With a variety of light delivery equipment available, each style of light guide/delivery method has its own attributes in providing light transmission to the subject.
High Power Optical Fiber Light Guides
Liquid Light Guides
Light Line
Cure Rings
High power transmission
Provides 25%-50% more throughput to get more energy from lamp
Moderate cost
No balancing required
Provides +/-5% balanced output in multi-legged light guide applications
Higher packing fraction through fused bundle technology
High numerical aperture fiber that can gather 42 degrees of light as compared to 25 for a standard fiber guide
Do not degrade over time
Very durable and does not need replacing due to UV light exposure
Unlimited shelf life
Multi-legged
Available in 1, 2, 3, and 4 legs
Up to 9 legs can be used
Better transmission than liquid
Extended range version not needed
Can be coupled to custom optics
Easier to customize
Economical
High transmission capability
3, 5, and 8mm tip diameters
Degrade over time
Have a "shelf life"
Can be coupled to custom optics
Extended range version required for transmission below 300nm
Multi-legged versions require daily balancing
Three legs maximum recommended
More challenging to customize
Available in coupled or integrated fiber guide version
Uniform line of light from 25mm to 130mm
Commonly used for LCD sealing, digital printing, fiber array bonding
Standard version
50mm wide x .1mm when coupled to a 5mm light guide
High power fiber
Available as single 65mm or 2-branch 65mm version
Custom configurations possible
Provided 360 degree uniform light distribution
Commonly used for radial bonding or coating
curing the outer diameter of disposable devices, catheters or tube sets