Abstract: In one embodiment, a handheld laser treatment apparatus comprises: a handset including a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having an open treatment aperture; a laser array arranged to project optical energy into the treatment chamber and coupled to a power source; at least one vacuum channel positioned within the treatment chamber and coupled to a vacuum source; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array and the vacuum channel; an attachment sensor arranged to detect which of a plurality of attachments are inserted into the treatment chamber through the treatment aperture. The logic enables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a first attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture. The logic disables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a second attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture.

Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus includes a primary handset and an auxiliary handset; the primary handset is connectable to the auxiliary handset; the primary handset has a laser source with a primary heat exchanger, and a main cooling circuit to provide cooling fluid to the primary heat exchanger to cool the laser source; the cooling circuit has a circuit connection for engagement with the auxiliary handset. The circuit connection comprises one or more fluid connectors for connection to an auxiliary cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset and the cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset includes a secondary heat exchanger. An electro-mechanical mechanism within the primary handset switches from a first position so that cooling fluid flows in the main cooling circuit within the primary handset when no auxiliary handset is attached and in a second position diverts flow of the cooling fluid to the heat exchanger in the auxiliary handset when the auxiliary handset is connected to the primary handset.

Abstract: A method and device for skin treatment include using a laser diode bar stack to generate a mix of at least two laser wavelengths for application to a skin area to be treated.

Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus comprising a primary handset, the primary handset being connectable to an auxiliary attachment, the primary handset having a laser source having a primary heat exchanger, and a cooling circuit to provide cooling fluid to the primary heat exchanger to cool the laser source, the cooling circuit having an auxiliary circuit connection, for engagement with an auxiliary attachment.

Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus includes a primary handset and an auxiliary handset; the primary handset is connectable to the auxiliary handset; the primary handset has a laser source with a primary heat exchanger, and a main cooling circuit to provide cooling fluid to the primary heat exchanger to cool the laser source; the cooling circuit has a circuit connection for engagement with the auxiliary handset. The circuit connection comprises one or more fluid connectors for connection to an auxiliary cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset and the cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset includes a secondary heat exchanger. An electro-mechanical mechanism within the primary handset switches from a first position so that cooling fluid flows in the main cooling circuit within the primary handset when no auxiliary handset is attached and in a second position diverts flow of the cooling fluid to the heat exchanger in the auxiliary handset when the auxiliary handset is connected to the primary handset.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a handheld laser treatment apparatus comprises: a handset including a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having an open treatment aperture; a laser array arranged to project optical energy into the treatment chamber and coupled to a power source; at least one vacuum channel positioned within the treatment chamber and coupled to a vacuum source; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array and the vacuum channel; an attachment sensor arranged to detect which of a plurality of attachments are inserted into the treatment chamber through the treatment aperture. The logic enables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a first attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture. The logic disables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a second attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a handheld laser treatment apparatus comprises: a handset including a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having an open treatment aperture; a laser array arranged to project optical energy into the treatment chamber and coupled to a power source; at least one vacuum channel positioned within the treatment chamber and coupled to a vacuum source; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array and the vacuum channel; an attachment sensor arranged to detect which of a plurality of attachments are inserted into the treatment chamber through the treatment aperture. The logic enables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a first attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture. The logic disables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a second attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture.

Abstract: A laser treatment apparatus comprising a primary handset, the primary handset being connectable to an auxiliary attachment, the primary handset having a laser source having a primary heat exchanger, and a cooling circuit to provide cooling fluid to the primary heat exchanger to cool the laser source, the cooling circuit having an auxiliary circuit connection, for engagement with an auxiliary attachment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reconfigurable handheld laser treatment systems are provided. In one embodiment, a reconfigurable handheld laser treatment system comprises: a base unit; a handset that includes a attachment chamber having an attachment aperture, and a laser source arranged to project optical energy into the attachment chamber, the handset coupled to the base unit; an attachment having an adapter interface compatible with insertion into the attachment chamber; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array; and an attachment sensor arranged to detect insertion of the adapted interface into the attachment chamber through the attachment aperture. The logic enables activation of the laser array when the attachment sensor detects an authorized attachment inserted into the attachment aperture. The logic disables activation of the laser array when the attachment sensor fails to detect an authorized attachment inserted into the attachment aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a handheld laser treatment apparatus comprises: a handset including a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having an open treatment aperture; a laser array arranged to project optical energy into the treatment chamber and coupled to a power source; at least one vacuum channel positioned within the treatment chamber and coupled to a vacuum source; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array and the vacuum channel; an attachment sensor arranged to detect which of a plurality of attachments are inserted into the treatment chamber through the treatment aperture. The logic enables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a first attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture. The logic disables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a second attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a handheld laser treatment apparatus comprises: a handset including a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having an open treatment aperture; a laser array arranged to project optical energy into the treatment chamber and coupled to a power source; at least one vacuum channel positioned within the treatment chamber and coupled to a vacuum source; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array and the vacuum channel; an attachment sensor arranged to detect which of a plurality of attachments are inserted into the treatment chamber through the treatment aperture. The logic enables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a first attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture. The logic disables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a second attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating a distance between the distal end of an optical fiber and treated tissue, to improve treatment efficiency, is provided herein. The estimation is achieved by modulating the numerical aperture of a light beam transmitted through the fiber to receive reflections from the tissue and distinguish them from other reflections in the fiber, and further by calculating the distance by comparing reflection intensities of beams having different numerical aperture values that illuminate the tissue over a very short period, so that tissue and environment conditions do not change much. Distance estimation may be carried out by modulating the treatment beam itself, or by a light beam transmitted between pulses of a pulsed treatment beam.

