Abstract: A medicament-dispensing medical implant is described which is fabricated from relatively non-inflammatory biogenic tissue or biopolymers for implantation in or adjacent to a target issue in the human body. The implant, whic is non-thrombogenic, optically transluscent and relatively non-inflammatory, delivers relatively high doses of one or a combination of medicaments locally in a sustained fashion while systemically delivering a relatively low dose of said medicament(s). In one embodiment, a biogenic tissue such as endothelium from the interior of an artery of a donor animal is first stabilized by appropriate chemical treatment, then burdened with a medicament. The implant, which is preferably in the form of a stent, plug or a patch, releases the medicament over a period of time.

Abstract: A flexible tip for a medical catheter suitable for the transmission of light and dimensioned to pass through extremely small tubular members is described. The flexible tip, preferably made of optically transparent silicone elastomer, is affixed to the terminal end of a conventional optical fiber. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible tip comprises a central silicone core surrounded by a cladding having an index of refraction less than that of the core, permitting internal reflection. The flexible tip is provided with an outer jacket which serves two purposes: a) it provides structural integrity for the tip, and b) it reinforces the union between the flexible tip and the optical fiber to which it is abutted. The tip enables the delivery of a comparable amount of light as a large glass fiber of equal core diameter but possesses much greater flexibility.

Abstract: An optical waveguide having a large diameter silicone core for transmission of visible and infrared light is described. The silicone-cored optical waveguide is generally useful for the conduction of light from a source to one or more remote distribution points for illumination. It is particularly useful for conducting light to areas of the body remote from the light source for medical application. The use of optically transparent silicone as the optical waveguide's core material enables the construction of an improved fiber having greater flexibility than a glass or plastic cored waeguide of the same diameter thereby enabling passage along a fortuous path. In the preferred embodiment, a silicone-cored waveguide is described which has large core diameter and a high degree of flexibility when compared to a glass fiber of similar core diameter.

Abstract: A microlens assembly for use with an optical fiber or fiber bundle that requires no crimping or mechanical distortion of the optical fiber. The microlens assembly has a front lens mounting portion and a rear portion. The rear portion is a cylindrical tube which is bonded to the sheath and cladding of the optical fiber or fiber bundle by means of suitable adhesive. The front lens mounting portion which houses the output lens is also tubular, having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the rear portion. The front lens mounting portion is slid over the rear portion until the desired distribution of light emanating from the lens is achieved. The front lens mounting portion is then locked into position by bonding it to the rear portion by means of an appropriate adhesive. The adhesives are stable at high temperature and have an index of refractions suitable for preventing refractive loss of light from the lateral walls of the fiber core.