the laser diode light power or laser radiation is coupled into the photoconductive fiber. As a light-conducting fiber, for example, a glass fiber having a thickness of 400-600 μηη can be used. Typical light outputs used in the PDT range are in the range of 1.5 to 5 watts.

When selecting the opacity of the material of the positioning device, which determines the emission characteristic of the positioning device, it is preferably to be ensured that the laser radiation coupled out from the light-conducting fiber is absorbed into the positioning device over a defined penetration depth. Otherwise, damage to the positioning device would have to be feared due to the light output coupled out of the light-guiding fiber.

In a light-conducting fiber for a medical application, there are essentially two possibilities with regard to the direction in which the electromagnetic field guided by the light-guiding fiber netic radiation from the fiber can be decoupled. Either the guided light output is coupled out in the axial direction of the fiber or in the radial direction of the fiber.

In the second case, in which a photoconductive fiber decouples electromagnetic radiation in the radial direction of the fiber, it is provided according to one embodiment that the body of the positioning device has at least one elongate, lateral recess, wherein the lateral recess extends in the longitudinal direction of the body over the length a portion of the channel and extends in the radial direction from the side surface of the body to the channel.

Such a positioning device has the advantage that the radiation characteristic of a radially radiating fiber can be determined by means of the positioning device. From the knowledge of the area exposed by the recess of the photoconductive fiber can be calculated back from the exiting from the positioning light power to the coupled out of the photoconductive fiber area performance.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two elongate lateral recesses are provided on the body, which are preferably arranged at the same height in the longitudinal direction of the positioning device. By using two recesses, a better determination of the decoupled from the photoconductive fiber area performance is possible.

In order to avoid the exiting of the recesses radiation using a pair of lateral recesses and thus distorts a determination of the exiting light output, it is provided in a preferred embodiment that the body has at least two elongated lateral recesses, which are pairwise on opposite Side of the channel are arranged. In this way there is a minimal superposition of the light output emerging from the recesses. According to a further embodiment it is provided that the cross section of the lateral recess increases from the channel to the side surface of the body. Effectively, this results in a funnel-shaped configuration of the lateral recess. This funnel-shaped configuration has the advantage that the generally divergent radiation, which is coupled out of the light-conducting fiber, is not hindered in its propagation by the positioning device or the opaque material of the positioning device in the region of the channel. consequently improves a funnel-shaped configuration of the recess, the accuracy of a determination of the decoupled from the photoconductive fiber area performance. If a radially radiating light-conducting fiber is not arranged correctly in the positioning device, so that the radially radiating area is not arranged completely below a lateral recess, this is manifested by a reduced light output emerging from the positioning device. Consequently, the correct position of the fiber in the positioning device can be easily recognized on the basis of the light output emerging from the positioning device.

In order to ensure that the light-conducting fiber is correctly inserted in the positioning device, according to a further embodiment it is provided that the channel does not pierce the second end face of the body. As a result, the channel forms a stop for the photoconductive fiber at its longitudinal end, so that it can be positioned more easily correctly. By choosing the position of the stopper relative to the side recesses or the lateral recesses can be ensured that the photoconductive fiber or the radially radiating portion of the fiber is located exactly below the lateral recess of the body of the positioning device. Thus, it can be avoided that in the longitudinal direction of the fiber part of the fiber is inadvertently covered by the body of the positioning device.

Preferably, the channel extends in the longitudinal direction of the body beyond the length of the recess. As a result, the fiber is guided again in the longitudinal direction of the positioning device behind the recess in the body of the positioning device, so that it does not jump out of the channel when inserted into the channel of the positioning device in the region of the recess. A jumping out of the light-conducting fiber from the channel in the region of the lateral recesses can also be avoided according to a further embodiment by the diameter of the recess in the circumferential direction of the channel is chosen smaller than the diameter of the fiber.

In order to enable use of the positioning device with a frontally radiating optical fiber, according to an alternative embodiment it is provided that the body of the positioning device has a frontal recess on the second end face of the body, wherein the minimum diameter of the frontal recess is smaller than the diameter of the light-conducting Fiber is. In this way, it is ensured that the light output coupled out of the fiber in the frontal direction can emerge from the positioning device, while at the same time ensuring that an inserted into the positioning device light-conducting fiber does not slip out of the channel beyond the second end face in the longitudinal direction of the positioning device. In this case, the minimum diameter of the frontal recess is preferably selected so that the fiber in the positioning device is supported only on the jacket of the fiber, while the radiation-guiding core of the fiber is completely exposed in the longitudinal direction of the recess. The shape of the recess can be adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the photoconductive fiber. Usually, such light-conducting fibers are round in their cross-sectional shape.

