Non-ablative photonic devices and related methods

Abstract

A method of delivering light energy to a pathological tissue includes emitting light energy from a first optical element within a cannula, producing a substantially uniform irradiance profile from the light energy within the cannula, transmitting the light energy emitted from the first optical element through a second optical element in thermal contact with a distal end of the cannula to the pathological tissue without ablating the pathological tissue, and conducting thermal energy from the pathological tissue through the second optical element and to the cannula.

1 . A non-ablative photonic device, comprising:
 a cannula;   a first optical element located adjacent a proximal end of the cannula and configured to produce light energy with a substantially uniform irradiance profile; and   a second optical element in thermal contact with a distal end of the cannula, the second optical element configured to transmit the light energy emitted from the first optical element to a pathological tissue located distal to the second optical element and configured to conduct thermal energy from the pathological tissue to the cannula.   
     
     
         2 .- 25 . (canceled)