Light source

Abstract

Disposable light sources are disclosed herein. A device for connecting a fiber to a light source includes a light source, light director to focus light from the light source, the light director surrounding at least a portion of the light source, a power source providing energy to the light source, and a connector communicating light from the light source to a catheter.

1 . A disposable apparatus for providing light comprising:
 a light source;   a light director to focus light from the light source, the light director surrounding at least a portion of the light source;   a power source providing energy to the light source; and   a connector communicating light from the light source to a catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the disposable apparatus is supplied for a single-use on a patient. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light source is an LED and emits light having a wavelength between about 400 nanometers and about 470 nanometers. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light director is a ring surrounding at least a portion of the light source, the ring having an inner surface including a light reflecting media. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light director includes an optical taper having a first end distal to the light source and a second end proximal the light source, the first end having a first face substantially perpendicular to the emitted light and the second end having a second face substantially perpendicular to the emitted light. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the power source is at least one battery. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second light source emitting a second light at a different wavelength than the light emitted by the light source, the second light being communicated to the device by the connector. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a switch controlling a flow of energy to the light source, the switch including at least one of an on/off switch, a timer and a pulse function. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an optical fiber having a proximal end, a distal tip, a length therebetween and at least one illuminator disposed along the length thereof, and wherein light is emitted from the length of the optical fiber. 
     
     
         10 . A device for connecting a fiber to a light source comprising:
 a light source for emitting light in at least a first direction;   a light director surrounding at least a portion of the light source, the light director having a face substantially perpendicular to the first direction and having an inner surface including a light reflecting media; and   a connector extending from the light director, the connector being positioned such that when an end of a fiber is inserted into the connector, the end of the fiber is correctly aligned with the face of the light director.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the light director includes an optical taper, the optical taper having a light reflecting media, the optical taper having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end having a first face and the second end having a second face, the first and second faces being substantially perpendicular to the emitted light. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the light director includes a ring surrounding at least a portion of the light source, an optical taper having a second end proximate the light source, and a lens located between the ring and the second end of the optical taper. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the connector includes a locking mechanism to lock the end of the fiber in the connector. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10  wherein when the end of the fiber is correctly aligned with the face of the light director, the end of the fiber is substantially flush with the face of the light director. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  wherein when the end of the fiber is correctly aligned with the face of the light director, a center of the end of the fiber is aligned with a center of the face of the light director. 
     
     
         16 . A method of delivering light from a disposable light source to a remote location comprising:
 delivering a bone reinforcing mixture into a cavity of a bone at a remote location through a catheter;   positioning a fiber connected to a disposable light source proximate the remote location;   communicating light from the disposable light source to the remote location through the fiber;   curing the bone reinforcing mixture in the cavity of the bone with light emitted from the disposable light source; and   discarding the disposable light source after a single use.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising pulsing the light from the disposable light source. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a rate at which the light pulses is either set by a user or preprogrammed. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising programming the disposable light source to emit a predetermined amount of energy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising inputting at least one variable and programming the disposable light source to emit a calculated amount of energy at a calculated rate based on the at least one variable, wherein the at least one variable includes at least one of a volume, a mass, a type and a structure of a bone reinforcing material.