title: Novel flexible light diffuser and irradiation properties for photodynamic therapy.
abstract: Many current light diffusers for photodynamic therapy are inflexible, and the applied light dose is difficult to adjust during treatment, especially on complex body surfaces. A thin and flexible luminous textile is developed using plastic optical fibers as a light distributor. The textile diffuser is evaluated for flexibility, irradiance, brightness distribution, and temperature rise with a 652-nm laser set to 100 mW. The bending force of the textile diffuser resembles a defined optical film. On the textile surface, an average output power of 3.6+/-0.6 mWcm(2) is measured, corresponding to a transmission rate of 40+/-3.8% on an area of 11 cm(2). Aluminum backing enhances the irradiance to the face (treatment side). The measured brightness distribution seems to lie within a range similar to other photodynamic therapy (PDT) devices. A power setting of 100 mW increases the temperature of the textile diffuser surface of up to 27 degrees C, and 1 W raises the temperature above 40 degrees C. Results confirm that the flexible textile diffuser supplies suitable radiation for low fluence rate photodynamic therapy on an area of several cm(2).
authors.affiliation: Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, Laboratory for Protection and Physiology, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland. baerbel.selm@empa.ch
authors.forename: Baerbel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Selm
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rothmaier
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camenzind
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walt
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008027:Light; D055100:Optical Fibers; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation