Apparatus, systems and methods for delivering brachytherapy to a target tissue region of a human or other mammalian body. In some embodiments, a flexible brachytherapy device is implanted that includes a therapy delivery portion having one or more radioactive sources securely retained thereto, and a tail portion extending from the therapy delivery portion. Once implanted, the tail portion may extend outside the body, where it may be folded and secured flat against the skin. The device may be removed at therapy completion. Other embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for delivering brachytherapy devices to the body.

Brachytherapy apparatus and methods for using them

A planar fluorescent and electroluminescent lamp having two pairs of electrodes. Planar electrodes on an outer surface of the lamp create a plasma arc by capacitive coupling. The planar electrodes also cause embedded phosphor to emit light on the electroluminescent phenomena. In one embodiment, a second chamber is on top of the first chamber and light passes from a primary chamber through the second chamber, and is emitted by the lamp.

Planar Fluorescent and electroluminescent lamp having one or more chambers

An excimer lamp utilizing a high pressure fill. The fill includes a halogen at an operating pressure of greater than about 350 torr or the combination of a halogen and a rare gas at a total operating pressure of greater than about 2.5 atmospheres.

Excimer lamp with high pressure fill

Methods and systems for providing illumination of a specimen for a process performed on the specimen are provided One system configured to provide illumination of a specimen for a process performed on the specimen includes a laser configured to generate excitation light The system also includes focusing optics configured to focus the excitation light to a plasma in an electrodeless lamp such that the plasma generates light The system is also configured such that the light illuminates the specimen during the process

Methods and systems for providing illumination of a specimen for a process performed on the specimen

A planar fluorescent lamp having a sealed chamber and divider walls to create a serpentine discharge path is provided with sidewall electrodes. A plurality of sidewall electrodes are spaced from each other and positioned adjacent each sidewall of the sealed chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall electrodes are planar, cold electrode plates. The electrodes extend generally from one divider wall to the other divider wall along a single sidewall. In alternative embodiments, the sidewall electrodes are positioned within the chamber directly exposed to the mercury vapor, or, alternatively, are separated from the chamber by a dielectric layer. The sidewall electrodes are powered in pairs, each pair being driven at a different frequency than any other pair. Providing sidewall electrodes increases the uniformity of light emission from the lamp as well as increasing the overall range over which the light can be dimmed, aids in starting the lamp and increasing the overall brightness of the light output from the lamp.

Planar fluorescent lamp having a serpentine chamber and sidewall electrodes

A fluorescent lamp is described in which spontaneous excimer UV emission in an inner tube results from reacting an inert gas molecule with a halide molecule in the excited state. The UV emission travels through the inner tube envelope to an outer tube and is absorbed by a fluorescent material, i.e., phosphor, to produce visible light which passes through the outer tube envelope. The halide may be supplied by metal halide pellets or liquid droplets, which when heated by an initial discharge through an inert gas, produces metal halide vapors which dissociate and combine with the inert gas (Xe, Ar, Ne, Kr) in the excited state and result in UV excimer emission.

Fluorescent light source excited by excimer emission

The lamp shown herein is a beam mode fluorescent lamp for general lighting applications. The lamp comprises a light transmitting envelope, having a phosphor coating on its inner surface, enclosing a pair of thermionic electrodes and a fill material, such as mercury, which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation. During application of the first polarity of an AC signal, one electrode acts as a cathode and the other electrode functions as an anode. During the other AC polarity, the electrodes reverse their functions. This invention reduces the requirement for input power to a beam mode discharge lamp without adversely affecting luminous output. This lamp substantially eliminates wasted electron bombardment energy to the anode by use of this energy to help heat the cathode for the next half of the AC cycle. This lamp employs a single power source and may be used in various pre-heat or rapid start configurations.

Dual cathode beam mode fluorescent lamp

An electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp with a lamp fill material including gallium iodide has been found to be more efficient in generating light in general, and more efficient in generating blue light. The very small size of the lamp, in combination with the high intensity in a relatively narrow blue spectral range make the lamp particularly useful in supplying blue light to a fiber optic. The relative efficiency of the lamp increases its value. In combination, the lamp provides a useful, efficient source of blue light as an input source for optical fiber, and other systems for medical and other processes using blue light as a process element.

Blue light electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp system

Operation of an HID lamp may be improved by forming a glow generating recess on an exterior side the electrode. The lamp may be of standard construction with a light transmissive lamp envelope having a wall defining an enclosed volume. At least one electrode assembly is extended in a sealed fashion from the exterior of the lamp through the lamp envelope wall to be exposed at an inner end of the electrode assembly to the enclosed volume. A metal halide lamp fill is enclosed with an inert fill gas. The inner end of the electrode is formed with a recess having a least spanning dimension S and a recess depth of D where S is greater the electron ionization mean free path but less than twice the cathode fall plus negative glow distances, throughout the glow discharge phase of starting, for the chosen fill gas composition and pressure (cold).

Slotted electrode for high intensity discharge lamp

The lamp shown herein is a beam mode fluorescent lamp for general lighting applications. The lamp comprises a light transmitting envelope, having a phosphor coating in its inner surface, the envelope encloses a thermionic cathode having a number of segments for emitting electrons, a plurality of anodes for accelerating the electrons and forming a corresponding number of electron beams simultaneously in two directions, and a fill material, such as mercury, which emits ultraviolet radiation upon excitation. The multi-electrode array configuration provides an extended region of electron beam excitation and thereby more visible light. A single power source and pair of connecting conductors provide both cathode heating current and electrode potential difference functions. In addition, this configuration provides for a greater and more complete discharge of the volume within the envelope than single electrode elements. The present invention permits a higher operating voltage, lower power density, and a lower operating temperature for the lamp.

A. Bowman Budinger

Papers

Fluorescent light source excited by excimer emission

Dual cathode beam mode fluorescent lamp

Blue light electrodeless high intensity discharge lamp system

Slotted electrode for high intensity discharge lamp

Multi-electrode array for a beam mode fluorescent lamp