Abstract: A fluid conditioning system is adapted to condition the fluid used in medical and dental cutting, irrigating, evacuating, cleaning, and drilling operations. The fluid may be conditioned by adding flavors, antiseptics and/or tooth whitening agents such as peroxide, medications, and pigments. In addition to the direct benefits obtained from introduction of these agents, the laser cutting properties may be varied from the selective introduction of the various agents.

Abstract: An apparatus having an excitation source that includes at least one laser diode and also having a handpiece with a disposable, bendable tip cannula is disclosed.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva and sclera, to treat presbyopia. The treatments can affect at least one property of the eye and enhance an accommodation of the eye.

Abstract: A method for treating presbyopia utilizes an Erbium based, pulsed laser to sever sub-conjunctival strictures located within the scleral matrix of the eye. Introduction of treatment energy into the scleral matrix increases or facilitates an increase in accommodation, thereby mitigating the effects of presbyopia. The treatment energy can be directed into the scleral matrix to form tunnel ablations in and through the strictures of the scleral matrix. The tunnel ablations can enhance the accommodation of the patient's eye, enabling the eye to refocus at near distances while not losing its ability to focus at a distance.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva and sclera, to treat presbyopia. The treatments can affect at least one property of the eye and enhance an accommodation of the eye.

Abstract: A radiation emitting apparatus is disclosed that emits a substantially homogenous beam of radiation from an irregularly shaped output end. As described herein, a radiation emitting apparatus includes a bundled fiber guide coupled to an energy distribution tuner. The bundled fiber guide is coupled to the energy distribution tuner to receive a substantially uniform distribution of high power energy. The bundled fiber guide is configured to distribute the energy to emit a substantially uniform distribution of lower power energy toward a target surface, such as a body surface. The bundled fiber guide may include a plurality of fused optic fibers, a plurality of beam splitting mirror elements, or tapered waveguides.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling a plurality of electromagnetic energy sources is disclosed. Instructions are executed on a processor to display on a computer-human interface display device a user interface region. The user interface region includes a pie-graph configured to display a total output power of the plurality of the electromagnetic energy sources. The pie-graph includes a radius that indicates the total output power and a plurality of sectors that indicate percentages of the total output power contributed by each of the plurality of the electromagnetic energy sources. An input is received via the user interface region, where the input is an interaction with the pie-graph that changes one of the radius or a sector of the plurality of the sectors. A power output of one or more of the electromagnetic energy sources is adjusted based on the input.

Abstract: An apparatus having an excitation source that includes at least one laser diode and also having a handpiece with a disposable, bendable tip cannula is disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for dental cleaning or whitening. An example toothbrush including a body and a head comprises an electromagnetic-radiation generation component, a safety component, and a transmission component. The electromagnetic-radiation generation component is configured to generate electromagnetic radiation upon activation, the electromagnetic-radiation generation component being located in a body of the toothbrush. The safety component is configured to activate the electromagnetic-radiation generation component in response to an activation event. The transmission component is configured to transmit the electromagnetic radiation to the head of the toothbrush for dental cleaning or whitening.

Abstract: A tissue treatment device is disclosed. A tissue treatment device includes a bristle having a longitudinal axis, where the bristle is configured to emit a peak concentration of electromagnetic radiation along a direction that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis. The tissue treatment device also includes a brush head for holding the bristle, where the bristle projects outwardly from the brush head and is configured to brush a surface. The tissue treatment device further includes an electromagnetic energy source optically coupled to the bristle. The bristle is a waveguide that is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic energy source at a coupling point and to emit the received electromagnetic radiation at a tip.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for treating pathological skin conditions. A method of removing fungus from a treatment area may include placing an energy delivery apparatus on the treatment area, and activating the medical laser to deliver electromagnetic energy over an exposure distance to the treatment area in order to cause a temperature of tissue in the treatment area to rise to within a fungal treatment temperature range. The energy delivery apparatus may be attachable to an energy emitting portion of a medical laser and may be configured to position the energy emitting portion at the exposure distance from a surface of the treatment area when the energy delivery apparatus is placed on the treatment area.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for ablating a lens of an eye. An access incision is made through outer eye tissue to access the lens. A laser tool is inserted through the access incision. Electromagnetic energy is focused using the inserted laser tool to ablate a portion of the lens, where said ablation breaks the lens into a plurality of pieces for removal from the eye.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye. A perpendicular incision is made through a conjunctiva of the eye to access a trabecular meshwork of the eye. Electromagnetic energy is focused through the perpendicular incision to ablate a portion of the trabecular network, where said ablation creates a channel for outflow flow of fluid through a sclera venous sinus to reduce pressure within the eye.

Abstract: Provided is a surgical handpiece for providing an electromagnetic cutting blade. The handpiece, comprises a body portion having an input end and an output end, a plurality of optical fibers for receiving laser energy having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range, wherein the optical fibers are received in the body portion at the input end and extend to the output end, and an optical fiber transition region within the body portion for arranging the plurality of optical fibers into a predetermine cutting shape at the output end, wherein laser energy transmitted from the arranged optical fibers at the output end interact with water molecules near the surgical target to generate micro-explosions that result in a cutting effect.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cleaning or disinfecting a target region. A fluid including a plurality of gas bubbles is placed into an interaction zone. The interaction zone is a volume that extends into the target region or that is adjacent to the target region. The fluid in the interaction zone is exposed to electromagnetic radiation, where the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength that is substantially absorbed by the fluid. The fluid in the interaction zone substantially absorbs the electromagnetic radiation to create an acoustic shock wave and a pressure wave. The acoustic shock wave and the pressure wave cause a movement of the fluid and cavitation effects that are configured to clean or disinfect the target region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delivering a substance to a target region in vapor form are provided. A fluid is placed within an interaction zone, where the interaction zone is a volume that extends into the target region or that is adjacent to the target region. A fiber optic tip is placed within the interaction zone. The fiber optic tip contains the substance that is transparent to a first wavelength of energy and that substantially absorbs a second wavelength of energy. A vapor bubble is created within the interaction zone by exposing the fluid to electromagnetic radiation at the first wavelength, where the radiation at the first wavelength is substantially absorbed by the fluid. The substance is released in vapor form into the vapor bubble by exposing the substance to electromagnetic radiation at the second wavelength. The fiber optic tip emits the radiation at the first and second wavelengths.

Abstract: A non-contact laser handpiece contains optical components modified to provide a high-density uniform laser beam at a distance from the handpiece that minimizes effects of back reflection.

Abstract: A method for treating presbyopia utilizes an Erbium based, pulsed laser to sever sub-conjunctival strictures located within the scleral matrix of the eye. Introduction of treatment energy into the scleral matrix increases or facilitates an increase in accommodation, thereby mitigating the effects of presbyopia. The treatment energy can be directed into the scleral matrix to form tunnel ablations in and through the strictures of the scleral matrix. The tunnel ablations can enhance the accommodation of the patient's eye, enabling the eye to refocus at near distances while not losing its ability to focus at a distance.

Abstract: Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva and sclera, to treat presbyopia. The treatments can affect at least one property of the eye and enhance an accommodation of the eye.

Abstract: A method for treating presbyopia utilizes an Erbium based, pulsed laser to sever sub-conjunctival strictures located within the scleral matrix of the eye. Introduction of treatment energy into the scleral matrix increases or facilitates an increase in accommodation, thereby mitigating the effects of presbyopia. The treatment energy can be directed into the scleral matrix to form tunnel ablations in and through the strictures of the scleral matrix. The tunnel ablations can enhance the accommodation of the patient's eye, enabling the eye to refocus at near distances while not losing its ability to focus at a distance.