Abstract: A system and method for providing treatments of electromagnetic radiation to areas of post-partum abdominal skin. The treatments provide for raising the temperature in a portion of post-partum abdominal skin to a treatment temperature, which is sufficient to reduce the laxity or redundancy of the post-partum skin. In one embodiment the treatment can provide treatment exposures to sub-areas, of an area of post-partum abdominal skin which has been identified for treatment, and bring a temperature of the tissue being treated to at 50° C.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for treating an exposed tissue of a patient with a light energy. A plurality of light emitting devices are optically coupled with a patients tissue, and apply light treatments to the tissue. A driver circuit and a controller operate to drive the light emitting devices to output different intensities of light treatment to different sub-areas of the tissue being treated.

Abstract: A system and method for using a light source to treat tissue with NIR light. The operation provides for generating higher temperatures in deeper layers of tissue relative to shallower layers of tissue. The increased temperature in dermal layers can operate to induce collagen shrinkage, or remodeling. One of the light sources for providing a broad spectrum of NIR light is a filament light. The light from the filament lamp can be selectively filtered, and after filtering this light is applied to the skin, where the selective filtering can enhance the ability to elevate the temperature of deeper layers of tissue, relative to layers of tissue which are closer to the surface of the skin.

Abstract: A system and method for providing light treatments to a patients skin, which could include both dermal and epidermal regions. The system and method utilize multiple hand pieces where each hand piece can deliver light from a different light source. The system and method provide for control over the different light source corresponding to the different hand pieces based on whether the hand pieces are held in storage positions in a hand piece management unit. A control unit of the system provides operates to cause a user interface display to communicate information to a user based on the positions of the different hand pieces. Further, the system and method can provide a user with access to different aspects of the systems operation based on the positions of the hand pieces.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for non-ablative laser treatment of dermatologic conditions. A laser energy is transmitted to an underlying target element in the skin. The target element is heated to a temperature of at least forty degrees Celsius. In some embodiments, a pulsed, near infrared, high peak power laser energy is used. The systems and methods of the present invention may be used to treat acne, smooth wrinkles, remove hair, treat leg veins, treat facial veins, improve skin texture, decrease pore sizes, reduce rosacea, reduce “blush/diffuse redness, reduce striae, reduce scarring, or the like.

Abstract: A fluorescence concentrator system that provides for high brightness light source. The system can include a host doped with fluorescent material, which is optically pumped by an adjacent illumination source. The fluorescence concentrator captures a portion of the isotropically emitted fluorescent light and guides it to an output surface. The fluorescent energy emerging the output surface provides a high brightness light source suitable for a number of applications. For example, the fluorescence concentrator system can be used as the light source in a medical apparatus suitable for various aesthetic procedures. Further aspects of the fluorescent concentrator system can include providing for controlling the illumination source to output pumping energy suitable for high energy applications.

Abstract: A system and method for using a light source to treat tissue with NIR light. The operation provides for generating higher temperatures in deeper layers of tissue relative to higher layers of tissue. The increased temperature in dermal layers can operate to induce collagen shrinkage, or remodeling. One of the light sources for providing a broad spectrum of NIR light is a filament light. The light from the filament lamp can be selectively filtered, and after filtering this light is applied to the skin, where the selective filtering can enhance the ability to elevate the temperature of deeper layers of tissue, relative to layers of tissue which are closer to the surface of the skin.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for providing for pulses or relatively low energy light to an area of skin being treated. Typically, these low energy pulses will include shorter wavelength light, and will provided for multiple pulses of light for the area being treated. The pulse width is determined by the characteristics of a storage capacitor and the flashlamp. The overall system design can be relatively simple, and the operation of such a system can allow for operation by relatively inexperienced users. Due to the low energy pulse, it can be necessary to apply a greater overall amount of energy per treatment area relative to other previous systems, but due to the relatively long period of time between pulses the operation is such that risk of injury is significantly reduced relative to prior systems.

Abstract: A power supply comprising a chopper circuit with an inductive filter element may drive a flashlamp to direct flashlamp radiation to a patient's skin. The waveform may have a generally constant current value and may be substantially independent of pulse width repetition rate and of pulse repetition rate. The flashlamp may be selected according to the type of treatment and the expected width of the treatment area. The wavelength of the radiation to be directed to a patient may be limited to a shallow tissue-penetrating, strongly melanin-absorbing wavelength spectrum, such as at most about 590 to 850 nm or at most about 590 to 700 nm. The chosen wavelength spectrum may be-within the UVA through UVB wavelength spectrum so to cause localized pigmentation in a patient's skin. The chosen wavelength spectrum may be a continuous wavelength spectrum.

Abstract: The invention comprises a system and method for treating an exposed tissue of a patient with a light energy. A plurality of light emitting devices are optically coupled with a patients tissue, and apply light treatments to the tissue. A driver circuit and a controller operate to drive the light emitting devices to output different intensities of light treatment to different sub-areas of the tissue being treated.

Abstract: A hair removal device (22) includes a cooling surface (34) which is used to contact the skin (6) prior to exposure to hair tissue-damaging laser light (74) passing from a radiation source (36) through a recessed window (46). The window is laterally offset from the cooling surface and is spaced apart from the cooling surface in a direction away from the patient's skin to create a gap between the window and the skin. The window preferably includes both an inner window (46) and an outer, user-replaceable window (48). The laser-pulse duration is preferably selected according to the general diameter of the hair.

Abstract: A hair removal device (22) includes a cooling surface (34) which is used to contact the skin (6) prior to exposure to hair tissue-damaging laser light (74) passing from a radiation source (36) through a recessed window (46). The window is laterally offset from the cooling surface and is spaced apart from the cooling surface in a direction away from the patient's skin to create a gap between the window and the skin. The window preferably includes both an inner window (46) and an outer, user-replaceable window (48). The laser-pulse duration is preferably selected according to the general diameter of the hair.

Abstract: A hair removal device (22) includes a cooling surface (34) which is used to contact the skin (6) prior to exposure to hair tissue-damaging laser light (74) passing from a radiation source (36) through a recessed window (46). The window is laterally offset from the cooling surface and is spaced apart from the cooling surface in a direction away from the patient's skin to create a gap between the window and the skin. The window preferably includes both an inner window (46) and an outer, user-replaceable window (48). The laser-pulse duration is preferably selected according to the general diameter of the hair.

Abstract: A hair removal device (22) includes a cooling surface (34) which is used to contact the skin (6) prior to exposure to hair tissue-damaging laser light (74) passing from a radiation source (36) through a recessed window (46). The window is laterally offset from the cooling surface and is spaced apart from the cooling surface in a direction away from the patient's skin to create a gap between the window and the skin. The window preferably includes both an inner window (46) and an outer, user-replaceable window (48). The laser-pulse duration is preferably selected according to the general diameter of the hair.

Abstract: A hair removal device (22) includes a cooling surface (34) which is used to contact the skin (6) prior to exposure to hair tissue-damaging laser light (74) passing from a radiation source (36) through a recessed window (46). The window is laterally offset from the cooling surface and is spaced apart from the cooling surface in a direction away from the patient's skin to create a gap between the window and the skin. The window preferably includes both an inner window (46) and an outer, user-replaceable window (48). The laser-pulse duration is preferably selected according to the general diameter of the hair.

Abstract: An elongated tube for inserting instrumentation during a percutaneous diskectomy using a laser introduces an optical guide into the nucleus of a herniated disc. The optical guide is disposed along the elongated tube and guides a laser beam. The laser beam which is guided by the optical guide is not aligned with at least a portion of the elongated tube.