Abstract: A treatment for subcutaneous fat and/or cellulite includes delivering a beam of radiation to a subcutaneous fat region disposed relative to a dermal interface in a target region of skin. The beam of radiation affects at least one fat cell in the subcutaneous fat region without causing substantial unwanted injury to the epidermal region and causes thermal injury to a dermal region to induce collagen formation to strengthen the target region of skin in a target region of skin. The treatment can include cooling an epidermal region of the target region of skin.

Abstract: A device for reducing spontaneous emission in laser oscillator laser amplifier laser system.

Abstract: Treating skin can include delivering a beam of radiation to a target region of the skin to cause a zone of thermal injury including a lateral pattern of varying depths of thermal injury distributed along the target region. The lateral pattern includes at least one first sub-zone of a first depth of thermal injury laterally adjacent to at least one second sub-zone of a second depth of thermal injury. The first depth is greater than the second depth. The at least one first sub-zone of the first depth and the at least one second sub-zone of the second depth extend from a surface of the target region of the skin to form a substantially continuous surface thermal injury. The at least one first sub-zone of the first depth and the at least one second sub-zone of the second depth are substantially heated to at least a critical temperature.

Abstract: A skin surface is treated with RF energy (e.g., unipolar, monopolar, bipolar or multipolar RF delivery). A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and, optionally, a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. The first semiconductive cap and/or the second semiconductive cap have an electrical conductivity matched or substantially matched to the skin's electrical conductivity (e.g., about 0.1 to about 2 times that of the skin).

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a skin contacting portion defining a chamber. The apparatus also includes a first spaced region in the housing through which a coolant passes and a second spaced region in the housing that is at least partially evacuated of air. The apparatus further includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber, and a source for the coolant.

Abstract: A method of treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The method includes generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 1,200 nm to about 1,230 nm and delivering an average power density of less than or equal to about 2.3 W/cm2 of the electromagnetic radiation to the subcutaneous fat region for at least 300 seconds. The method also includes cooling an epidermal region and at least a portion of a dermal region overlying the subcutaneous fat region for at least a portion of the at least 300 seconds. The method further includes causing necrosis of at least one fat cell in the subcutaneous fat region.

Abstract: A skin surface is treated with RF energy (e.g., unipolar, monopolar, bipolar or multipolar RF delivery). A first semiconductive cap disposed on a first distal end of a first electrode and, optionally, a second semiconductive cap disposed on a second distal end of a second electrode are applied to the skin surface. RF energy is delivered from the first electrode and the second electrode through the first semiconductive cap and the second semiconductive cap, respectively, through the skin surface. The first semiconductive cap and/or the second semiconductive cap have an electrical conductivity matched or substantially matched to the skin's electrical conductivity (e.g., about 0.1 to about 2 times that of the skin).

Abstract: A treatment for subcutaneous fat and/or cellulite includes delivering a beam of radiation to a subcutaneous fat region disposed relative to a dermal interface in a target region of skin. The beam of radiation affects at least one fat cell in the subcutaneous fat region without causing substantial unwanted injury to the epidermal region and causes thermal injury to a dermal region to induce collagen formation to strengthen the target region of skin in a target region of skin. The treatment can include cooling an epidermal region of the target region of skin.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a skin contacting portion defining a chamber. The apparatus also includes a first spaced region in the housing through which a coolant passes and a second spaced region in the housing that is at least partially evacuated of air. The apparatus further includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber, and a source for the coolant.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a subcutaneous fat region is provided. The apparatus includes a housing that has a skin contacting portion defining a chamber. The apparatus also includes a first spaced region in the housing through which a coolant passes and a second spaced region in the housing that is at least partially evacuated of air. The apparatus further includes a source of electromagnetic radiation, a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber, and a source for the coolant.

Abstract: Described is a device for driving a dermatological laser. The system includes a first diode, an inductor, a switch, and a photodetector. A first end of the inductor is coupled to an end of the first diode, and a second end of the inductor is coupled to a flashlamp. An electrical control of the switch is coupled to a control system, a first end of the switch is coupled to a power source, and a second end of the switch is coupled to the first end of the inductor and the end of the first diode. The photodetector is adapted to measure at least one of output energy or output power of a laser medium pumped by the flashlamp. The photodetector is in communication with the control system for modulating a flashlamp that drives current to maintain a predetermined value of the measured output energy or output power.

