Abstract: The present invention provides a laser system and laser handpiece and process for skin treatment. The system includes components for producing a continuous or pulse laser beam, and components for delivering a substance to the damaged region of skin. The system is designed to control and utilize the laser beam for damaging small volume of skin tissue and using a disposable tip to deliver a substance which is applied simultaneously or with some delay producing a combination of laser action with the action of a named substance at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser system and laser handpiece and process for skin treatment. The system includes components for producing a continuous or pulse laser beam, and components for delivering a substance to the damaged region of skin. The system is designed to control and utilize the laser beam for damaging small volume of skin tissue and using a disposable tip to deliver a substance which is applied simultaneously or with some delay producing a combination of laser action with the action of a named substance at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser system and laser handpiece and process for skin treatment. The system includes components for producing a continuous or pulse laser beam, and components for delivering a substance to the damaged region of skin. The system is designed to control and utilize the laser beam for damaging small volume of skin tissue and using a disposable tip to deliver a substance which is applied simultaneously or with some delay producing a combination of laser action with the action of a named substance at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser system and laser handpiece and process for skin treatment. The system includes components for producing a continuous or pulse laser beam, and components for delivering a substance to the damaged region of skin. The system is designed to control and utilize the laser beam for damaging small volume of skin tissue and using a disposable tip to deliver a substance which is applied simultaneously or with some delay producing a combination of laser action with the action of a named substance at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser system and laser handpiece and process for skin treatment. The system includes components for producing a continuous or pulse laser beam, and components for delivering a substance to the damaged region of skin. The system is designed to control and utilize the laser beam for damaging small volume of skin tissue and using a disposable tip to deliver a substance which is applied simultaneously or with some delay producing a combination of laser action with the action of a named substance at the same time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser system and laser handpiece and process for skin treatment. The system includes components for producing a continuous or pulse laser beam, and components for delivering a substance to the damaged region of skin. The system is designed to control and utilize the laser beam for damaging small volume of skin tissue and using a disposable tip to deliver a substance which is applied simultaneously or with some delay producing a combination of laser action with the action of named substance at the same time.

Abstract: Therapeutic stem cells and methods for their use and manufacture. Stem cells are produced under conditions in which the stem cells are exposed to at least one environmental factor, including decreased oxygen tension. The environmental factors and culture conditions of the invention produce stem cells having an enhanced therapeutic ability and enhanced proliferation in culture. Stem cells of the invention retain their plasticity through a higher number of cell passages relative to know methods of stem cell culture. The invention also contemplates the use of such stem cells in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laser system and laser handpiece and process for skin treatment. The system includes components for producing a continuous or pulse laser beam, and components for delivering a substance to the damaged region of skin. The system is designed to control and utilize the laser beam for damaging small volume of skin tissue and using a disposable tip to deliver a substance which is applied simultaneously or with some delay producing a combination of laser action with the action of named substance at the same time.

Abstract: A laser skin treatment process and system. The system includes features for producing a first laser beam of long pulse duration and a second laser beam of short pulse duration and a skin cooler for cooling the surface of a region of skin. The system is designed to utilize the first laser beam for heating a volume of skin tissue below the cooled surface region to a temperature to produce skin tissue modification but below skin tissue damage threshold. This volume of skin tissue is called a “thermal cavity”. The second laser beam is divided into a plurality of separate laser beams that are directed through separate optical fibers and via separate paths through skin tissue to a single tiny volume of skin tissue within the thermal cavity to produce in that tiny volume mechanical damage. This tiny volume is called an energy droplet. Thus tiny regions of tissue are damaged while minimizing or preventing any significant damage to adjacent tissue.

Abstract: Therapeutic stem cells and methods for their use and manufacture. Stem cells are produced under conditions in which the stem cells are exposed to at least one environmental factor, including decreased oxygen tension. The environmental factors and culture conditions of the invention produce stem cells having an enhanced therapeutic ability and enhanced proliferation in culture. Stem cells of the invention retain their plasticity through a higher number of cell passages relative to know methods of stem cell culture. The invention also contemplates the use of such stem cells in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

Abstract: A laser skin treatment process and system. The system includes features for producing a first laser beam of long pulse duration and a second laser beam of short pulse duration and a skin cooler for cooling the surface of a region of skin. The system is designed to utilize the first laser beam for heating a volume of skin tissue below the cooled surface region to a temperature to produce skin tissue modification but below skin tissue damage threshold. This volume of skin tissue is called a “thermal cavity”. The second laser beam is divided into a plurality of separate laser beams that are directed through separate optical fibers and via separate paths through skin tissue to a single tiny volume of skin tissue within the thermal cavity to produce in that tiny volume mechanical damage. This tiny volume is called an energy droplet. Thus tiny regions of tissue are damaged while minimizing or preventing any significant damage to adjacent tissue.

Abstract: A laser process for tissue treatment. Preferred embodiments include features for producing a first laser beam and a second laser beam and a skin cooler for cooling the surface of a region of skin. The system is designed to utilize the first laser beam for heating a volume of skin tissue below the cooled surface region to a temperature below skin tissue damage threshold. This volume of skin tissue is called a “thermal cavity”. The second laser beam is divided into a plurality of separate laser beams that are directed through separate optical fibers and via separate paths through skin tissue to a single tiny volume of skin tissue within the thermal cavity to heat that tiny volume to a temperature above the damage threshold. This tiny volume is called an energy droplet. Thus tiny regions of tissue are damaged while minimizing or preventing any significant damage to adjacent tissue.

