Abstract: An apparatus for irradiating inside an object is disclosed, including a lumen having a longitudinal axis; optical fibers within the lumen and aligned with the longitudinal axis; and an illumination member moveable or fixed within the lumen along the longitudinal axis. The apparatus can be used in a method for irradiating inside an object, including the steps of: providing an object having a cavity defined by an internal surface; inserting the lumen into the cavity; activating the illumination member to irradiate the internal surface with emitted light; receiving in each of the optical fibers light redirected from the internal surface; conveying the redirected light in a proximal direction through the plurality of optical fibers; and analyzing the redirected light conveyed through the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient having a disorder, wherein the method includes irradiating a tissue surface of the patient with at least one laser beam, automatically monitoring the tissue, and automatically controlling the at least one laser beam to adjust and/or terminate the treatment in a therapeutically effective manner. The method noninvasively determines in real-time the irradiance and/or radiant exposure of a target tissue at a predetermined depth below the tissue surface by detecting the radial dependence of light remitted from the tissue surface. Preferably, the method employs a near-infrared light laser beam and a visible laser light beam in combination. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient having a disorder, wherein the method includes irradiating a tissue surface of the patient with at least one laser beam, automatically monitoring the tissue, and automatically controlling the at least one laser beam to adjust and/or terminate the treatment in a therapeutically effective manner. The method noninvasively determines in real-time the irradiance and/or radiant exposure of a target tissue at a predetermined depth below the tissue surface by detecting the radial dependence of light remitted from the tissue surface. Preferably, the method employs a near-infrared light laser beam and a visible laser light beam in combination. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.