Abstract: Decellularized and shaped corneal tissue lenticules from allograft and/or xenograft sources and methods of obtaining such lenticules are disclosed. The lenticules are particularly useful as intrastromal lenticular implants in keratoplasty procedures, in which a hinged flap is formed in a patient's cornea and folded back along its hinge to expose the stromal bed of the cornea. The shaped lenticule is then applied to the stromal bed and the flap returned to its original position yielding a new curvature for the cornea and resulting in a desired refractive correction. Fine-tuning of the new refractive power can be achieved by laser ablation either at the same time as implantation or at later time in the event of regression or tonus changes. Methods of decellularizing cornea tissue are disclosed to reduce potential immunogenic reactions on the part of the patient to the implanted lenticule. The lenticules can be further treated to remove immunogenic epitopes.

Abstract: Shape-stabilized collagen scaffolds and methods of obtaining such stabilized scaffolds are disclosed. Stroma can be harvested, for example, from human or porcine corneal stroma. The stroma can be shaped during excision or in a separate step after excision. Following shaping (and preferably decellularization), the excised stroma portion is subject to pressure, force or vacuum to reduce fluid content and then irradiated or otherwise treated to induce crosslinking of collagen chains or fibrils. Various sources of energy can be employed to induce peptide bond crosslinking of collagen including, for example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The scaffolds can also be selectively densified or patterned. The invention is particularly useful in forming stable lenticules for intracorneal implantation in additive ocular surgery.

Abstract: Shape-stabilized collagen scaffolds and methods of obtaining such scaffolds are disclosed. Stroma can be harvested, for example, from human or porcine corneal stroma and shaped during excision or in a separate step after excision. Following shaping (and preferably decellularization), the excised stroma portion is subject to pressure, force or vacuum to reduce fluid content and then irradiated or otherwise treated to induce crosslinking of collagen chains or fibrils. In one embodiment, the scaffold can be compacted by removing some or all of the water from the scaffold, and rehydrating the scaffold in a controlled manner (e.g., in a mold or other confining space) such that the scaffold takes a desired compacted shape; and then crosslinking at least a portion of the scaffold to mechanically strengthen it and inhibit subsequent swelling. Various sources of energy can be employed to induce crosslinking of collagen including, for example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Abstract: Shape-stabilized collagen scaffolds and methods of obtaining such stabilized scaffolds are disclosed. Stroma can be harvested, for example, from human or porcine corneal stroma. The stroma can be shaped during excision or in a separate step after excision. Following shaping (and preferably decellularization), the excised stroma portion is subject to pressure, force or vacuum to reduce fluid content and then irradiated or otherwise treated to induce crosslinking of collagen chains or fibrils. Various sources of energy can be employed to induce peptide bond crosslinking of collagen including, for example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The scaffolds can also be selectively densified or patterned. The invention is particularly useful in forming stable lenticules for intracorneal implantation in additive ocular surgery.

Abstract: Decellularized and shaped corneal tissue lenticules from allograft and/or xenograft sources and methods of obtaining such lenticules are disclosed. The lenticules are particularly useful as intrastromal lenticular implants in keratoplasty procedures, in which a hinged flap is formed in a patient's cornea and folded back along its hinge to expose the stromal bed of the cornea. The shaped lenticule is then applied to the stromal bed and the flap returned to its original position yielding a new curvature for the cornea and resulting in a desired refractive correction. Fine-tuning of the new refractive power can be achieved by laser ablation either at the same time as implantation or at later time in the event of regression or tonus changes. Methods of decellularizing cornea tissue are disclosed to reduce potential immunogenic reactions on the part of the patient to the implanted lenticule. The lenticules can be further treated to remove immunogenic epitopes.

