Abstract: The present invention is directed towards medical optical fibers with protective tips for use with endoscopes for laser based treatment of internal bodily organs and method of manufacture therefor. The medical optical fibers have a short stripped medical optical fiber section and a protective tip provided thereon to encapsulate both the stripped medical optical fiber section and the jacket tip immediately therebehind.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of a target tissue with a laser beam in which the target tissue is immersed in a liquid medium within a body lumen. The laser device is configured to provide one or more laser pulses which are configured by a controller to have an energy sufficient to form one or more vapor bubbles in the liquid medium at the distal delivery end of the fiber. The one or more pulses are configured by the controller to: first, cause a vapor bubble to be formed distally of the distal end portion of the endoscope and around the distal delivery end of the optical fiber; second, cause a second bubble to be formed distally of the first bubble; and, third, inflate the second bubble as the first bubble has begun to collapse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the distal delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue.

Abstract: A disposable/removable tip attachable on a distal end of a fiber bundle, allowing transmitting light energy from the fiber bundle to an eyelid and comprising a contact surface made of bio-compatible material, which allows to contact the eyelid and in addition an add-on device, comprising a fiber bundle, having a distal and proximal end, wherein a disposable/removable tip is attachable to the distal end, while the proximal end is connected to an optical coupler, designed for optical and/or energy coupling with a lightguide of a Meibomian gland expression (MGX) treatment device.

Abstract: An apparatus (such as a laser-based system) and method for providing optical pulses in a broad range of pulse widths and pulse energies uses a pulse slicer which is configured to slice a predefined portion having a desired pulse width of each of the one or more output optical pulses from a laser oscillator, in which timings of a rising edge and a falling edge of each sliced optical pulse relative to a time instance of a maximum of the corresponding each of the one or more output optical pulses from the laser oscillator, are chosen at least to maximize amplification efficiency of the optical amplifier, which may be located after the pulse slicer, and to provide the one or more amplified output optical pulses each having the desired pulse energy and pulse width.

Abstract: A dual port switching apparatus (12) comprising a connection part for mounting to a base unit (11), an input beam port to receive a main laser beam from a base unit (11) in an input optical path (22), a first output port (14) for connection to a flexible wave guide, a second output port (15) for connection to an articulated arm (16), and a switching element (56) moveable between a first position and a second position to direct an input beam to one of the first output port (14) and the second output port (15).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating tissue includes a first energy application device to direct energy at tissue of a patient to cause at least one channel to be formed and a controller to control application of energy from the first energy application device to form the at least one channel. The at least one channel may be in the shape of a spiral-like shape or may be in a flower-like shape. Mechanisms are provided to help open channels formed in the human skin structure. A second energy application source may be used to maintain the channel open after formation. The controller may cause the first energy application device to form a plurality of channels of varying depth, width and distribution over the human skin surface. The apparatus to control the application of energy may be operated using a foot-activated pedal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used for medical and/or cosmetic treatment of a tissue, such as skin tightening, skin laxity and/or wrinkle reduction and or other skin flaws, including an energy source, a vacuum chamber and rollers which may facilitate easy sliding of the apparatus from one treated area to another. The rollers may also prevent excessive friction of the skin during the treatment. The energy source can be configured to emit energy based on the position of the apparatus on the skin (i.e., the position of the rollers), as well as the pressure within the vacuum chamber. The vacuum level and energy emission can be changed or pulsed based on the treatment regime.

Abstract: A method of treating a mobile target tissue with a laser beam includes: providing a laser device for generating a laser beam and providing an optical fiber having a delivery end for guiding the laser beam to the target tissue; a controller causes the laser device to generate one or more laser pulses substantially along the same longitudinal axis. The controller causes the laser device to provide one or more laser pulses. The one or more pulses are selected to allow a vapor bubble formed by the one or more pulse to expand an amount sufficient to displace a substantial portion of the liquid medium from the space between the delivery end of the fiber and the target tissue. The one or more pulses are delivered to the target tissue through the vapor bubble after the vapor bubble has reached its maximum extent and has begun to collapse to reduce retropulsion of the mobile target tissue.

Abstract: An adapter for attachment to a medical application device includes an energy generating device and a distal tip for applying the energy generated to skin tissue. The adapter includes a substantially hollow body with a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The proximal end portion is sized to mount on the distal tip of the energy generating device; the distal end portion is substantially open. The adapter further includes at least one through port extending from the proximal end portion to the open distal end portion of the adapter.