Abstract: Providing a high peak power short pulse duration gas discharge laser output pulse comprises a pulse stretcher a laser output pulse optical delay initiating optic diverting a portion of the output laser pulse into an optical delay having an optical delay path and comprising a plurality of confocal resonators in series aligned to deliver an output of the optical delay to the laser output pulse optical delay initiating optic. The plurality of confocal resonators comprises four confocal resonators comprising a twelve pass four mirror arrangement. An apparatus and method may comprise a plurality, e.g., two pulse stretchers in series and may include spatial coherency metrology.

Abstract: A beam delivery unit and method of delivering a laser beam from a laser light source for excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser systems in the DUV and smaller wavelengths is disclosed, which may comprise: a beam delivery enclosure defining an output laser light pulse beam delivery path from an output of a gas discharge laser to an input of a working apparatus employing the light contained in the output laser light pulse beam; a purge mechanism operatively connected to the beam delivery enclosure; an in-situ beam parameter monitor and adjustment mechanism within the enclosure, comprising a retractable beam redirecting optic; a beam analysis mechanism external to the enclosure; and, a retraction mechanism within the enclosure and operable from outside the enclosure and operative to move the retractable beam redirecting optic from a retracted position out of the beam path to an operative position in the beam path.

Abstract: A beam delivery unit and method of delivering a laser beam from a laser light source for excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser systems in the DUV and smaller wavelengths is disclosed, which may comprise: a beam delivery enclosure defining an output laser light pulse beam delivery pat from an output of a gas discharge laser to an input of a working apparatus employing the light contained in the output laser light pulse beam; a purge mechanism operatively connected to the beam delivery enclosure; an in-situ beam parameter monitor and adjustment mechanism within the enclosure, comprising a retractable bean redirecting optic; a beam analysis mechanism external to the enclosure; and, a retraction mechanism within the enclosure and operable from outside the enclosure and operative to move the retractable beam redirecting optic from a retracted position out of the beam path to an operative position in the beam path.

Abstract: An all-fiber erbium laser oscillating in a passive Q switched mode. The laser includes a crystal saturable absorber that may be Co2+:ZnSe or Cr2+:ZnSe. In preferred embodiments continuous pumping or short pulse pumping may be utilized. The laser is characterized by low threshold high-power, short-pulse generation. In preferred embodiments the threshold is only about 20 mW. The crystals are bleached at extremely low intensity, of about 0.8 kW/cm2 and provide moderate relaxation time of the excited state (290 ?s) within a spectral range of about 1400-1800 nm. The simplicity of the design and low cost of that laser 2000).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a high peak power short pulse duration gas discharge laser output pulse is disclosed which may comprise a pulse stretcher which may comprise a laser output pulse optical delay initiating optic diverting a portion of the output laser pulse into an optical delay having an optical delay path and comprising; a plurality of confocal resonators in series aligned to deliver an output of the optical delay to the laser output pulse optical delay initiating optic. The plurality of confocal resonators comprises four confocal resonators comprising a twelve pass four mirror arrangement. Each of the plurality of confocal resonators may comprise a first concave spherical mirror having a radius of curvature and a second concave spherical mirror having the same radius of curvature and separated by the radius of curvature.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing a multi-layered dielectric reflectivity coating subject to compaction/densification upon exposure to DUV or shorter wavelength light, is disclosed which may comprise: applying the reflectivity coating to a reflective surface forming a coating bulk on the surface; exposing the coating bulk to a pretreatment of a sufficient amount of DUV radiation to induce sufficient densification in enough of the coating bulk to inhibit subsequent densification during continued exposure to DUV or shorter wavelength radiation. The method may also comprise the pretreatment radiation exposure amounting to energy of at least the equivalent of about 2 Bp at 9 mJ per pulse. The method may also comprise the pretreatment radiation exposure amounting the energy being delivered in at about 3 KHz pulse repetition rate. The method may also comprise the pretreatment radiation exposure amounts to energy of at least the equivalent of 15-18 mJ per pulse delivered over about 700 M-1 B pulses, i.e.

Abstract: A beam delivery unit and method of delivering a laser beam from a lasr light source for excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser systems in the DUV and smaller wavelengths is disclosed, which may comprise: a beam delivery enclosure defining an output laser light pulse beam delivery path from an output of a gas discharge laser to an input of a working apparatus employing the light contained in the output laser light pulse beam; a purge mechanism operatively connected to the beam delivery enclosure; an in-situ beam parameter monitor and adjustment mechanism within the enclosure, comprising a retractable beam redirecting optic; a beam analysis mechanism external to the enclosure; and, a retraction mechanism within the enclosure and operable from outside the enclosure and operative to move the retractable beam redirecting optic from a retracted position out of the beam path to an operative position in the beam path.

Abstract: A laser system and process by which prior art medical and cosmetic laser techniques using laser beams chosen to produce selective thermolysis are enhanced by the addition of a second laser beam chosen for much deeper transmission in tissue and more uniform absorption. Preferred embodiments include enforcement with a 1079 nm YAP:Nd laser beam of a 532 nm beam produced by a frequency doubled YAG:Nd laser beam.