Abstract: Surgical apparatus and blade elements are provided for performing a tissue cutting process to cleave a tissue portion from a main tissue section. The apparatus comprises a reference member (1) having a cavity (3) for holding a tissue portion subject to the tissue cutting process and a blade guiding surface (2), a blade element (100, 200, 370, 470) adapted for slidable engagement with the reference member, such that the blade moves along the guiding surface of the reference member to perform the cutting process, and a biasing mechanism (80, 82, 91, 92, 102, 202) for moving the blade along the guide surface such that a pressure-relieving space is formed between the blade and the tissue section upon cleavage to avoid deviation of the cutting edge from a desired path. The blade elements can have a contact ridge (107) for guiding the blade element along the predetermined path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for dispensing fluid in an apparatus for applying acoustic energy to the skin. Acoustic waveguides are disclosed which compensate for distortions that otherwise occur when a focused acoustic beam crosses a boundary, such as the transition from a treatment device to a target region of skin. The invention is especially useful with devices that focus ultrasound energy by condensing a propagating wavefront. The invention compensates for the mismatch in acoustic properties of the device's waveguide and the biological tissue that typically cause portions of the collapsing wavefront to lag behind other portions and, thereby, limit the focusing capabilities of acoustic treatment devices.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intra-ocular lens (IOL) whose focusing performance can be modified after its implantation in the eye without a need for any invasive procedure. An IOL of the invention has an optical chamber having at least a flexible region that is deformable under influence of a fluid. The IOL further include a reservoir for storing an optical fluid in fluid communication with the optical chamber, and a valve that regulates the fluid communication between the reservoir and the optical chamber. The lens can also include a pump that is actuated by an external energy source to transfer the optical fluid between the reservoir and the optical chamber to change the amount of fluid in the optical chamber, thereby modifying the focusing performance of the IOL.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are diclosed for removal of biological tissue slices or layers, preferably in the form of lamellar sections (4) of predetermined shape and thickness employing a reference member (12) that engages a target tissue site and cooperates with a cutter (14) in order to remove the tissue segment or lamella. The cutter can include a flexible cutting element such as a wire or band element that is brought into physical contact with a guiding edge (8) integrated with, or otherwise coupled to, the reference member. Alternatively, the cutter can include a stiff rigid blade element (14B) that is maintained in contact with the guiding edge. The cutter is drawn along a path defined by the guide edge through the tissue to sever, at least partialy, a tissue section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing skin wrinkles, including applying an acoustic pulse or train of pulses to a subsurface region of human skin without damaging or adversely affecting the surface or epidermis layer of the skin. The pulses cause changes in the dermis layer of the skin that result in enhanced smoothness of the epidermis layer of the skin. In particular, the acoustic pulses are applied to the dermis layer at an amplitude and for a period of time sufficient to induce production of new connective tissue that reduces or eliminate of skin wrinkles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing skin wrinkles, including applying an acoustic pulse or train of pulses to a subsurface region of human skin without damaging or adversely affecting the surface or epidermis layer of the skin. The pulses cause changes in the dermis layer of the skin that result in enhanced smoothness of the epidermis layer of the skin. In particular, the acoustic pulses are applied to the dermis layer at an amplitude and for a period of time sufficient to induce production of new connective tissue that reduces or eliminate of skin wrinkles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for warming a typist's hands to provide relief from arthritis, muscle fatigue, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and general discomfort. A radiative hand warming apparatus is disclosed, including a source of hand-warming radiation, and a holder for supporting the radiation source in proximity to a keyboard or other manual operation device, such that the user's hands can be warmed by radiant energy during typing. In one embodiment, the source of hand-warming radiation emits radiation having an intensity of about 10 to about 750 milliwatts/square centimeter as measured at the typist's hands. The radiation source can be, for example, an infrared (IR) radiation source. Such an infrared radiation source preferably emits IR radiation in at least a portion of the spectrum from about 1 to about 30 micrometers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of reducing human skin wrinkles, including applying a focused ultrasound beam to a region of human skin to stimulate or irritate a dermis layer in the region of the skin without adversely damaging an epidermis layer in the region of the skin so as to cause a change in the dermis layer of the skin that results in a change in a smoothness of the epidermis layer of the skin. In particular, relatively low power, low frequency focused ultrasound is applied to the dermis layer for a period of time sufficient to cause a biological response in the body wherein the biological response causes synthesis and/or production of new connective tissue that results in reduction or elimination of human skin wrinkles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for removal of biological tissue slices or layers, preferably in the form of lamellar sections of predetermined shape and thickness employing a reference member that engages a target tissue site and cooperates with a cutter in order to remove the tissue segment or lamella. The cutter can include a flexible cutting element such as a wire or band element that is brought into physical contact with a guiding edge integrated with, or otherwise coupled to, the reference member. Alternatively, the cutter can include a stiff rigid blade element that is maintained in contact with the guiding edge. The cutter is drawn along a path defined by the guide edge through the tissue to sever, at least partially, a tissue section. In one particularly useful aspect of the invention, devices for keratectomy are disclosed employing an ocular reference member that engages the upper central region of the cornea and cooperates with a cutter to remove a lamellar segment from the cornea.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, materials and systems for devitalizing hair follicles are disclosed in which magnetically susceptible particles are applied to a skin segment in a manner whereby the particles are deposited within the hair follicles and then subjected to a varying magnetic field to induce localized heating in the proximity of the particle, thereby devitalizing at least one component of the hair follicle to inhibit further hair growth.

