Abstract: An apparatus for treating dermatological conditions with radiation includes a Peltier device for cooling the treatment area of the patient's skin. The Peltier cooling device has a cold surface in thermal communication with the treatment area and a hot surface, with an aperture extending between the cold and hot surfaces through which radiation is directed to the treatment area. In one embodiment, a lens disposed within the aperture of the cooling device distributes the cooling effect to provide substantially uniform cooling across the treatment area. A temperature sensor senses the temperature of the treatment area and is used to control the Peltier cooling device and/or the radiation source to ensure that the treatment area does not exceed a predetermined temperature. Various radiation sources are suitable for use with the Peltier cooled apparatus, including lasers and gas-discharge lamps, such as arc lamps and flash lamps.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for performing intraluminal tissue welding for anastomosis of a hollow organ. A retractable catheter assembly is delivered through the hollow organ and consists of a catheter connected to an optical fiber, an inflatable balloon, and a biocompatible patch mounted on the balloon. The disconnected ends of the hollow organ are brought together on the catheter assembly, and upon inflation of the balloon, the free ends are held together on the balloon to form a continuous channel while the patch is deployed against the inner wall of the hollow organ. The ends are joined or "welded" using laser radiation transmitted through the optical fiber to the patch. A thin layer of a light-absorbing dye on the patch can provide a target for welding. The patch may also contain a bonding agent to strengthen the bond. The laser radiation delivered has a pulse profile to minimize tissue damage.

Abstract: A mirrorless scanner including a source of laser light producing a laser beam, a lens operative to receive the laser beam from the source of laser light and to direct it onto a target, and a vibrator coupled to the lens for vibrating the lens in at least two dimensions for causing the laser beam to scan across the target.

Abstract: A laser handpiece apparatus for use in therapeutic procedures employing selective cooling, the apparatus for use in conjunction with a controllable laser source, the apparatus including laser delivery device for controllably delivering a predetermined amount of laser energy to a preselected surface area, a reservoir having a predetermined volume, cryogen liquid contained in the reservoir, and a valve for controllably delivering a portion of the cryogen liquid to the preselected surface area.

Abstract: A method for selectively ablating targeted biological material uses real-time optical feedback control to measure incandescent photoemissions emitted from irradiated biological material and, based on the measured incandescent photoemissions, adjust laser pulse parameters to selectively ablate targeted biological material. Laser pulses are directed to a target area of the subject using a delivery system. During each laser pulse, incandescent photoemissions emitted from the biological material having a wavelength of less than that of the laser pulses are measured. Based on such measured incandescent photoemissions, at least one of the wavelenght, pulse duration and energy level of each laser pulse are adjusted in order to selectively ablate targeted soft or hard biological material.

Abstract: A system for treating vision disorders is disclosed. The system includes a heating device able to heat predetermined areas of the corneal tissue of an eye. The energy for heating is typically generated in the form of laser light or infrared that cause the tissue at that predetermined area to heat and shrink. The shrinkage shifts a plug or portion of the cornea with respect to the remainder of the eye to change the shape of the corneal surface and correct the problematic refractive error. A heat absorption modifier is used to avoid damage to the epithelial layer as energy is passed therethrough.

Abstract: A method of treating facial skin depressions is provided in which, following laser ablation of the epidermal layer, the underlying dermal plug of skin is obtained having minimal thermal damage and is implanted into an area of depressed skin.

Abstract: A laser catheter device includes a main housing containing a main lumen defined within its inner edge. The housing further includes one or more subsidiary lumens surrounding the main lumen. An electrically insulated strip lies along an outer edge of the housing. The strip contains several vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers powered by an external power source. The lead from the lasers to the power source extends through the subsidiary lumen. The device further includes an inflatable balloon surrounding the insulated strip and communicates with the main lumen. The balloon is inflated by an external source of inflation fluid.

Abstract: An illuminator including a differential optical radiator and a laser fiber disposed within the differential optical radiator. The differential optical radiator includes a first region that has a first level of reflectivity and a first level of transmissivity and a second region that has a second, higher level of reflectivity and a second, lower level of transmissivity. The first and second regions are positioned such and their reflectivities and transmissivities are chosen such that the radiator produces a substantially uniform pattern of illumination from the first and second regions. In another embodiment, the illuminator includes an expandable radiator and a laser fiber disposed within the expandable radiator. The reflectivity of the expandable radiator is such that the illumination at the outer surface of the expandable radiator is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A method of facial rejuvenation is provided in which ablation of an area of skin is accomplished to above the papillary dermis, providing effective permanent smoothness. A laser beam directs a laser beam from a laser source to a scanner which directs the beam to ablate the skin.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in operating upon a cornea of an eye comprises a light delivery optical system for delivering an ultraviolet laser beam emitted from a laser source onto the cornea, a diaphragm with an aperture, disposed in the light delivery optical system, for restricting an irradiation area of the laser beam, a device for shifting the laser beam with respect to an optical axis of the light delivery optical system, a device for rotating the laser beam about the optical axis of the light delivery optical system at each shifting position to ablate the cornea circularly, a device for inputting information necessary for determining the shape of the postoperation cornea, a device for determining ablation amount at each shifting position of the laser beam by the beam shifting device, based on the information input through the input device, and a device for controlling the laser source and action of the beam rotating device based on the ablation amount determined by the ablation amount determining device at ea

Abstract: A surgeon's command and control (SCC) system includes an independent personal computer based electronic control unit that unifies various pieces of equipment currently found in an endoscopic surgical suite into a surgeon centered system. The system utilizes programmed software which simplifies equipment management tasks that currently encumber the surgeon and operating room staff. It enhances safety, and increases the utility of the individual pieces of equipment. The SCC hardware centers around a personal computer communicating with a sterile control panel located at the surgeon's operating station. A frame store card serves as an electronic pallet to compose and superimpose graphic images onto a surgical image transmitted from an endoscopic camera for display on a heads-up display (HUD) monitor at the surgical operating station.

