title: Performance of a light applicator for photodynamic therapy in the oral cavity: calculations and measurements.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laser Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: van Benthem
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sterenborg
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van Gemert
mesh_terms: 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*