In order to also enable use of the positioning device with a jacket-less, frontal-emitting, light-conducting fiber in its end region, provision can be made for a sleeve to be placed on the end of the fiber prior to inserting the non-sheathed fiber into the positioning device. If the fiber is then inserted into the positioning device, the sleeve can be supported on the stop formed by the positioning device, while the sleeve can in turn be supported on corresponding stop elements of the fiber.

In order to ensure an unhindered propagation of the laser output coupled out frontally from the light-guiding fiber through the frontal opening, according to a preferred embodiment it is provided that the diameter of the frontal recess increases in the direction of the second end face of the body. It also follows here a funnel-shaped configuration of the recess. In this case, in the case of the frontally radiating optical fiber, the funnel-shaped configuration of the recess further has the advantage that in a not completely introduced into the positioning fiber, the light output from the recess compared to the case in which the fiber was fully introduced, is significantly reduced. Thus, it can be determined by measuring the light output emerging from the positioning device, whether a fiber has been correctly, ie completely, inserted into the positioning device.

In order to simplify the production and handling of the positioning device according to the invention, according to one embodiment it is provided that the surface of the body is rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the at least one side surface of the body is a lateral surface of the rotational body. In this case, the positioning device can be produced, for example, as a rotary body and is due to the round shape generally easier to use in a correspondingly shaped calibration sport. In this case, according to a further embodiment, the rotational body of the positioning device has at least two partial regions in the longitudinal direction, wherein a first partial region, which extends from the first end surface, has a larger radius than the remaining partial regions. In this way, the first portion serves as a stop which limits the insertion of the positioning device in a calibration port of a medical device. In this way, a clean and accurate positioning of the positioning device in the calibration port is simplified. The correct positioning of the positioning device in a calibration port is also simplified according to a further embodiment in that the positioning device has at least one alignment element which is designed to fix the alignment of the positioning device in the calibration port. This is advantageous in particular in the case of a rotationally symmetrical body of the positioning device. For example, the alignment element may be a longitudinal spring, which engages in a calibration port in a corresponding groove of the calibration port upon insertion of the positioning device, so that rotation of the body of the positioning device in the calibration port is prevented. In particular when using a positioning device with lateral recesses, it is thus always guaranteed that the lateral recesses are correctly aligned with corresponding detection elements of the calibration port.

In addition to the variant described above, in which the alignment element is designed as a longitudinal spring, according to one embodiment, it is alternatively provided that the alignment element is arranged on the second end face. In this way, the side surfaces or the lateral surfaces of the body of the positioning device can continue to remain rotationally symmetrical, so that the handling of the positioning device is further simplified.

In order to ensure that the sterility of a light-conducting fiber is retained when used with the positioning device according to the invention, according to a further embodiment, the body of the positioning device is at least partially made of a sterilizable material and / or coated with a sterilizable material. In particular, the channel of the positioning device and the adjoining areas of the body of the positioning device are preferably sterilizable. In one embodiment of this embodiment, the entire body of the positioning device may consist of a sterilizable material. Preferably, the sterilizing Baren material to a plastic, in particular polyoxymethylene (POM). This is a convenient sterilizable material which is easy to process and has the opacity described above. In order to facilitate the insertion of the photoconductive fiber into the channel of the positioning device, it is provided according to one embodiment that the first end face has a recess which tapers in the longitudinal direction of the body and is centered around the channel, which is designed to guide the fiber in the direction of the channel respectively. Effectively, this results in a funnel-shaped design, so that it is easier for a user to introduce the light-conducting fibers into the channel. This is particularly advantageous against the background that a fiber facet of a photoconductive fiber should, if possible, not be brought into contact with other elements of the positioning device, since damage to the facet would be feared which impairs the radiation characteristic of the fiber. In order to ensure a simple and inexpensive production of the positioning device, according to a further embodiment it is provided that the positioning device is an injection-molded part. In particular, the use of an injection-moldable sterilizable plastic is advantageous. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a system comprising at least one medical device with at least one light source, at least one light-conducting fiber and at least one positioning device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light-conducting fiber is connectable to the light source of the medical device Light source generated laser radiation of a defined light power is at least partially coupled into the lichtlei- tende fiber. The medical device furthermore has a calibration port, wherein the calibration port has sensor means which are designed to determine the light output of the laser radiation emerging from the light-conducting fiber, the positioning device being able to be inserted into the at least one calibration port such that by subsequent insertion of the calibration port at least one light-conducting fiber in the positioning device, the light-conducting fiber is positioned relative to the sensor means so that the light output of the emerging from the photoconductive fiber laser radiation can be determined by the sensor means. In this case, the calibration port can be formed both in the medical device and connected as an external device to the medical device. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of calibrating the light source of a system as described above with the subsequent steps.

