Abstract: Illumination with a pattern of light allows for subsurface imaging of a turbid medium or tissue, and for the determination of the optical properties over a large area. Both the average and the spatial variation of the optical properties can be noninvasively determined. Contact with the sample or scanning is not required but may be desired. Subsurface imaging is performed by filtering the spectrum of the illumination in the Fourier domain but other filtering approaches, such as wavelet transform, principle component filter, etc may be viable as well. The depth sensitivity is optimized by changing the spatial frequency of illumination. A quantitative analysis of the average optical properties and the spatial variation of the optical properties is obtained. The optical properties, i.e. reduced scattering and absorption coefficients are determined from the modulated transfer function, MTF.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy on a sample. A sample is irradiated with a fluorescence excitation fiber and radiation is collected from the sample with a fluorescence collection fiber and detected to form fluorescence spectra. The sample is also illuminated with a reflectance illumination fiber and reflected light from the sample is collected at a plurality of collection positions and detected to form spatially resolved reflectance spectra. The fibers may form a probe arranged in concentric sections. The spectra are analyzed by pre-processing and reducing the dimensionality of the spectral data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating mammalian, for example, human, skin afflicted with a sebaceous follicle disorder, for example, acne. The method involves cooling an exposed surface of a region afflicted with the disorder and applying light, for example, light from a coherent or incoherent light source, to the region. The applied light reduces the size and/or density of lesions associated with the disorder in the treated region, and can reduce or otherwise alleviate lesion-associated skin inflammation in the treated region. Cooling preserves the surface, for example, epidermis, of the skin. The method, therefore, is effective at treating the disorder while at the same time avoiding or minimizing thermal damage to the exposed surface of the skin.

Abstract: The present invention features various methods and systems for performing radiation treatment of skin in connection with dynamic cooling of tissue, while minimizing or preventing occurrence of light flash during the treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating mammalian, for example, human, skin afflicted with a sebaceous follicle disorder, for example, acne. The method involves cooling an exposed surface of a region afflicted with the disorder and applying energy, for example, energy from a coherent or incoherent light source, to the region. The applied energy reduces the size and/or density of lesions associated with the disorder in the treated region, and can reduce or otherwise alleviate lesion-associated skin inflammation in the treated region. Cooling preserves the surface, for example, epidermis, of the skin. The method, therefore, is effective at treating the disorder while at the same time avoiding or minimizing thermal damage to the exposed surface of the skin.

Abstract: The present invention features various methods and systems for performing radiation treatment of skin in connection with dynamic cooling of tissue, while minimizing or preventing occurrence of light flash during the treatment.

Abstract: A method for performing radiation treatment of skin in connection with dynamic cooling of tissue, while minimizing or preventing occurrence of light flash during the treatment.

Abstract: A method for treating sleep-disordered breathing syndromes, for example, snoring in a mammal. The method involves applying energy, for example, energy from laser light, to a preselected region of soft palate tissue in the mammal in an amount and duration sufficient to induce thermal injury to subepithelial tissue in the preselected region of soft palate tissue while minimizing thermal injury to epithelial tissue in the preselected region of soft palate tissue. Thermal injury of the subepithelial tissue results in stiffening of the preselected region of soft palate tissue thereby ameliorating the symptoms of the sleep-disordered breathing syndrome.