Performance of a light applicator for photodynamic therapy in the oral cavity: calculations and measurements.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an experimental therapy for the treatment of superficial cancer using laser light. In PDT a uniform light distribution is usually required for an optimal therapeutic effect. To irradiate part of the oral cavity uniformly for PDT, two prototype applicators were built, each for a different lower jaw. The applicators made use of the light transmitted through the wall of a cavity of diffusely reflecting material. The radiant exitance of the applicators was measured at 632.8 nm. For the radiant exitance of M of the two applicators, a uniformity ratio, UR = Mmax/Mmin < 2 was found, which was considered reasonable for clinical applications. Calculations predict that the UR can be improved by decreasing the thickness of the cavity wall.
van Benthem
H E
HE
Laser Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Sterenborg
H J
HJ
van der Meulen
F W
FW
van Gemert
M J
MJ
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009055:Mouth / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*