Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for distinguishing between a stone and a tissue based on reflected light from the stone or the tissue. It is to be appreciated that the efficiency of treatments using lasers often depend upon the relative position and orientation of the optical fiber tip with respect to the target. Further, the safety of the patient often depends on accurate aiming of the distal end of the fiber optic cable at the intended target. For example, where a stone is the intended target, unintentionally activating the laser while aimed at tissue could damage the tissue. This may lead to unnecessary complications, and in some cases, it can also lead to permanent damage to the tissue, which could make portions of the body of the subject dysfunctional.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modified ball-tip architecture for a medical optical fiber where the modified ball-tip provides both protection to the distal end of the optical fiber and a working channel of an endoscope in which the medical optical fiber is inserted as well as provides for pre-procedure measurements. The modified ball-tip provides a ball-tip but exposes the distal end of the optical fiber.

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: Techniques and a laser system for modulating laser pulses are provided. The laser pulses can be modulated to cause a gaseous pathway formed when the laser pulses are emitted into a liquid medium to collapse within a specified distance. The instantaneous power of the laser pulses can be modulated in an opposite phase from the growth of vapor bubbles forming the gaseous pathway.

Abstract: A cosmetic method and apparatus for selecting an IPL light source having a band pass filter equivalent to a specified wavelength laser light source for providing cosmetic treatment of skin tissue and being configured to deliver high energy fluences and achieve a threshold energy sufficient to produce a clinical effect during operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for estimating the temperature of a working environment. Treatments that use laser and optical fiber technology may cause an undesirable increase in the temperature of a working environment. To that end, a laser source to generate light beams sensitive to a change in temperature can be generated and the temperature determined based on a distance between a distal end of the optical fiber and a target and the generated temperature sensitive light beam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Fiber Feedback (FFB) technology, and provides a method and system for estimating distance between a fiber end and a target. The method includes illuminating, by a Light Emitting, Transmitting and Detecting (LETD) system, the target with laser light of different wavelengths having low and high-water absorption coefficients, using different laser light sources, as well as receiving a returned signal corresponding to the incident laser light of different wavelengths, and detecting the returned signal to measure intensity values of the returned signal of a specific wavelength. Using the measured intensity values, a processing unit may estimate distance between the fiber end and the target. The present invention enables accurate estimation of distance between a fiber end and a target, and also provides a robust distance estimation technique which is compatible with different types of targets.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and system for estimating the distance between an optical fiber end and a target. Treatments which use laser and optic fiber technology require high amounts of accuracy to ensure that the laser is aimed at the right target (stone, tissue, tumor etc.), to achieve the clinical objective of tissue ablation, coagulation, stone fragmentation, dusting and the like. Accordingly, it is important to know the distance between the target and end of the optical fiber (distal end) where the laser light is emitted, since the laser treatment parameters, such as energy, pulse width, laser power modulation, and/or repetition rate, are often determined based on the distance between the tip of the optical fiber to the target.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to field of Fiber Feedback (FFB) technology and provides a method and system for estimating the distance between a fiber end and a target. The method includes illuminating, by a Light Emitting, Transmitting and Detecting (LETD) system, the target with laser light of different wavelengths having low and high-water absorption coefficients, using different laser light sources, as well as receiving a returned signal corresponding to the incident laser light of different wavelengths, and detecting the returned signal to measure intensity values of the returned signal of a specific wavelength. Using the measured intensity values, a processing unit may estimate distance between the fiber end and the target. The present disclosure enables accurate estimation of distance between a fiber end and the target. The present disclosure also provides a robust distance estimation technique which is compatible with different types of targets.

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: 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 treatment of skin tissue with two laser devices of unequal wavelengths comprising the steps of: (1) activating the two laser devices simultaneously to produce two laser beams of unequal wavelength; (2) directing the two laser beams into a handpiece having a distal tip to direct the laser beams onto the skin tissue; (3) directing the two laser beams within the handpiece to an adjustable beam deflector; and, (4) the adjustable beam deflector directing the two laser beams onto the skin tissue to produce a pattern of laser spots simultaneously but separated from one another.

Abstract: A system for the treatment of the dry eye syndrome that is based on a light source. The system includes a disposable tip, to treat an eyelid. A corneal shield is used to protect the patient's eye.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a medical optical fiber with protective tips for use with medical laser-based treatment of internal bodily organs. The medical optical fibers have apertures in a jacket of the medical optical fiber to increase an adhesion between the protective tip and the jacket.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides medical devices and techniques for enhancing formation of vapor bubbles by laser energy in a liquid medium. In particular, the present disclosure is directed at a liquid medium with a tendency to develop and/or sustain a gaseous state in the presence of laser energy and a system to both irrigate a treatment site with the liquid medium and irradiate a target in the liquid medium.

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.