Apparatus for locally irradiating a part of a living body

Claim 2

Apparatus for locally irradiating a part of a living body, the apparatus comprising means for emitting radiation from a point, a casing surrounding said radiation emission point, said casing being positionable above a body in the region of the part requiring treatment, and having an interior provided with a surface capable of reflecting radiation from said emission point, said surface being greater than half an ellipsoid, said emission point being within said casing arranged at a first focus point of said ellipsoid whereby said part to be irradiated is positionable at the second focus point of said ellipsoid outside said casing to receive focused radiation reflected from said surface.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said casing comprises rings, said rings being detachably joined together and having inner annular surfaces forming said reflective surface whereby said rings can be removed to vary the distance between said first focus point and a radiation exit aperture of said casing.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the casing is subdivided approximately from a central plane between the two foci into said rings.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an earth wire, and wherein said reflective surface is conductive and is electrically connected to said earth wire.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the interior of said casing is filled with a dielectric.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for emitting radiation from a point includes a waveguide provided to conduct radiation from a source outside of said casing to said emission point, the waveguide having an outlet aperture located at said first focus point.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the waveguide is filled with a dielectric.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the outlet aperture of the waveguide is in the form of a horn radiator.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the interior of said casing is filled with a dielectric and wherein the means for emitting radiation from a point includes; a waveguide provided to pass radiation from a radiation source outside of said apparatus to said emission point, the waveguide having an outlet aperture located at said first focus point and said waveguide also being filled with the dielectric, the dielectric constant of said dielectric being substantially equal to the dielectric constant of the part to be irradiated.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising radiation source means for providing radiation to said emission point, said radiation source means providing radiation with a wavelength of from 0.1 to 100mm.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said radiation source means which provides radiation with a wavelength of from 10 to 100mm.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising radiation source means for providing radiation to said emission point, said radiation source means comprising an ultrasonic transmitter.

Claim 14

Apparatus for locally irradiating a part of a living body, the appartus comprising casing means, said casing means being interiorily provided with a radiation reflective surface defining more than half an ellipsoid, radiation guidance means, said radiation guidance means having an emission aperture located at a first focus of said ellipsoidal shaped radiation reflective surface, said casing means having a radiation exit aperture located between said first focus and the second focus of said ellipsoidal shaped radiation reflective surface, said casing means and said radiation guidance means being filled with a dielectric having a dielectric constant substantially the same as the dielectric constant of the body to be irradiated, said reflective surface being conductive, and means to ground said reflective surface, whereby said part to be irradiated is positionable at said second focus to receive focussed radiation reflected from said surface.

Claim 15

Apparatus for locally irradiating a part of a living body, the appartus comprising casing means, said casing means being interiorily provided with a radiation reflective surface defining more than half an ellipsoid, radiation guidance means, said radiation guidance means having an emission aperture located at a first focus of said ellipsoidal shaped radiation reflective surface, said casing means having a radiation exit aperture located between said first focus and the second focus of said ellipsoidal shaped radiation reflective surface, said casing means and said radiation guidance means being filled with a dielectric having a dielectric constant substantially the same as the dielectric constant of the body to be irradiated, said reflective surface being conductive, and means to ground said reflective surface, whereby said part to be irradiated is positionable at said second focus to receive focussed radiation reflected from said surface.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said casing means comprises a series of annular rings which are detachably joined together whereby said rings can be selectively removed to vary the distance between said first focus and said radiation exit aperture of said casing means.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 14 including radiation source means for passing radiation of wavelength in the range of from 0.1 to 100mm to said radiation guidance means.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said radiation source means includes an ultrasonic transducer.