Abstract: A method of evaluating integrity of a fiber comprises transmitting a measurement light beam through the optical fiber and measuring an intensity of a combined reflection of the measurement light beam. The combined reflection includes a proximal end reflection component and a distal end reflection component. The method further comprises separating the proximal end reflection component from the combined reflection to obtain a calibrated intensity measurement; and analyzing the calibrated intensity measurement to determine the integrity of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of evaluating integrity of a fiber comprises transmitting a measurement light beam through the optical fiber and measuring an intensity of a combined reflection of the measurement light beam. The combined reflection includes a proximal end reflection component and a distal end reflection component. The method further comprises separating the proximal end reflection component from the combined reflection to obtain a calibrated intensity measurement; and analyzing the calibrated intensity measurement to determine the integrity of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reconfigurable handheld laser treatment systems are provided. In one embodiment, a reconfigurable handheld laser treatment system comprises: a base unit; a handset that includes a attachment chamber having an attachment aperture, and a laser source arranged to project optical energy into the attachment chamber, the handset coupled to the base unit; an attachment having an adapter interface compatible with insertion into the attachment chamber; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array; and an attachment sensor arranged to detect insertion of the adapted interface into the attachment chamber through the attachment aperture. The logic enables activation of the laser array when the attachment sensor detects an authorized attachment inserted into the attachment aperture. The logic disables activation of the laser array when the attachment sensor fails to detect an authorized attachment inserted into the attachment aperture.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a handheld laser treatment apparatus comprises: a handset including a treatment chamber, the treatment chamber having an open treatment aperture; a laser array arranged to project optical energy into the treatment chamber and coupled to a power source; at least one vacuum channel positioned within the treatment chamber and coupled to a vacuum source; a trigger sensor coupled to logic that controls activation of the laser array and the vacuum channel; an attachment sensor arranged to detect which of a plurality of attachments are inserted into the treatment chamber through the treatment aperture. The logic enables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a first attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture. The logic disables activation of the vacuum channel when the attachment sensor detects a second attachment of the plurality of attachments inserted into the treatment aperture.

Abstract: A system and method of estimating a distance between the distal end of an optical fiber and treated tissue, to improve treatment efficiency, is provided herein. The estimation is achieved by modulating the numerical aperture of a light beam transmitted through the fiber to receive reflections from the tissue and distinguish them from other reflections in the fiber, and further by calculating the distance by comparing reflection intensities of beams having different numerical aperture values that illuminate the tissue over a very short period, so that tissue and environment conditions do not change much.

Abstract: A method of coupling optical energy comprising: generating a first beam of optical energy; generating a second beam of optical energy coherent with the first beam; polarizing optical energy from the first and second beams in a same direction; and transmitting the polarized optical energy from the first and second beams into a photorefractive body so that the energy interferes in the body to generate an interference pattern that is extant in substantially all the volume of the body.

Abstract: A method for recovering an initial linear state of polarization, of an optical beam after the beam has passed through an optical fiber and whose polarization state was disrupted, attaining power which is directly proportional to the power of the beam before it has passed through the optical fiber. The method comprises: splitting the beam into two beams, a first beam with a first polarization state and a second beam with a second polarization state, the second polarization state being orthogonal to the first polarization state; changing the polarization state of the first beam; and combining the first and second beams in half of their intensities into at least one linearly polarized beam. This way a linearly polarized output beam with power that is directly proportional to the power of the beam prior to its passing through the optical fiber is achieved.

Abstract: A method for detecting and measuring physical perturbations sensed by a multi-mode waveguide, through which a number of modes of a coherent electromagnetic wave propagates through and exit from. The method comprises irradiating the exiting electromagnetic wave on one or more two-dimensional sensing arrays comprising a plurality of sensing elements that are sensitive to the irradiated electromagnetic wave; determining, simultaneously, in a parallel manner, absolute values of sensed changes across different zones of the two-dimensional sensing arrays, each zone comprising one or more sensing elements; and summing the absolute values of different groups of different zones to obtain a representation of the perturbations.