Abstract: A surgical technique for removing corneal tissue with scanned infrared radiation is disclosed which utilizes short mid-infrared laser pulses to provide a tissue removal mechanism based on photospallation. Photospallation is a photomechanical ablation mechanism which results from the absorption of incident radiation by the corneal tissue. Since photospallation is a mechanical ablation process, very little heat is generated in the unablated adjacent tissue. The disclosed surgical system includes a scanning beam delivery system which allows uniform irradiation of the treatment region and utilizes low energy outputs to achieve controlled tissue removal. A real-time servo-controlled dynamic eye tracker, based on a multiple-detector arrangement, is also disclosed which senses the motion of the eye and provides signals that are proportional to the errors in the lateral alignment of the eye relative to the axis of the laser beam.

Abstract: A two-pulse, lateral tissue illuminator in which a first pulse delivered by a first optical waveguide is used to irradiate a liquid-containing region to form a vapor bubble; a second pulse, delivered by a second optical waveguide, is then passed through the vapor bubble and used to incise a tissue of a patient. The illuminating device can be used to effectively deliver radiation to tissue positioned laterally relative to the axis of the delivery fibers, and allows a reduction in the attenuation of the radiation by the surrounding liquid.

Abstract: In a surgical catheter or probe, an array of multiple surgical laser beams are directed such that several laser beams intersect at a precise point on, or in, the body of a surgical patient. The power density of the laser energy of the intersecting beams at the point of intersection is sufficient to alter or ablate the patient's tissue, bone or fluid. The energy of the individual laser beams before or after the point of intersection is not sufficient to injure the body of the patient. The apparatus may be embodied as a catheter or probe for an endoscope, or can be used in a separate mechanism such that the laser beams enter the surgical patient at different locations but intersect at a point within the patient.

Abstract: A surgical laser scanner having optics that scans a pulsed laser beam onto a target tissue is disclosed. The laser scanner has a lens and a scanning mirror or mirrors located upstream of the lens at a distance substantially equal to the focal length of the lens. The laser beam hits the scanning mirror and is reflected onto the lens in a pattern defined by sequential positions of the scanning mirror. The laser beam is projected onto the target tissue by the lens in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens. The projected pattern has a constant size regardless of the distance between the laser scanner and the target tissue.

Abstract: A high fluence diode laser device is provided which achieves high fluence by carefully designing the mount for the diode bars so as to permit high power and long pulse operation with little temperature rise in the diode lasers; providing a microlens array in front of the diode array to improve brightness; and utilizing a non-imaging (i.e., without lenses) optical condenser between the microlens array and the target to efficiently transmit light energy from the diode array to a smaller target area.

Abstract: A laser balloon catheter device includes a housing containing a guidewire and an inelastic balloon. The balloon is surrounded by a clear silicone sleeve. A series of polyester electrically conductive flexible film strips are embedded inside the sleeve and adjacent the balloon. Each strip contains several vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers, each operating at 760-780 nanometer wavelengths and 1-10 milliwatts of power. During a balloon angioplasty procedure, the device is inserted into an affected artery across a region of stenosis. The balloon is inflated using inflation fluid provided from an external source. The inflated balloon expands the artery to eliminate the stenosis. Power is simultaneously applied to the lasers for a period of 5-10 minutes to encourage healing of the artery and reduce the occurrence of restenosis.

Abstract: A probe for suctioning of ocular tissue includes a hollow suction needle having a lateral opening in a needle region to be placed on the ocular tissue to be suctioned, a laser radiation source, a hollow mirror surface defining an ellipsoidal cavity within the needle region and forming a reflective device with a first focal point within the cavity and a second focal point outside of the cavity for location in the tissue to be suctioned, and a light guide disposed within and extending through the suction needle and interconnecting the laser radiation source and the ellipsoidal cavity. The laser radiation is directed by the light guide to the first focal point and reflected by the hollow mirror surface to the second focal point.

Abstract: A laser apparatus for medical treatment use in which a laser beam is irradiated on a portion of a human body to be treated comprises a laser beam generation unit for generating a laser beam of giant pulse, a laser beam guide member having one end through which the laser beam from the laser beam generation unit is guided, and a hand piece attached to another end of the laser beam guide member and irradiating the laser beam to the portion to be treated. A beam converging point is formed within a laser beam propagating path formed in at least one of the light guiding means and the hand piece and a stay of air is prevented from a predetermined region in the laser beam propagating path including at least the beam converging point at which the air stays. The predetermined region is positioned within the hand piece or the laser beam guide member. The air stay is prevented by means of producing a vacuum state, gas seal state or air flow state in the predetermined region.