First, the photoconductive fiber is connected to the light source. Subsequently, the positioning device is inserted into the calibration port and the fiber in the positioning device and coupled laser radiation of a defined light power in the photoconductive fiber by the light source. The light output of the laser radiation emerging from the light-guiding fiber within the calibration port is then determined by means of the sensor means of the calibration port. The determined light output emerging from the light-conducting fiber is compared with the light power coupled into the light-conducting fiber, and the light power coupled into the light-conducting fiber is subsequently adjusted such that the light output emerging from the light-conducting fiber lies within a defined value range.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the wording of the claims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1 shows different views of a positioning device for frontally radiating optical fibers,

FIG. 2 shows different views of a positioning device for radially radiating light-conducting fibers,

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a system with a medical device and a positioning device and

FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of the method according to the invention.

Hereinafter, similar or identical features will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a positioning device 100 for frontally radiating optical fibers. 1 a) is a side view, in FIG. 1 b) a front view and in FIG. 1 c) an isometric view of a positioning device 100 is shown. The positioning device 100 has a substantially rotationally symmetrical Body 102 in which a channel 104 is formed for a photoconductive fiber (not shown). The body 102 is designed essentially rotationally symmetrical and has two regions 106 and 108 whose diameter differs. In this case, a first region 106 extends from a first end face 110 of the body 102 over approximately one quarter of the total length of the positioning device 100, while the second region extends from a second end face 1 12 over the remaining length of the positioning device 100. In this case, the edges of the body 102 in the first region 106 and in the second region 108 are each chamfered by a chamfer, so that no sharp edges exist on the positioning device 100. The channel 104 is located in the rotationally symmetrical configuration of the positioning device 100, as shown in Figure 1, exactly on the axis of rotation of the body 102. The diameter of the channel 104 is adapted so that it is suitable for receiving a photoconductive fiber so that the photoconductive fiber is guided in the radial direction through the channel 104.

In this case, the course of the channel 104 in the region of the first end face 110 is pronounced such that starting from a diameter at which a light-conducting fiber inserted into the channel 104 is guided, the diameter of the channel 104 continuously increases in the direction of the first end face 110 , Effectively, on the side of the first end face 10, this results in a funnel-shaped configuration of the channel 104, which facilitates the insertion of a light-conducting fiber into the channel 104.

On the second end face 1 12, an alignment element 1 14 is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, the alignment element 1 14 is an extrusion protruding from the second end face 12, which is rounded at its corners. The channel 104 pierces the alignment element 14, whereby a frontal recess 13 is formed in the positioning device, through which light coupled out frontally from a light-conducting fiber inserted into the channel 104 can emerge from the positioning device. The channel 104 extends longitudinally as far as the alignment element 1 14 into it, wherein approximately in the half of the depth of the alignment element 1 14 reduces the diameter of the channel 104, for example, is halved. This results in an opening 1 15 of the channel 104, which is preferably adapted in diameter to the diameter of the core of a light-conducting fiber inserted into the positioning device 100. Starting from this reduced diameter, the channel 104 then widens longitudinally along the alignment. telementes 1 14 on so that the channel 104 in the region of the frontal recess 1 13 has a funnel shape.

As can be clearly seen in FIG. 1 a), the transition from the normal diameter d of the channel to the reduced diameter in the region of the alignment element 14 does not take place abruptly, but instead extends over a short transitional area in the longitudinal direction of the channel 104 The mantle of a light-conducting fiber inserted into the positioning device 100 abuts the material of the alignment element 14 in this transition region, while the remaining parts of the light-conducting fiber and in particular the light-guiding core of the fiber do not interfere with the alignment element 14 or generally with the light guide Body 102 of the positioning 100 come into contact. In this way it can be avoided that the fiber facet of the photoconductive fiber is damaged.