Abstract: A dual port switching apparatus (12) comprising a connection part for mounting to a base unit (11), an input beam port to receive a main laser beam from a base unit (11) in an input optical path (22), a first output port (14) for connection to a flexible wave guide, a second output port (15) for connection to an articulated arm (16), and a switching element (56) moveable between a first position and a second position to direct an input beam to one of the first output port (14) and the second output port (15).

Abstract: A method for cosmetically treating skin tissue is disclosed in which a combination of laser energy and RF energy is applied to the skin tissue. In the method, a microchannel is first formed in the skin tissue having a length, a depth and a width by ablating the skin tissue. After that, RF electrodes are placed on the skin tissue on either side of the width dimension of the microchannel, followed by activation of RF energy to drive RF energy below the depth of the microchannel formed, and this the RF energy is driven deeper into the skin tissue than would have occurred in the absence of the microchannel.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a handheld laser treatment apparatus comprises: a handset including a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having an open treatment aperture; a laser array arranged to project optical energy into the treatment chamber and coupled to a power source; at least one vacuum channel positioned within the treatment chamber and coupled to a vacuum source; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array and the vacuum channel; an attachment sensor arranged to detect which of a plurality of attachments are inserted into the treatment chamber through the treatment aperture. The logic enables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a first attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture. The logic disables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a second attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture.

Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus includes a primary handset and an auxiliary handset; the primary handset is connectable to the auxiliary handset; the primary handset has a laser source with a primary heat exchanger, and a main cooling circuit to provide cooling fluid to the primary heat exchanger to cool the laser source; the cooling circuit has a circuit connection for engagement with the auxiliary handset. The circuit connection comprises one or more fluid connectors for connection to an auxiliary cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset and the cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset includes a secondary heat exchanger. An electro-mechanical mechanism within the primary handset switches from a first position so that cooling fluid flows in the main cooling circuit within the primary handset when no auxiliary handset is attached and in a second position diverts flow of the cooling fluid to the heat exchanger in the auxiliary handset when the auxiliary handset is connected to the primary handset.

Abstract: A cosmetic method of directionally tightening human skin tissue includes providing an ablative laser source and a non-ablative laser source, then using the ablative laser source to form one or more overlapping circular shaped microchannels in the skin tissue; the overlapping microchannels formed have a longitudinal dimension larger than their cross dimension; then, using the non-ablative laser source to weld the microchannels, whereby the welding causes the skin tissue to tighten.

Abstract: A cosmetic method of treating skin tissue with a laser source includes applying a plurality of short pulses of predetermined parameters to ramp up the temperature of the skin tissue to reach a desired temperature and then applying a plurality of short pulses to maintain a temperature dwell time. The predetermined parameters are selected from one or more of: pulse peak power, pulse duration, pulse repetition rate and laser wavelength.

Abstract: A cosmetic method for the removal of hair from the skin tissue of a human body includes providing a device that includes a source of ultrasound energy and a source of light-based energy; activating the source of ultrasound energy and providing the ultrasound energy to the skin tissue to heat an area of skin tissue containing hair follicles from about 43 degrees C. to about 55 degrees C. for a first predetermined period of time; activating the source of light-based energy after the expiration of the first predetermined period of time to heat hair follicles in the area of skin tissue containing hair follicles to one of: above 55 degrees C., 60 degrees C., 65 degrees C. or 70 degrees C. for a second predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An optical fiber assembly includes a central optical fiber core having a longitudinal axis surrounded by a cladding layer along the longitudinal axis, a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; it further comprises a layer of a material at least partially surrounding the cladding layer; the layer of material may be light-sensitive; and, at least two electrodes may be embedded at least partially along the longitudinal axis within the layer of light-sensitive material. The light-sensitive material may be a photoresist material, and the photoresist material characteristics change proportional to the amount of light impinging on the photoresist material. These characteristics may include one or more of electrical resistance changes or voltage changes.

Abstract: A removable tip for a light energy handpiece comprises a hollow conduit configured to surround a light guide in the handpiece; a support extension having a length longer than a length of the hollow conduit; and a shielding extension coupled to the support extension at an angle less than 180 degrees and located in front of the hollow conduit. The shielding extension is configured to be inserted behind an eyelid and extend to the fornix, the shielding extension comprised of a thermally insulative material.

Abstract: A device for insertion into a body lumen includes an operator unit which may be hand held by an operator. A cannula is operatively associated with the operator unit and the cannula includes two parallel lumens. At least one of two lumens terminates at its distal end before the distal end of the other lumen and wherein one of the two lumens is contained at most partially within the other lumen.