Abstract: A hand-held device for providing a dermatological treatment by scanning laser beams to form a pattern of treatment spots on the skin includes a laser source configured to generate an input laser beam, an automated scanning system, and a treatment spot control system. The automated scanning system includes a rotating multi-sector scanning element configured to repeatedly scan the input laser beam, each scan of the input laser beam providing an array of output laser beams corresponding to the multiple sectors of the scanning element and forming a scanned row of treatment spots on the skin. The rotating multi-sector scanning element is configured such that the each sector provides a constant-angular-direction output laser beam as that sector rotates through the input laser beam. The treatment spots of each scanned row are spaced apart from each other by areas of non-irradiated skin.

Abstract: A hand-held device for providing a dermatological treatment by scanning laser beams to form a pattern of treatment spots on the skin includes a laser source configured to generate an input laser beam, an automated scanning system, and a treatment spot control system. The automated scanning system includes a rotating multi-sector scanning element configured to repeatedly scan the input laser beam, each scan of the input laser beam providing an array of output laser beams corresponding to the multiple sectors of the scanning element and forming a scanned row of treatment spots on the skin. The rotating multi-sector scanning element is configured such that the each sector provides a constant-angular-direction output laser beam as that sector rotates through the input laser beam. The treatment spots of each scanned row are spaced apart from each other by areas of non-irradiated skin.

Abstract: A device for providing a dermatological treatment, the device includes a device body, a radiation delivery system for delivering radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment, and a situation-specific control system. The control system includes a plurality of sensors and control electronics programmed to receive signals from the plurality of sensors; determine whether to initiate radiation delivery by the radiation delivery system based on a comparison of the signals received from the plurality of sensors to a first condition; and once radiation is initiated, determine whether to continue radiation delivery by the radiation delivery system based on a comparison of the signals received from the plurality of sensors to a second condition that is different than the first condition.

Abstract: A device for providing a dermatological treatment, the device includes a device body, a radiation delivery system for delivering radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment, and a situation-specific control system. The control system includes a plurality of sensors and control electronics programmed to receive signals from the plurality of sensors; determine whether to initiate radiation delivery by the radiation delivery system based on a comparison of the signals received from the plurality of sensors to a first condition; and once radiation is initiated, determine whether to continue radiation delivery by the radiation delivery system based on a comparison of the signals received from the plurality of sensors to a second condition that is different than the first condition.

Abstract: A hand-held device for providing a dermatological treatment by scanning a laser beam to form a pattern of treatment spots on the skin includes a laser source that generates an input beam, an automated scanning system, and a treatment spot control system. The automated scanning system includes a rotating multi-sector scanning element configured to repeatedly scan the input beam, each scan providing an array of output beams corresponding to the multiple sectors of the scanning element and forming a scanned row of treatment spots on the skin. The scanning element is configured such that each sector provides a constant-angular-direction output beam as that sector rotates through the input beam. The treatment spots of each scanned row are spaced apart from each other by areas of non-irradiated skin. The treatment spot control system provides a distance between adjacent rows of treatment spots in a direction of manual movement of the device.

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 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 diffuse light source assembly and method including a light source for generating forward propagating light, a solid lightguide disposed adjacent the light source, a diffuser and a back reflecting surface. The solid lightguide includes an input face for receiving the forward propagating light, a sidewall for conveying the forward propagating light via total internal reflection, and an output face for transmitting the forward propagating light. The diffuser is disposed adjacent the output face for diffusing the transmitted forward propagating light, wherein a portion of the forward propagating light is transformed into reverse propagating light, by at least one of the output face and the diffuser, that is conveyed by sidewall via total internal reflection and transmitted by the input face. The back reflecting surface is disposed adjacent the light source for reflecting the reverse propagating light back into the lightguide via the input face.