Abstract: A beam profiler comprising: an intensity modifier constructed and arranged to separately modify the intensity profile of different subbeam portions of an initial beam to thereby create respective subbeams each having a respective predetermined modification; and a subbeam-directing optical system constructed and arranged to direct the multiple subbeams along respective subbeam beam paths that substantially overlap in an overlap plane, whereby, a resulting beam of radiation is created at the overlap plane that has an intensity profile equal to the optical incoherent summation of the predetermined intensity profiles of said overlapping subbeams. The intensity modifier preferably comprises an array of intensity-modifying profiling elements disposed across the initial beam each producing a corresponding subbeam.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for removal of biological tissue slices or layers, preferably in the form of lamellar sections of predetermined shape and thickness employing a reference member that engages a target tissue site and cooperates with a cutter in order to remove the tissue segment or lamella. The cutter preferably includes a flexible cutting element such as a wire or band element that is brought into physical contact with a guiding edge of the reference member and then draw along a path defined by the guide edge through the tissue to sever, at least partially, a tissue section. In one particularly useful aspect of the invention, methods and apparatus for keratectomy are disclosed employing an ocular reference member that engages the upper central region of the cornea and cooperates with a cutter to remove a lamellar segment from the cornea.

Abstract: A method and system are described for performing photorefractive keratectomy procedure employing pulses of photoablative radiation to selectively ablate corneal tissue of a patient's eye in an ablation zone on the anterior corneal surface to produce a desired refractive correction in the corneal tissue. The method and system employ control of the effect of ocular fluid at the corneal surface so as to reduce the disturbance of such fluid on the desired ablation process while maintaining hydration of the corneal tissue.

Abstract: A calibration apparatus is disclosed for measuring the properties of a laser beam. The apparatus includes a photoreactive element having a composition which reacts with laser radiation in a manner proportional to the intensity or intensity profile of the laser beam and an alignment means for disposing the photoreactive element in the path of a laser beam, such that the beam can be activate to impinge upon the photoreactive element and the properties of the beam are recorded by changes in the state of the calibration element. The calibration element may also be used to provide corrective feedback for modifying or controlling the properties of the laser beam.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for warming a typist's hands to provide relief from arthritis, muscle fatigue, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and general discomfort. A radiative hand warming apparatus includes, including a source of hand-warming radiation, and a holder for supporting the radiation source in proximity to a keyboard or other manual operation device, such that the user's hands can be warmed by radiant energy during typing. In one embodiment, the source of hand-warming radiation emits radiation having an intensity of about 10 to about 150 milliwatts/square centimeter as measured at the typist's hands. The radiation source can be, for example, an infrared (IR) radiation source. Such an infrared radiation source preferably emits IR radiation in at least a portion of the spectrum from about 1 to about 30 micrometers.