Patent ID: 7891361

Claim:
A method of treating a region of tissue within a body comprising: propagating ultraviolet light having an intensity of at least about 1 MED through an optical fiber; coupling said ultraviolet light from said optical fiber into an elongate member having a channel therein; producing a beam having a substantially uniform intensity profile that is output through an exit aperture of said channel, said beam having an intensity that is substantially uniform across said exit aperture; inserting said elongate member in said body; positioning said elongate member with respect to said region of tissue in said body to direct said substantially uniform intensity beam on said tissue so as to provide substantially uniform ultraviolet illumination of 1 MED over said region; placing a disposable prophylactic cap over said elongate member prior to inserting said elongate member in said body; and replacing said disposable prophylactic cap with another disposable prophylactic cap.