Patent ID: 9427289
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A method of delivering light from a disposable light source to a remote location into a cavity of a fractured bone comprising: delivering a bone reinforcing mixture through a catheter and into a balloon positioned in the cavity of the fractured bone at the remote location; connecting a fiber having a distal portion to a disposable light source, wherein the light source emits light in a first direction, providing a light director having at least one light concentrator surrounding at least a portion of the light source wherein a distal end of the at least one light concentrator is attached to a proximal end of an optical taper, the light director includes a face substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the optical taper having a distal end with a face substantially perpendicular to the emitted light and adjacent an end of the fiber; providing a connector extending from the distal end of the optical taper that is positioned such that when the end of the fiber is inserted into an optical plug of the connector, an inner surface of the optical plug is contacted by the end of the fiber, so the fiber is aligned with the face of the optical taper, wherein the at least one light concentrator, the optical taper and the connector, each have substantially the same diameter; positioning the distal portion of the fiber through the catheter and within the balloon containing the bone reinforcing mixture; delivering light from the disposable light source evenly to the bone reinforcing mixture through a terminating face and along a length of the distal portion of the fiber; curing the bone reinforcing mixture in the balloon in the cavity of the fractured bone with light emitted from the disposable light source to the distal portion of the fiber located in the balloon away from walls of the balloon, while the balloon is connected to the catheter; and discarding the disposable light source after a single use.