It is ensured by the funnel-shaped opening of the channel 104 in the region of the alignment element 1 14 that the light coupled out of a light-conducting fiber can exit the body 102 of the positioning device 100 for the most part when the light-conducting fiber is completely inserted into the channel 104. On the other hand, if a photoconductive fiber is not fully inserted into the channel 104 so that the end of the fiber is spaced from the tapered portion of the channel 104, the body 102 of the positioner 100 obstructs the propagation of the radiation exiting the photoconductive fiber, so that the from a calibration port in which the positioning device 100 is inserted, detected light output drops sharply relative to the case in which the photoconductive fiber has been completely introduced into the channel 104. In this way, erroneous positioning of a photoconductive fiber in the positioning device 100 can be easily recognized.

FIG. 2 shows various views of a positioning device 100 which is designed to receive a light-conducting fiber which decouples the light guided in the light-conducting fiber in the radial direction. The positioning device 100 is shown in FIG. 2 a) in a side view, in FIG. 2 b) in a plan view, in FIG. 2 c) in a front view and in FIG. 2 d) in an isometric view.

Analogously to the positioning device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the positioning device 100 of FIG. 2 also has a substantially rotationally symmetrical body 102, which can be subdivided into a first region 106 and a second region 108, which differ in their diameter. Also analogous to the positioning device 100 1, a channel 104 for receiving a light-conducting fiber is also formed in the positioning device 100 of FIG. 2 along the axis of rotation of the body 102. In this case, in the first region 106, the channel 104 is formed such that the diameter of the channel 104 increases in the direction of a first end face 110 of the body 102. Again, the introduction of a light-conducting fiber into the channel 104 is facilitated by the resulting funnel shape. Likewise in accordance with FIG. 1, an alignment element 1 14 is formed on a second end face 1 12 of the body 102, which is formed as an extrusion from the second end face 1 12. In contrast to the positioning device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, the channel 104 of the positioning device 100 shown in FIG. 2 has no frontal recess in the longitudinal direction of the positioning device 100. Rather, lateral recesses 18 are provided in the lateral surface 16 of the second region 108, which extend from the lateral surface 16 to the channel 104, so that a light-conducting fiber arranged in the channel 104 is exposed on its sides. In this case, the cross section of the lateral recesses 1 18, starting from the channel 104 in the direction of the lateral surface 1 16, so that a funnel-shaped configuration of the lateral recesses 1 18 results. In this way, laser radiation radiated laterally from a light-conducting fiber introduced into the channel 104 is not hindered in its propagation through the positioning device 100, so that the emission characteristic of a light-conducting fiber arranged in the positioning device 100 can be well determined.

In this case, the channel 104 extends beyond the lateral recesses 11 in the longitudinal direction of the body 102, so that a light-conducting fiber introduced into the channel 104 is also guided behind the lateral recess 18. Thus, it can be avoided that a light-conducting fiber inserted into the channel 104 pops out laterally from the recesses 11 when it is introduced into the channel. A jumping out of a light-conducting fiber from the lateral recesses 1 18 can also be avoided in that the diameter of the lateral recesses 1 18 in the circumferential direction of the channel 104 is smaller than the diameter of the introduced into the channel 104 photoconductive fiber.

In order to ensure that radiation emerging from a light-conducting fiber introduced into the channel 104 exits the positioning device 100 only from the respective recesses, the body 102 of the positioning device 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is made of an opaque material, such as a plastic, for example. in particular polyoxymethylene (POM). By an opaque material is meant a material which is not transparent to the light emerging from the fiber, so that the light is at least partially absorbed or scattered by the material of the body 102 of the positioning device 100. As a result, the radiation characteristic of the radiation emerging from the positioning device by the position and shape of the recesses 1 13, 1 18 set.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a system 200 with a medical device 202, which has at least one light source 204 for generating laser radiation of a specific light output and wavelength. The light source may be, for example, one or more laser diodes. The system 200 further includes a photoconductive fiber 206 and a calibration port 208, wherein the calibration port 208 is disposed in the medical device 202 in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. However, it would also be possible to carry out the calibration port 208 as a separate device, which is connected to the medical device 202 via at least one data connection. In this case, the light source 204 of the medical device 202 can be connected to the light-conducting fiber 206 via a corresponding optical system 210 in such a way that laser radiation generated by the light source 204 is at least partially coupled into the light-conducting fiber 206. The medical device 202 also has an operating element 212, which may be designed, for example, as a touch-sensitive display. For example, desired output powers, irradiation times and wavelengths of the light source 204 to be emitted can be set via this display. As an alternative to a decided selection of output powers, wavelengths and irradiation times, it can also be provided that a user selects only a predefined treatment scenario with a reduced selection of further parameters via the operating element 212. The medical device 202 is then designed to independently determine the corresponding operating parameters of the light source 204 necessary for a treatment. The use of the system 200 will now be described with reference to FIG. 4, which illustrates a flow chart of a method of using a positioning device in the calibration of a medical system according to the invention.

In a first method step 300, first the light-conducting fiber 206 is connected to the optics 210 or indirectly to the light source 204. For example, the optics 210 a FSMA or FC / PC connector on which a corresponding counterpart of the optical fiber 206 is screwed, whereby an optical connection between the light source 204 and the optical fiber 206 can be made. Subsequently, in method step 302, a positioning device 100, as described above, is inserted into the calibration port 208 of the medical device 202. In this case, it is ensured by the alignment element 1 14 of the positioning device that the positioning device 100 is aligned correctly in the calibration port 208. Furthermore, in order to detect the correct orientation and position of the positioning device 100 in a calibration port 208, at least one microswitch can also be provided in the calibration port 208, which is actuated only in the case of the correct positioning and alignment of the positioning device 100 in the calibration port 208.

Depending on the fiber 206 used, a corresponding positioning device 100 must be selected, the recesses of which are adapted to the emission characteristic of the fiber used. For example, if it is a front-end radiating fiber, a positioning device 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is necessary, whereas with a light-conducting fiber 206 radiating radially, it is necessary to use a positioning device 100 according to FIG. In this case, the length of the lateral recess 18 of the positioning device 100 is preferably designed so that the same positioning device 100 is suitable for different lengths of a radially radiating region of the optical fiber 206 used.

After the positioning device 100 has been correctly arranged in the calibration port 208, in step 304, the light-guiding fiber 206 is inserted into the positioning device 100 or into the channel 104 of the positioning device 100 as far as possible. Subsequently, in

Step 306, for example, by inputting corresponding commands via the control element 212, the light source 204 so controlled that laser radiation of a defined light output and wavelength is coupled into the photoconductive fiber 206. By means of corresponding sensor means of the calibration port 208, which are not shown in FIG. 3, the power of the laser radiation emerging from the light-conducting fiber 206 within the calibration port 208 is then determined in step 308. The light output determined in this way is then compared in step 310 with the light power coupled into the light-conducting fiber, and in step 312 the light power coupled into the light-conducting fiber 206 is adapted so that the light power emerging from the light-conducting fiber 206 is within a defined value range. For this purpose, either the output from the light source 204 light output increases or the coupling of the light emitted by the light source 204 light power are changed in the photoconductive fiber 206. The defined value range can be defined taking into account the radiating surface of the light-conducting fiber in such a way that a defined area power is radiated from the light-conducting fiber 206 at a certain determined light output.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiments but can be modified in many ways. For example, the shape of the positioning device 100 of the rotationally symmetrical shape, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, differ. It is quite possible to form the positioning device 100 with a rectangular body 102, which is adapted to the geometry of a calibration port 208 used. Further, the illustrated system of FIG. 3 may include a medical device 202 having a plurality of light sources 204 each coupled to a photoconductive fiber 206. In this way, the flexibility of the treatment options by means of the medical device 202 is increased, since several body areas of a patient to be treated can be irradiated simultaneously. All resulting from the claims, the description and the drawing features and advantages, including design details, spatial arrangements and decay renssch ridden, can be essential to the invention both in itself and in various combinations.

