Abstract: A cordless, hand-held dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus may include: a self-contained housing configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure; a light source comprising one or more diode laser bars within the housing; a direct drive electrical circuit within the housing comprising one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses, wherein the electrical circuit does not include any storage capacitors that energize the light source by capacitor discharge; and a light path within the housing including an aperture through which the output light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition.

Abstract: A dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus is disclosed which is cordless and sufficiently compact as to be hand-held. A self-contained housing is configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure. A light source and electrical circuit are contained within the housing. The circuit includes one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path within the housing includes an aperture through which eye-safe light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition. A diffuser is disposed along the light path to reduce the integrated radiance to an eye-safe level.

Abstract: A system and method for the reduction or inhibition of laser-induced plumes in dermatological and surgical treatments includes a substantially optically clear physical barrier, that does not degrade due to laser exposure, applied to a treatment area. The dermatological treatment is carried out directly through the barrier. In one embodiment, a barrier may be formed by applying to a treatment area a spray or liquid that polymerizes or cures in situ. In another embodiment, the barrier is pre-formed and placed over the treatment area. The barrier acts to reduce or inhibit the dissipation of the plume that would otherwise result from the laser treatment.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to control a device, such as a light emitting dermatologic or cosmetic treatment device, and ensure that the device is in contact with skin while also determining the pigmentation level of skin. One or more light sources contact the skin and one or more detectors measure spectral remission from the skin. The obtained remission measurements are compared with known skin spectral remission values, and calibration allows measurements of absolute remission to be converted to fractional remission values. Skin pigmentation levels are compared to known base-line levels to determine and control appropriate treatment parameters. A temperature sensor allows correction for temperature variations. The apparatus may or may not be incorporated into the treatment device.

Abstract: A phototherapy device includes an outlet end to be placed in contact with a person's skin, a heat exchanger, an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure. The heat exchanger may include a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source, and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure for dissipating heat from the optical structure. The first and second heat transfer portions of the heat exchanger may be substantially thermally isolated from each other, e.g., partially or completely physically separated from each other.

Abstract: A mount for semiconductor laser devices comprises thermally conductive anode and cathode blocks on either side of a semiconductor laser device such as a laser diode. Interposed between at least the anode block and the anode of the semiconductor laser device is a sheet of conformable electrically conductive material with high thermal conductivity such as pyrolytic highly-oriented graphite. In some embodiments, a second sheet of such electrically and thermally conductive conformable material is interposed between the cathode of the semiconductor laser device and the cathode block. The semiconductor laser device can be either a single laser diode or a diode bar having a plurality of emitters. A thermally conductive, but electrically insulating, spacer of essentially the same thickness as the laser diode or bar surrounds the diode or bar to prevent mechanical damage while still permitting the conformable material to be maintained in a compressed state and directing current through the laser device.

Abstract: A phototherapy device includes an outlet end to be placed in contact with a person's skin, a heat exchanger, an optical structure arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and a light source arranged between the heat exchanger and the outlet end, and configured to emit light for delivery to the skin through or adjacent the optical structure. The heat exchanger may include a first heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the light source for dissipating heat from the light source, and a second heat transfer portion thermally coupled to the optical structure for dissipating heat from the optical structure. The first and second heat transfer portions of the heat exchanger may be substantially thermally isolated from each other, e.g., partially or completely physically separated from each other.

Abstract: An automated test system for testing devices being manufactured comprises an infrared communications link for free space communications between a host and a device under test. The communications link is asymmetric and instructions from the host are acknowledged by the device. The instructions cause the device to operate, and the output of the device is monitored, logged, and compared to acceptance criteria. The host can then generate calibration messages to the device, to change the device operating characteristics as appropriate. The communications link uses an unmodulated data stream together with asynchronous handshaking and a robust checksum algorithm to ensure accurate communication.

Abstract: A mount for semiconductor laser devices comprises thermally conductive anode and cathode blocks on either side of a semiconductor laser device such as a laser diode. Interposed between at least the anode block and the anode of the semiconductor laser device is a sheet of conformable electrically conductive material with high thermal conductivity such as pyrolytic highly-oriented graphite. In some embodiments, a second sheet of such electrically and thermally conductive conformable material is interposed between the cathode of the semiconductor laser device and the cathode block. The semiconductor laser device can be either a single laser diode or a diode bar having a plurality of emitters. A thermally conductive, but electrically insulating, spacer of essentially the same thickness as the laser diode or bar surrounds the diode or bar to prevent mechanical damage while still permitting the conformable material to be maintained in a compressed state and directing current through the laser device.

