Abstract: A dermatological laser apparatus and method in which at least three lasers generating at least three wavelengths of coherent radiation of known efficacy in the treatment of medical or dermatological conditions are provided in an integrated system. In the preferred embodiment, at least three lasers are combined in a console. The console houses some of the lasers along with cooling means, common power supplies, and control means to select among the available lasers. At least one of the lasers is generated in a handpiece. In an alternative embodiment, the handpiece is provided with means to accept interchangeable laser components.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus and system for surgically bonding tissue together provides a beam of coherent light at a wavelength corresponding to a specific tissue thickness at which full absorption of the laser energy occurs, and adjusts the energy of the laser beam in response to tissue temperature throughout the tissue thickness to prevent the tissue temperature from either exceeding a predetermined limit or varying outside a predetermined range. Preferably, the coherent light beam has a center wavelength of 1.9 .mu.m, and is variable between 1.85 and 1.91 .mu.m.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with a laser surgical tool comprises an elongate substantially hollow sheath having a pair of spaced apart axially extending guide members on a distal end and an attaching mechanism on the second end for ready attachment to a laser knife. The attaching mechanism is a grooved surface permitting rotation of the elongate sheath about its longitudinal axis which is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the laser knife. A second attaching mechanism comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, radially inwardly extending protuberances which matingly engage corresponding dimples on the laser knife preventing rotation of the sheath about the longitudinal axis. For use with laser knives having a bent elongate center portion, the sheath includes a separately rotatable guide sheath tip for rotation of that portion of the sheath between the bend in the elongate center portion of the laser knife and the distal end thereof, including the laser lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided in which a cylindrical body is shaped and sized to sealingly and closely fit into a conventional cannula. An elongate surgical instrument is inserted into the cylindrical body through a resilient seal so as to extend past and be in pressing contact with distal ends of a plurality of bristles supported to the cylindrical body inside a distal end thereof. The sealing element and the bristles cooperate to support the surgical instrument substantially axially of the cylindrical body and the cannula within which it is contained. Relative motion of the surgical instrument causes a rubbing action of the bristles contacting its outer surface and this serves to remove any incidental surgical debris, e.g., excised tissue, coagulated fluids, and the like, from the bristle-contacted outer surface of the surgical instrument both when it is moved during use and when it is removed from the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A surgical laser instrument including a transparent, splay, plate-like waveguide including one or more discontinuities therewithin for flattening and expanding a laser beam received through the waveguide and for emitting therefrom a relatively flat laser beam that can be utilized to sweep a selected tissue or region to be treated.

Abstract: A fiber optic integrated phacoemulsification system is disclosed comprising surgical handpieces for cataract surgery which incorporate fiber optic bundles that transmit visible light to enhance visualization by intraocular illumination. Patient safety is improved by the oblique lighting to the retina, thereby reducing the necessity of direct coaxial light from the surgical microscope. The fiber optic bundles enable the application of laser energy or visible light and permit endoscope visualization of intraocular structures either through the surgical handpiece or through an end piece attachment.

Abstract: A catheter uses a steerable outer catheter with an inner catheter rotatable and extendable with respect to the outer catheter. The outer catheter may be positioned within a patient's heart and a portion of the outer catheter may provide movement like that of a windshield wiper by manipulation of a spring. By combining the windshield wiper type movement with the extension and rotation of the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter, a large area within a patient's heart may be readily mapped for conduction tissue and be subjected to laser ablation if appropriate. Various configurations provide flexibility in relatively positioning of windows used to apply laser energy and ring electrodes used to sense conduction tissue. Some embodiments provide only mapping (no ablation) or with ablation by other then Various anchoring techniques are described.

Abstract: A method of removing abnormal tissue from the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, comprises the steps of introducing an endoscope into the, patient's gastrointestinal tract and applying suction to such abnormal tissue to pull the abnormal tissue into a ligator at the distal end of said endoscope. A ligation band is then applied to the base of the abnormal tissue within the ligator to form a polyp. An electro-surgical snare is then used to sever the polyp from the surrounding tissue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of hair depilation comprising the steps of providing an augmentation compound that readily absorbs a selected wavelength of laser light energy, encapsulating the augmentation compound within a liposimal carrier, applying an effective amount of the encapsulated augmentation compound to a region of tissue to be depilated sufficient to cause the compound to accumulate within the dermis surrounding each hair follicle and respective papilla, providing a laser light applicator capable of producing a wavelength of energy matched to the selected wavelength of absorption for the augmentation compound, positioning the laser light applicator above the region of skin treated with the augmentation compound and, applying a pulse of laser energy of the selected wavelength to the region of skin treated with the augmentation compound, the pulse of laser energy having a radiant exposure dose of sufficient energy and duration to cause damage to the hair follicle and papilla so that hair

Abstract: A surgical device is provided that is to be used with standardly available resectoscopes, combining the better qualities of familiar tissue scraping tools and real time imaging with the better qualities of laser radiation surgery. The laser radiation is delivered using side-firing optical fibers and is capable of delivering the amount of power needed to ablate or coagulate tissue. The state of the useful art is advanced by incorporating the ability to ablate as well as coagulate tissue using laser radiation, together with the ability to scrape and/or cauterize tissue and simultaneously use familiar real time imaging capabilities, all fitted into a single device that is used with a standard resectoscope. This allows surgeons to use as many familiar and tested techniques as possible and allows hospitals to purchase the device with minimal additional procurement activity.

