Abstract: An assembly, system, and method for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of a target tissue utilizing a delivery apparatus and a displacement control arrangement. The delivery apparatus comprises a flexible needle device with an elongated flexible tube having a fiber-receiving lumen, extendable in a proximal-distal direction along a delivery axis, and with a pointed, needle-like distal tip for penetrating said tissue. An optical fiber is insertable and axially displaceable within said lumen and couplable at its proximal end to a light source, emitting a PDT-effective light at a wavelength applicable for said PDT. The fiber's distal end portion has a light-diffusing section for emitting light from within the fiber in one or more directions and has one or more X-ray markers.

Abstract: A method includes, using a laser, thinning a target site in an iris of an eye by irradiating the target site with one or more first radiation-pulses. Subsequently to thinning the target site, a peak intensity of radiation beams emitted by the laser is increased and, subsequently to increasing the peak intensity, a hole is formed through the target site by, using the laser, irradiating the target site with one or more second radiation-pulses.

Abstract: A system includes a radiation source and a controller. The controller is configured to designate, for irradiation, multiple target regions on an eye of a patient, and to perform an iterative process that includes, during each iteration of the process, acquiring an image of the eye, based on the image, calculating a location of a different respective one of the target regions, processing the image so as to identify any obstruction at the location, and provided no obstruction at the location is identified, causing the radiation source to irradiate the location. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system includes a wedge and an optical unit mounted on the wedge such that the optical unit is directed obliquely upward. The optical unit includes a radiation source. A controller is configured to treat an eye of a patient by causing the radiation source to irradiate respective target regions of the eye with a plurality of treatment beams while the eye gazes obliquely downward toward the optical unit.

Abstract: A system includes a radiation source and a controller. The controller is configured to designate, for irradiation, multiple target regions on an eye of a patient, and to perform an iterative process that includes, during each iteration of the process, acquiring an image of the eye, based on the image, calculating a location of a different respective one of the target regions, processing the image so as to identify any obstruction at the location, and provided no obstruction at the location is identified, causing the radiation source to irradiate the location. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system includes a radiation source, one or more beam-directing elements, and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the radiation source to emit one or more aiming beams at the beam-directing elements such that the aiming beams are directed, by the beam-directing elements, toward an eye of a patient, to verify that each of the aiming beams is properly directed by the beam-directing elements, and, in response to verifying that each of the aiming beams is properly directed by the beam-directing elements, to treat the eye by causing the radiation source to irradiate one or more target regions of the eye with respective treatment beams. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for medical treatment includes a gonioscope having a distal face for placement in proximity to a patient's eye, a proximal face opposite the distal face, and multiple facets between the distal and proximal faces. The apparatus also includes a laser to generate a beam, a scanner to direct the beam through the proximal face of the gonioscope to reflect from a facet into an anterior chamber of the eye, at least one slit lamp to project sheets of light into the eye through the gonioscope, a camera to capture, through the gonioscope, an image of an illumination pattern cast on the eye by the sheet of light. A processor processes the image so as to identify a location of an anatomical structure in the eye, selects targets in the eye based on the identified location, and controls the scanner so that the beam impinges on the targets.

Abstract: A system (20) comprises a radiation source (48) and a controller (44). The controller is configured to designate multiple target regions (84) on an eye (25) of a patient (22) for irradiation with respective amounts of energy, to cause the radiation source to irradiate at least a first one of the target regions, to identify a change in the eye by processing an image of the eye subsequently to causing the radiation source to irradiate at least the first one of the target regions, and to refrain, in response to identifying the change, from causing the radiation source to irradiate a second one of the target regions, which has not yet been irradiated, with the amount of energy designated for the second one of the target regions. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system includes a radiation source, one or more beam-directing elements, and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the radiation source to emit one or more aiming beams at the beam-directing elements such that the aiming beams are directed, by the beam-directing elements, toward an eye of a patient, to verify that each of the aiming beams is properly directed by the beam-directing elements, and, in response to verifying that each of the aiming beams is properly directed by the beam-directing elements, to treat the eye by causing the radiation source to irradiate one or more target regions of the eye with respective treatment beams. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for ophthalmic treatment includes an optical unit (30), which includes a camera (54), which is configured to capture an image of an eye (25) of a patient, a laser (48), which is configured to emit pulses of laser radiation, and beam conditioning and scanning optics (49, 50), which are configured to focus and direct the laser radiation to impinge on an anterior surface of the eye. A controller (44) is configured to analyze the image so as to identify a limbus of the eye, and to control the optical unit so that the laser radiation impinges on a set of one or more locations on the anterior surface of the eye that are in a vicinity of the limbus with a pulse duration and an energy selected so as to stem cells at the one or more locations.