Abstract: Non-ablative skin resurfacing can include generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 1920 nm to about 1950 nm and a fluence of about 3 J/cm2 to about 6 J/cm2. The electromagnetic radiation is delivered to a target region of skin to cause thermal injury to the epidermis in the target region sufficient to elicit a healing response that produces a substantially improved skin condition without detachment of the epidermis (e.g., within 3 days of treatment).

Abstract: Non-ablative skin resurfacing can include generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 1920 nm to about 1950 nm and a fluence of about 3 J/cm2 to about 6 J/cm2. The electromagnetic radiation is delivered to a target region of skin to cause thermal injury to the epidermis in the target region sufficient to elicit a healing response that produces a substantially improved skin condition without detachment of the epidermis (e.g., within 3 days of treatment).

Abstract: The invention generally relates to treating diseased nails, and more particularly to treating diseased nails using radiation and/or another form of energy to substantially deactivate the source of the disease. A nail treatment can be performed by a medical professional without the use of a dying agent or an exogenous chromophore, and the treatment can be effective at eliminating the source of the disease without subjecting a patient to adverse side effects or causing substantial unwanted injury to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: Treating skin can include delivering a beam of radiation to a target region of the skin to cause a zone of thermal injury including a lateral pattern of varying depths of thermal injury distributed along the target region. The lateral pattern includes at least one first sub-zone of a first depth of thermal injury laterally adjacent to at least one second sub-zone of a second depth of thermal injury. The first depth is greater than the second depth. The at least one first sub-zone of the first depth and the at least one second sub-zone of the second depth extend from a surface of the target region of the skin to form a substantially continuous surface thermal injury. The at least one first sub-zone of the first depth and the at least one second sub-zone of the second depth are substantially heated to at least a critical temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for improving bodily safety during exposure to an intense pulsed light source by diverging the light, such as with a diffuser. At a first position of the distal end of the light source the energy density of exit light from the distal end is substantially equal to the energy density of the light required for desired applications, such as effecting an aesthetic improvement without appearance of purpura or scarring, and at a second position of the distal end the radiance of the light emitted therefrom is significantly less than the radiance of the intense pulsed light. Eye safety is further enhanced by attaching at least one element of adjustable opacity to the handpiece of the light source, so that subcutaneously backscattered light may be absorbed by the at least one element.

Abstract: A beam of radiation can be provided to treat a dermatological condition in a target region of skin. The beam of radiation can have a wavelength between about 700 nm and about 800 nm, a fluence greater than about 50 J/cm2, and a pulse duration between about 10 msec and about 300 msec. The beam of radiation is delivered to the target region of skin to affect (i) at least one pigmentary abnormality disposed in an epidermal region of the target region and (ii) at least one vascular abnormality disposed in a dermal region of the target region. A surface of the epidermal region of the target region of skin can be cooled to prevent substantial unwanted injury to at least a portion of the epidermal region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enhancing the absorption of light in targeted skin structures and for the inhibition of pain transmission during light based treatments of the skin. After applying a vacuum to a vacuum chamber placed on a skin target and modulating the applied vacuum, the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels is increased within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of the skin target. Optical energy associated with light directed in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining the skin target is absorbed within the predetermined depth. The apparatus is suitable for treating vascular lesions with a reduced treatment energy density level than that of the prior art and for evacuating condensed vapors produced during the cooling of skin. The vacuum chamber may also have a skin flattening transmitting element which inhibits pain transmission upon applying a sufficiently high vacuum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enhancing the absorption of light in targeted skin structures. A vacuum chamber having a clear transmitting element transparent to intense pulsed light on its proximate end and an aperture on its distal end is placed on a skin target. After applying a vacuum to the vacuum chamber and modulating the applied vacuum, the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels is increased within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of the skin target. Optical energy associated with light directed in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining the skin target is absorbed within the predetermined depth. The apparatus is suitable for treating vascular lesions with a reduced treatment energy density level and pain sensation than that of the prior art and for evacuating condensed vapors produced during the cooling of skin prior to firing the light with a controlled delay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enhancing the absorption of light in targeted skin structures. A vacuum chamber having a clear transmitting element transparent to intense pulsed light on its proximate end and an aperture on its distal end is placed on a skin target. After applying a vacuum to the vacuum chamber and modulating the applied vacuum, the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels is increased within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of the skin target. Optical energy associated with intense pulsed light directed in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining the skin target is absorbed within the predetermined depth. The apparatus is suitable for treating vascular lesions with a reduced treatment energy density level than that of the prior art and for evacuating condensed vapors produced during the cooling of skin prior to firing an intense pulsed light with a controlled delay.