Dermatological systems and methods for providing a therapeutic laser treatment wherein the duration of a therapeutic laser pulse is based on one or more determinations of a surface temperature of the skin during the delivery of the pulse. Initiation of the therapeutic laser pulse may be based on sensed skin temperature during a cooling of the skin prior to initiation of the pulse.

A method for laser assisted delivery of therapeutic agents includes selectively controlling a valve connected to a first channel disposed within a first sidewall of a nozzle, applying, through the first channel, a first substance to penetrate dermis to a predetermined depth, and administering, through a second channel unconnected with the valve and disposed within a second sidewall of the nozzle, a second substance to remove debris.

Systems and methods for adjusting an angle of incidence of a laser surgery system include a laser source to produce a laser beam and an optical delivery system to output the laser beam pulses to an object at an adjustable incident angle. A first rotator assembly receives the beam from the laser source along a first beam axis. The first rotator assembly rotates around the first beam axis and the first rotator assembly outputs the beam along a second beam axis different from the first beam axis. A second rotator assembly receives the beam from the first rotator assembly along the second beam axis. The second rotator assembly rotates around the second beam axis. The second rotator assembly follows the rotation of the first rotator assembly and the first rotator assembly is independent of the rotation of the second rotator assembly.

A cooling element includes a frame including one or more datums. The cooling element also includes a first window including a first proximal surface and a first distal surface. The first window is sealed to the frame. The cooling element further includes a second window sealed to the frame. The second window includes a second proximal surface and a second distal surface. The second window is configured to contact a target tissue or a tissue adjacent to the target tissue via the second distal surface. The cooing element also includes a coolant chamber located between the first distal surface of the first window and the second proximal surface of the second window and configured to receive a coolant. The first window, the second window and the coolant chamber are configured to receive and electromagnetic radiation (EMR), and transmit a portion of the received EMR to the target tissue.

An anti-contamination laser surgery device with a built-in optical element, including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a first unit configured to enable the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder to be telescopic, a lens moving unit, a two-dimensional laser scanning unit, a real-time monitoring unit, and a second unit configured to perform unidirectional laminar flow ventilation. A head end of the inner cylinder and a tail end of the outer cylinder are matched and connected by the first unit. The two-dimensional laser scanning unit and the real-time monitoring unit are arranged at the head end of the outer cylinder, and the lens moving unit is arranged in the inner cylinder and close to the head end of the inner cylinder. The second unit is arranged close to a tail end of the inner cylinder.

Exemplary methods and devices can be provided for improving the appearance of dermal melasma. This can be done, e.g., focusing electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between about 600 nm and 850 nm into a region of the pigmented dermal tissue at a depth between about 150 and 400 microns, using a lens arrangement having a large numerical aperture between about 0.5 and 0.9. The exemplary local dwell time of the focused radiation can be less than a few milliseconds, and a local fluence provided in the focal region can be between about 50 and 500 J/cm.sup.2. The focal region can be scanned through the dermal tissue at speeds on the order of a few cm/s. Such parameters can provide sufficient energy absorption by pigmented cells in the dermis to disrupt them while avoiding damage to the overlying tissue and unpigmented dermal tissue.

Systems and methods for adjusting an angle of incidence of a laser surgery system include a laser source to produce a laser beam and an optical delivery system to output the laser beam pulses to an object at an adjustable incident angle. A first rotator assembly receives the beam from the laser source along a first beam axis. The first rotator assembly rotates around the first beam axis and the first rotator assembly outputs the beam along a second beam axis different from the first beam axis. A second rotator assembly receives the beam from the first rotator assembly along the second beam axis. The second rotator assembly rotates around the second beam axis. The second rotator assembly follows the rotation of the first rotator assembly and the first rotator assembly is independent of the rotation of the second rotator assembly.

A medical instrument includes two jaw members, at least one of which creates conditions of frustrated total internal reflection at a tissue-contacting surface when tissue is grasped between the two jaw members. The first jaw member may include an optical element having a tissue-contacting surface. The medical instrument also includes a light source that provides a light beam for sealing tissue. The light source is positioned so that the light beam is totally internally reflected from an interface between the tissue-contacting surface and air when tissue is not grasped by the jaw members. When tissue is grasped by the jaw members, at least a portion of the light beam is transmitted through that portion of the tissue-contacting surface that is in contact with the tissue. The light source may be movably coupled to a jaw member to scan the light beam and/or to change the incident angle based on optical properties of the tissue.

Embodiments relate to a systems and methods for preventative irradiative dental treatment. In accordance with one embodiment, a system and method include using a radiation source to generate a radiation; using an optic disposed to accept the radiation to internally reflect he radiation at a first end; using at least one side of the optic to contact a dental hard tissue; using the optic to couple some of the radiation into the dental hard tissue; and, using a controller to control a parameter of the radiation to heat a surface of the dental hard tissue.

A treatment apparatus for treating a skin lesion on skin of a patient, the apparatus comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation (16), a guide (6, 20) to guide the electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) and a control apparatus (1), the control apparatus (1) being arranged so as to cause the source (16) and the guide (6, 20) to: provide an initial burst of electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) to heat it to a first temperature selected by the control apparatus (1); cease providing electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) for a period; and provide a further burst of electromagnetic radiation to the skin lesion (25) so as to maintain the temperature of the skin lesion within a temperature range selected by the control apparatus (1). The apparatus may comprise a temperature sensor (24) which detects the temperature of the patient’s skin, typically the skin lesion.