Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: A treatment apparatus includes a cannula with a cannula lumen. The cannula has a first average diameter. A probe is positionable in the cannula lumen. The probe has a first section with a second average diameter and a second section with a third average diameter that is less than the second average diameter. At least a portion of the second section has a curved section with at least one radius of curvature. The radius of curvative is selected to provide that as the second section passes through the cannula lumen a first side of the second section is tangential to a first side of the cannula lumen, and a second opposing side of the second section is tangential to a second opposing side of the cannula lumen.

Abstract: A laser system that includes a diode pump source. A frequency doubled solid state visible laser is pumped by the diode pump source and produces a pulsed laser output with a train of pulses. Resources provide instructions for the creation of the pulsed output, with on and off times that provide for substantial confinement of thermal effects at a target site. This laser system results in tissue specific photoactivation (or TSP) without photocoagulation damage to any of the adjacent tissues and without causing full thickness retinal damage and the associated vision loss.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

Abstract: An electro-optical system is provided for use with a target site and configured with pre-programmable energy output functions for customized TPT protocols. One or more laser sources are provided producing an output beam. A control device is coupled to the laser source. The control device includes a memory that stores at least one laser source energy output function. The laser source energy output function is used to create an intra-operatively invisible therapeutic treatment with enhanced thermotolerance which minimize iatrogenic damage to surrounding structures.

Abstract: A diode pumped doubling system employs a pump diode, a crystal and doubler in a laser cavity with the diode and is operated in a pulsed or low duty cycle pumping regimen, while the cavity length is sufficiently short to stabilize the transient responses to pulsed diode operation and produce stable and known or controlled energy output under the non-CW pumping regimen. The construction allows stable output to be maintained with much looser temperature control, and to be achieved during the initial turn-on interval of the laser diode. In a preferred embodiment, the device employs a doubler which is clamped across its non-critical axis, and is operated with a control system which creates isotherms in the active mode volume.

Abstract: A fiber optic handpiece has portions formed with special contours that facilitate consistent placement of the probe in an axial rather than radial orientation, thus decreasing the likelihood of incidental laser exposure to unintended structures while maintaining the intrinsically higher laser-tissue coupling efficiency of a contact technique. One particular embodiment incorporates features that permit rapid and consistent positioning relative to visible landmark structures such as the limbus, thereby reducing treatment variability.

Abstract: A Ho:YAG laser is coupled to a needle tip through a flexible, fiber optical cable for performing endoscopic and arthroscopic surgery.

Abstract: A technique for coupling the output of a laser diode (30) to an optical fiber (32) entails disposing an optical train (37,38) between the source and the fiber, and locating the fiber end at or near the exit pupil of the optical train. In one embodiment of the invention, light from the laser diode source is imaged by a first lens (37) of focal length f.sub.1, forming a magnified real image of the source at a convenient distance, the real image is reimaged by a second lens (37) of focal length f.sub.2, and the fiber end is located at the exit pupil. The real image may be reimaged approximately at infinity.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector system. A first connector (25) associated with the fiber (15) includes a fiber holder (40) and a first engagement member. A second complementary connector (30) includes a fiber receptacle (95) and a second engagement member (90). The fiber holder is maintained in a precise position by the second connector when the first and second engagement members engage one another. The second connector may be associated with a radiation source. Associated with the first connector is a contact element (75) electrically coupled to the first engagement member through a network (80) for establishing a defined electrical characteristic therebetween. A second contact element (92, 103) associated with the second connector is normally insulated from the second engagement member and is mounted relative to the second engagement member so that the first and second contact elements make electrical contact with each other when the first and second engagement members are mechanically engaged with each other.

Abstract: A Ho:YAG laser is coupled to a needle tip through a flexible, fiber optic cable for performing endoscopic and arthroscopic surgery.