Abstract: An optical ophthalmic treatment apparatus including an binocular observation optical system to observe an eye to be operated through a stereo microscope and a laser beam transmitting optical system to transmit a therapeutic laser beam emitted from a laser source onto the eye, the laser beam transmitting optical system comprising an irradiation area confining member capable of controlling an aperture diameter thereof, a projective lens for projecting an aperture image of the irradiation area confining member onto an affected part of the eye to be operated, a laser beam reflecting member for reflecting the optical axis of the laser beam transmitting system so as to be coaxial with the optical axis of an objective lens, and a condenser member for condensing the therapeutic laser beam at a position close to the laser beam reflecting member, the condenser member being arranged in the side of the laser source with respect to the irradiation area confining member.

Abstract: A laser probe hand piece for use in laser eye surgery is disclosed having a housing fiber optic energy being fiber housed therein. The housing includes a infusion port whereby irrigating solution can be infused into the eye to cool and irrigate the surgical area, and the housing also houses an aspiration means whereby fluid and excised tissue can be aspirated from the surgical field. The laser probe hand piece and associated console employ a feedback loop cutoff whereby the laser energy is cut off if the laser is not in contact with the target tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus for ablating the surface of the cornea using a laser beam to correct the refractive of an eye to be operated having a laser source for emitting a laser beam having a non-uniform intensity distribution of Gaussian distribution and the like to one direction and a uniform beam intensity in another direction, an ablation optical system for ablating the surface of the cornea by the laser beam emitted from the laser source, translational scanning device for scanning the laser beam in the direction of non-uniform intensity distribution, beam rotating device for rotating the laser beam emitted from the laser source round the optical axis in the ablation optical system, control device which controls the beam rotation by the beam rotating device whenever the laser beam is scanned in parallel by the scanning device.

Abstract: A thermokeratoplasty system and method for locally heating and reshaping a cornea in a manner that produces a minimal regression of the corneal correction. The system includes a probe that is coupled to a power source which can provide current at a predetermined power, frequency and time duration. The probe has a sharp tip that is inserted into the stroma of the cornea. The tip has an insulated stop that controls the depth of tip penetration. Current flows into the cornea through the probe tip to locally heat and denature the corneal tissue. The denatured tissue causes a subsequent shrinkage of the cornea. A pattern of denatured areas can be created around the cornea to correct the vision of the eye.

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 order to permanently remove hair growing in subcutaneous (below the skin's surface) tissue and to do so permanently, the hair and its root structure is epilated (vaporized) in an ablation cavity of essentially the same size and shape as the volume occupied by the root structure which includes follicle, the follicle bulb and the dermal papilla. Optical energy is used which is of a wavelength and fluence sufficient to cause epilation in the cavity without relying upon selective photothermolysis thereby limiting damage to tissue outside of the hair root structure. To find and restrict the optical energy to the epilation cavity, an optical system, which may be constituted of a single lens, having a numerical aperture of F/5-5.8 is used. The beam is generated by a laser which may be operated in a pulse mode and contained in a hand piece having the optical system at the end thereof.

Abstract: A laser treatment method for removing unwanted human hair includes irradiating a treatment site with post-coherent light of selected wavelength and peak power level and post duration, and repeating the post-coherent laser irradiation on one or more subsequent occasions with selected light parameters. A therapeutic treatment device has a laser and associated support elements and has a dermatology handpiece with a distance gage, a conduit for applying pressure and/or cooling to the treatment site and, optionally, cooling elements.

Abstract: An intraocular light probe has a slit-shaped mask or cannula affixed at a distal end thereof which forms a slit-shaped light beam for intraocular slit-illumination of target features within the eye. A hood at a distal tip portion directs light in a particular direction. A distal flange retains the instrument within the eye. In a second embodiment, a light probe for intraocular application of a slit-shaped light beam is created by forming a slit shape at a distal end of an optical fiber bundle. A third embodiment provides a surgical instrument, such as a phacoemulsifier or vitrector, having an infusion sleeve which incorporates a slit illuminator for intraocular application of a slit-shaped light beam to target tissues. The device of the invention is preferably introduced into the eye via the primary or side-port incision to provide intraocular cross-lighting of tissues during surgical procedures such as cataract extraction, vitrectomy, intraocular lens implantation, refractive surgery, and glaucoma surgery.

Abstract: A device (10) for removing cancellous bone during machining of a long bone canal includes a brush mechanism for scraping cancellous bone from cortical bone while deflecting off the cortical bone and a center post (14) operatively connected to the brush mechanism (12) for centering the brush mechanism (12) relative to the long bone canal. An adapter mechanism (16) is connected to the center post (14) for connecting the center post (14) to a motion actuator to move the brush mechanism (12) relative to the long bone canal and scrape off cancellous bone therefrom.

Abstract: An illuminated bougie in which the elongate bougie body is formed of flexible light-transmitting material. A socket for detachably attaching the light-transmitting end of a fiber optic bundle is formed in the proximal end of the bougie.