Abstract: A system (20) includes a radiation source (48) and a controller (44), configured to display a live sequence of images of an eye (25) of a patient (22), while displaying the sequence of images, cause the radiation source to irradiate the eye with one or more aiming beams (84), which are visible in the images, subsequently to causing the radiation source to irradiate the eye with the aiming beams, receive a confirmation input from a user, and in response to receiving the confirmation input, treat the eye by causing the radiation source to irradiate respective target regions of the eye with a plurality of treatment beams. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system (20) includes a laser (48), configured to irradiate a target site (41) in an iris (35) of an eye (25), and a controller (44). The controller is configured to identify, in one or more images of at least part of the iris, an indication of fluid flow through the target site, and in response to identifying the indication, inhibit the laser from further irradiating the target site. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical unit (30), including a light source (66), one or more beam-directing elements (50, 56), and a radiation source (48). The radiation source is configured to irradiate an eye (25) of a patient (22) with one or more treatment beams (52) by emitting the treatment beams toward the beam-directing elements, while the eye fixates on the light source by virtue of the light source transmitting visible light (68). The apparatus further includes an optical filter (70) configured to inhibit passage of the treatment beams, but not the visible light, therethrough, while interposing between the beam-directing elements and a pupil (104) of the eye. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides an active fiber package for use in a fiber laser, amplifier, or ASE source comprising: a plate-shape base comprising a groove having a configuration of at least two spirals for receiving and fixedly holding an active fiber therein, said at least two spirals are coplanar enabling visibility of said active fiber, the outer loop of one spiral transitioning smoothly to the outer loop of another spiral, and the inner loop of each one of said spirals transitioning smoothly into a relatively short straight section; wherein a portion of said straight section of one of said spirals spliced to a coupling fiber, and wherein multiple inner loops of each one of said spirals in proximity to said straight section having a relatively low radius of curvature for enabling tight coiling of said active fiber, thus, for reducing thermal modal instability (TMI) and increasing lasing power.

Abstract: A system (20) includes a radiation source (48) and a controller (44), configured to display a live sequence of images of an eye (25) of a patient (22), while displaying the sequence of images, cause the radiation source to irradiate the eye with one or more aiming beams (84), which are visible in the images, subsequently to causing the radiation source to irradiate the eye with the aiming beams, receive a confirmation input from a user, and in response to receiving the confirmation input, treat the eye by causing the radiation source to irradiate respective target regions of the eye with a plurality of treatment beams. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides an active fiber package for use in a fiber laser, amplifier, or ASE source comprising: a plate-shape base comprising a groove having a configuration of at least two spirals for receiving and fixedly holding an active fiber therein, said at least two spirals are coplanar enabling visibility of said active fiber, the outer loop of one spiral transitioning smoothly to the outer loop of another spiral, and the inner loop of each one of said spirals transitioning smoothly into a relatively short straight section; wherein a portion of said straight section of one of said spirals spliced to a coupling fiber, and wherein multiple inner loops of each one of said spirals in proximity to said straight section having a relatively low radius of curvature for enabling tight coiling of said active fiber, thus, for reducing thermal modal instability (TMI) and increasing lasing power.

Abstract: A system includes a radiation source and a controller. The controller is configured to designate, for irradiation, multiple target regions on an eye of a patient, and to perform an iterative process that includes, during each iteration of the process, acquiring an image of the eye, based on the image, calculating a location of a different respective one of the target regions, processing the image so as to identify any obstruction at the location, and provided no obstruction at the location is identified, causing the radiation source to irradiate the location. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Depolarized fiber lasers and respective methods are provided for increasing the SBS (stimulated Brillouin scattering) threshold. The laser source is constructed by a frequency-broadened seed source having a frequency bandwidth of less than 50 GHz, and the depolarization of the seed source is carried out at time scales shorter than 10 ns. At least one amplifier is configured to receive and amplify radiation from the frequency-broadened seed source and deliver the amplified radiation in the optical fiber. Depolarization may be achieved in various ways (e.g., using an interferometer with added length to one arm) and is kept at time scales shorter than tens of nanoseconds, typically shorter than 5-10 ns, which distinguish it from random polarization having polarization changes at longer time scales. Polarization maintaining fibers may be used to further increase the SBS by separating the polarizations states.

Abstract: Fiber lasers and methods are provided, in which the modal instability threshold is raised to provide more laser power. Fiber lasers comprise an active optical fiber having at least one absorption peak wavelength (?peak) and capable of supporting more than a fundamental mode during operation, and a plurality of pump diodes connected to deliver radiation emitted thereby into the optical fiber. At least one of the pump diodes is a wavelength-locked (WL) diode and at least one of the pump diodes is configured to deliver radiation at at least ???(not necessarily the same diode(s)). The pump diodes may comprise any of WL diode(s) at ???peak, WL diode(s) at ?=?peak and non-WL diode(s). Pumping radiation off the fiber's absorption peak increases the modal instability threshold, most likely by reducing the temperature gradient in the active fiber at the fiber pump entrance point and along the fiber.

Abstract: Depolarized fiber lasers and respective methods are provided for increasing the SBS (stimulated Brillouin scattering) threshold. The laser source is constructed by a frequency-broadened seed source having a frequency bandwidth of less than 50 GHz, and the depolarization of the seed source is carried out at time scales shorter than 10 ns. At least one amplifier is configured to receive and amplify radiation from the frequency-broadened seed source and deliver the amplified radiation in the optical fiber. Depolarization may be achieved in various ways (e.g., using an interferometer with added length to one arm) and is kept at time scales shorter than tens of nanoseconds, typically shorter than 5-10 ns, which distinguish it from random polarization having polarization changes at longer time scales. Polarization maintaining fibers may be used to further increase the SBS by separating the polarizations states.