Light conductive rod elements and light-delivery tool including a base for introducing light into a light conductive rod element

Abstract

A light-conductive rod element includes a solid rod-shaped body having a side surface extending along a longitudinal rod axis between a first light-input end and a second light-redirecting end. The rod element is fabricated from a material exhibiting a refractive index greater than the refractive index of air in order to facilitate total internal reflection. The light-redirecting end includes at least a first planar face extending along a first plane definable by a first normal that is pitched with respect to the rod axis such that light propagating by total internal reflection between the first and second ends that impinges on the interface defined by the rod-element material and air at the first planar face is redirected by at least one of (i) reflection and (ii) refraction. Refracted components of light exit the rod body through the first planar face and reflected components of light exit the rod body through the side surface. The rod element is selectively coupleable with a handle that facilitates the selective introduction of light into the light-input end and, in combination with the handle, forms a light-delivery tool for delivering light to a region of interest.