Abstract: A hand-held phaco-extractor instrument comprises an elongate tubular irrigation/aspiration system for a distal or operating end, wherein a fiber-optic cable delivers laser-irradiation of wavelength which is so substantially coincident with the known high absorptivity in water that laser-energy penetration is essentially limited to the region of cataractous-lens tissue to be fragmented and extracted. In other words, for the aqueous environment in which the particular laser radiation is to do its fragmentation, there is no possibility of damaging radiation penetration to the retina or to other regions of the eye which are irrelevant to the involved cataract-removal surgery.

Abstract: An instrument for ophthalmic surgery to remove cataractous-lens tissue has an elongate stem which enables external manipulation at its proximal end and which at its distal end presents a cutter adjacent a transiently open cavity into which cut or chopped tissue can be manipulated. The instrument provides for selectively operated closure of the thus-loaded cavity, an event which must occur before laser radiation can issue within the cavity, in fragmenting or emulsifying reduction of cut or chopped tissue within the cavity. Thus, reduced, the fragmented material is extracted by an aspirating flow of liquid. This process is repeated until the capsulary bag has been cleared of cataractous material, be it nuclear or cortical.

Abstract: The invention contemplates laser-aseptic phototherapy, for enhanced sterilization of an area of prospective surgical invasion of living tissue, by first administering, intravenously, orally or otherwise as appropriate, a photosensitizing agent having the property, in the course of an acceptable period of time, of selective concentrated absorption in bacteria and other microorganisms such as those which exist at depth in hair follicles, and then, following lapse of the time period, applying laser irradiation to the area of prospective surgery, using a wavelength and power density selected for absorptive response by the photosensitive agent, whereby microorganisms are destroyed at and beneath the irradiated area.

Abstract: The invention comtemplates promotion or enhanced promotion of vascular or other growth in living body tissue through effectively concurrent in-vivo delivery of at least two beams of laser irradiation at an affected area of body tissue, wherein the irradiation (a) is of low intensity at tissue impingement and (b) is also of spectral wavelength that is preferably in the visible red or in the infrared. Perturbations result in affected cells either directly by reason of differences in the physical properties of the respective beams or indirectly by reason of interaction between the two beams at or near the situs of delivery to the affected body tissue.