Abstract: Disclosed is a tissue-treating device. The device includes a waveguide to guide light, and a medium-control mechanism to change a medium disposed near an area of a tissue to which light from the waveguide is applied. The medium-control mechanism to change the medium may be configured to change the medium such that light energy applied to the area of the tissue with the changed medium results in changes to the area of the tissue that are different from changes to the area of the tissue resulting from application of light energy to the area without changing the medium.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the temperature of a sample, wherein a probing light beam is directed onto the sample whereby at least two partial beams of the probing light pass through paths of different lengths inside the sample by backscattering or reflecting the beams from at least two different depths in the sample, returning the partial beams to an analysis unit, and producing an interference pattern in the analysis unit by means of an interferometric device which uses one light beam as a reference for evaluating the interference pattern in an evaluating unit, wherein the signal intensity of the partial beam is determined counter to the optical path and the temperature displacement and temperature of the sample are determined by the temperature adjustment of the signal intensity.

Abstract: A method and device for determining the temperature of a sample, wherein a probing light beam is directed onto the sample whereby at least two partial beams of the probing light pass through paths of different lengths inside the sample by backscattering or reflecting the beams from at least two different depths in the sample, returning the partial beams to an analysis unit, and producing an interference pattern in the analysis unit by means of an interferometric device which uses one light beam as a reference for evaluating the interference pattern in an evaluating unit, wherein the signal intensity of the partial beam is determined counter to the optical path and the temperature displacement and temperature of the sample are determined by the temperature adjustment of the signal intensity.

Abstract: Improved optical therapy is provided. In a first aspect, improved dosimetry is provided by the use of spectrally resolved tissue reflectance as a real-time dosimetry signal. Spectrally resolving the reflectance substantially improves the sensitivity for dosimetry. An increase of spectrally resolved tissue reflectance (relative to a pre-treatment baseline) is indicative of a reversible tissue response to therapy, while a decrease of spectrally resolved tissue reflectance is indicative of approach to a threshold for irreversible tissue damage. In a second aspect, improved temperature uniformity within laser treated tissue is provided by using a treatment beam having an on-axis beam intensity substantially less than an off-axis beam intensity. The combined effects of heat flow within the treated tissue and illumination with such a beam profile can provide improved temperature uniformity compared to illumination with a conventional “top-hat” beam profile.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for operation of an irradiation laser whereby laser pulse sequences or pulses of varying length are modified during application such that the comparability of recorded transients is retained.

Abstract: A method and a system for the non-invasive temperature determination on biological tissue, particularly at the fundus of the eye, treated by a treatment radiation, particularly laser radiation, wherein, during the respective irradiation time, at essentially identical time intervals, additional radiation pulses of a shorter pulse duration and a lower energy are aimed at the treated biological tissue, the resulting tissue expansions and/or contractions being detected by a pressure measurement or optical measurement and, from the measuring signals, the absolute temperature values are determined and optionally the treatment radiation is controlled as a function thereof.