Abstract: Mount for semiconductor laser devices comprises thermally conductive anode and cathode blocks on either side of semiconductor laser device such as laser diode. Interposed between at least the anode block and the anode of the semiconductor laser device is a sheet of conformable electrically conductive material with high thermal conductivity such as pyrolytic highly-oriented graphite. In some embodiments, a second sheet of such electrically and thermally conductive conformable material is interposed between the cathode of the semiconductor laser device and the cathode block. The semiconductor laser device can be either a single laser diode or a diode bar having a plurality of emitters. A thermally conductive, but electrically insulating, spacer of essentially the same thickness as the laser diode or bar surrounds the diode or bar to prevent mechanical damage while still permitting the conformable material to be maintained in a compressed state and directing current through the laser device.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the presence of skin is disclosed, one configuration of which uses multiple light emitting diodes, each of a unique wavelength band, and a broad-band photodetector to measure the remission of light at multiple wavelengths from a material being analyzed. Characteristics of the spectral remission of the material are used to discriminate human skin from materials that are not human skin. Further, an aesthetic medical device utilizing such a sensor in which the device is inhibited from operation if skin has not been detected. The incorporation of a skin sensor improves the safety of devices that emit radiation that otherwise would pose a hazard if not directed onto skin.

Abstract: A cordless, hand-held dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus may include: a self-contained housing configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure; a light source comprising one or more diode laser bars within the housing; a direct drive electrical circuit within the housing comprising one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses, wherein the electrical circuit does not include any storage capacitors that energize the light source by capacitor discharge; and a light path within the housing including an aperture through which the output light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition.

Abstract: A safety and interlock circuit for use with devices which could cause injury if an error condition causes improper operation. A control program executing on a processor monitors a variety of device conditions, including pulse over-duration threshold, diode over-current threshold, pulse lock-out duration, temperature threshold, and pulse repetition frequency limit, and prevents the laser from firing if an error condition is detected. In addition, the error conditions are logged in a persistent memory to facilitate subsequent diagnosis and correction.

Abstract: A dermatologic hair-regrowth-inhibiting apparatus is disclosed which is cordless and sufficiently compact as to be hand-held. A self-contained housing is configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a hair-regrowth-inhibiting procedure. A light source and electrical circuit are contained within the housing. The circuit includes one or more batteries for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path within the housing includes an aperture through which eye-safe light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for at least temporary hair-regrowth inhibition. A diffuser is disposed along the light path to reduce the integrated radiance to an eye-safe level.

Abstract: A dermatologic treatment apparatus is disclosed which includes one or more housings with at least one housing configured for manipulation in a dermatologic treatment procedure, a light source, and an electrical circuit. The circuit energizes the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path includes an aperture through which eye-safe light pulses are propagated having properties sufficient for providing efficacious treatment. An optical diffuser is disposed along the light path to reduce the integrated radiance to an eye-safe level. The apparatus produces an output fluence not less than 4 J/cm2.

Abstract: A mount for semiconductor laser devices comprises thermally conductive anode and cathode blocks on either side of a semiconductor laser device such as a laser diode. Interposed between at least the anode block and the anode of the semiconductor laser device is a sheet of conformable material with high thermal conductivity such as pyrolytic highly-oriented graphite. In some embodiments, a second sheet of such thermally conductive conformable material is interposed between the cathode of the semiconductor laser device and the cathode block. The semiconductor laser device can be either a single laser diode or a diode bar having a plurality of emitters. A thermally conductive, but electrically insulating, spacer of essentially the same thickness as the laser diode or bar surrounds the diode or bar to prevent mechanical damage while still permitting the conformable material to be maintained in a compressed state.

Abstract: A dermatologic treatment apparatus is disclosed that is cordless and sufficiently compact as to be hand-held. A self-contained housing is configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a dermatologic treatment procedure. A light source and electrical circuit are contained within the housing. The circuit includes one or more batteries and an electronic control circuit for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path is within the housing including an aperture through which the output light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for providing efficacious treatment.

Abstract: A phototherapy device includes a light source; a light emanation block; and a heat exchanger for the dissipation of heat from one or more heat loads associated with the device. Heat may be transferred via the heat exchanger from the light source independently of the dissipation of heat from one or more of the other device heat loads. Substantially thermally isolated heat transfer regions may be provided, and such regions may be maintained at different operating temperatures, to control the transfer of heat in conjunction with a phototherapy method and to promote efficient and enhanced device operation and performance.

Abstract: Light-source treatment devices such as dermatological or cosmetic devices include a skin contacting surface layer that is antimicrobial. The antimicrobial skin contacting surface layer enhances the cleanliness of the device and helps reduce infection and contamination risks associated with use of the devices, particularly where the treatment of multiple individuals occurs. The antimicrobial layer may be titanium dioxide.