Reference number list

100 positioning device

102 bodies

5 04 channel

106 first area

108 second area

1 10 first end face

1 12 second face

10 1 13 frontal recess

1 14 alignment element

1 15 opening

1 16 lateral surface

1 18 lateral recess

15 200 system

202 medical device

204 light source

206 light-conducting fiber

208 calibration port

20 210 optics

212 control element

25

30

Claims

Patentans praise

A positioning device (100) for positioning a photoconductive fiber (206) in a calibration port (208) of a medical device (202) having at least one light source (204) for the photoconductive fiber (206), the positioning device (100) comprising an elongated body (102) having two end faces (1 10, 1 12) and at least one side surface (1 16), wherein in the body (102) has a channel (104) for receiving the photoconductive fiber (206) extending from a extending first along a longitudinal axis of the body (102), characterized in that the body (102) at least partially in the region of the channel (104) consists of an opaque material and / or coated with an opaque material, and at least one recess (1 13, 1 18), which extends from a side surface

(1 16) and / or the second end face (1 12) of the body (102) extends to the channel (104), so that the radiation emitted by the light-conducting fiber (206) only by the at least one recess (1 13, 1 18 ) can emerge unhindered from the positioning device (100).

2. Positioning device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (102) has at least one elongate, lateral recess (1 18), wherein the lateral recess (1 18) in the longitudinal direction of the body (102) over the length a portion of the channel (104) and extends in the radial direction from the side surface (1 16) of the body (102) to the channel (104).

3. Positioning device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the body (102) has at least two elongated, lateral recesses (1 18), wherein the lateral recesses (1 18) arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the channel (104) are.

4. positioning device (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the cross section of the lateral recess (1 18) of the channel (104) to the side surface (1 16) of the body (102) increases.

5. Positioning device (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the channel (104) does not pierce the second end face (1 12) of the body (102).

6. Positioning device (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the channel (104) extends in the longitudinal direction of the body (102) over the length of the lateral recess (1 18) addition.

7. Positioning device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (102) has a frontal recess (1 13) on the second end face (1 12) of the body (102), wherein the minimum diameter of the frontal recess (1 13) is smaller than the diameter of the photoconductive fiber (206).

8. Positioning device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the

Diameter of the frontal recess (1 13) in the direction of the second end face (1 12) of the body (102) increases.

9. Positioning device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the body (102) is rotationally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the body (102), wherein it is a lateral surface at the at least one side surface of the body (102) (1 16) of the rotating body.

10. Positioning device (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the rotational body in the longitudinal direction at least two partial areas (106, 108), wherein a first portion (106) which extends from the first end face (1 10), a larger one Radius than the remaining portions (108).

1 1. Positioning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning device (100) at least one alignment element

(1 14), which is adapted to determine the orientation of the positioning device (100) in the calibration port (208).

12. Positioning device (100) according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the alignment element (1 14) on the second end face (1 12) is arranged.

13. Positioning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (102) consists at least in sections of a sterilizable material and / or coated with a sterilizable material.

14. Positioning device (100) according to claim 13, characterized in that it is the material is a plastic, in particular polyoxymethylene.

15. Positioning device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first end face (1 10) has a in the longitudinal direction of the body (102) tapered and centered around the channel (104) recess which is adapted to the Fiber (206) in the direction of the channel (104) to lead.

16. Positioning device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is an injection molded part in the positioning device (100).

17. System having at least one medical device (202) with at least one

A light source (204), at least one photoconductive fiber (206) and at least one positioning device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the photoconductive fiber (206) is connectable to the light source (204) of the medical device (202) the light source (204) generated laser radiation of a defined light power is at least partially coupled into the photoconductive fiber (206), wherein the medical device (202) has a calibration port (208), wherein the calibration port (208) comprises sensor means which are adapted to determining the light output of the laser radiation emerging from the light-conducting fiber (206), wherein the positioning device (100) can be inserted into the at least one calibration port (208) by subsequently inserting the at least one light-conducting fiber (206) into the positioning device ( 100) positions the photoconductive fiber (206) relative to the sensor means is that the light output of the light emerging from the photoconductive fiber (206) laser radiation can be determined by the sensor means.

18. A method of calibrating the light source (204) of a system according to claim 17, comprising the following steps:

Connecting the photoconductive fiber (206) to the light source (204),

Inserting the positioning device (100) in the calibration port (208),

Inserting the optical fiber (206) into the positioning device (100),

Coupling in laser radiation of a defined light power into the light-conducting fiber (206) by the light source (204), Determining the light output of the laser radiation emerging from the light-conducting fiber (206) within the calibration port (208) by means of the sensor means of the calibration port (208),

Comparing the determined light output emerging from the light-conducting fiber (206) with the light power coupled into the light-conducting fiber (206), and

Adjusting the light power coupled into the light-conducting fiber 206, so that the light output emerging from the light-conducting fiber 206 is within a defined value range.