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.

In combined methods for treating a patient using time-varying magnetic field, treatment methods combine various approaches for aesthetic treatment. A magnetic field generating device is placed proximate to a body region of the patient. The magnetic field generating device generates a time-varying magnetic field with a magnetic flux density in a range of 0.5 to 7 Tesla. The time-varying magnetic field is applied to the body region of the patient in order to cause a contraction of a muscle within the body region. A second therapy may be used by applying one or more of optical waves, radio frequency waves, mechanical waves, negative or positive pressure or heat to the body region of the patient.

A fully integrated laser-ultrasound, including femto-phaco, system having a foot print of less than 1,500 sq inches. Integrated communication and control system for laser-ultrasound, including femto-phaco, system including common control system and GUI. A reconfigurable laser-ultrasound, including femto-phaco, femto-phaco system having different configurations and positions of a laser delivery head, and having a single laser beam path length for all configurations. Integrated systems and methods for performing laser and phacoemulsification operations. A reconfigurable system for performing a laser procedure in a laser configuration, and then being reconfigured into a phaco configuration, to perform a phacoemulsification, and then being reconfigured back to the laser configuration.

Systems and methods for automated operation of laser ablation system for disrupting target tissue via heat application are disclosed. The system includes a controller coupled to various devices, such as a magnetic resonance imaging device, a laser energy source, a laser fiber manipulating device, a laser fiber cooling device, and a tissue damage analysis computer system via a communication interface. The controller automatically controls various functions of the coupled devices during a laser ablation procedure while monitoring tissue temperature at a laser ablation site.

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.

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.

Provided are a method of controlling motion pattern for a laser treatment and a laser irradiation apparatus using the same, which can perform the efficient laser treatment. The method of controlling a motion pattern for a laser treatment, the method includes constituting a three-dimensional image of an object; setting a region of therapy on which a laser is irradiated on a surface of the object using the three-dimensional image; setting a guide path passing through the region of therapy; setting a plurality of laser irradiation points arranged on the guide path; and sequentially irradiating the laser on a position corresponding to each of the laser irradiation point among the surface of the object; wherein the guide path includes a first section for entering the region of therapy, a second section for linearly moving at the same speed within the region of therapy, and a third section for reentering to the region of therapy by moving along a curved path while varying the speed outside the region of therapy; and the laser is irradiated at a constant frequency in the second section.

A medical handpiece having a laser irradiation unit connected to a body for generating a laser beam, so as to irradiate a subject with the laser beam; a laser tip which is brought into contact with a predetermined surgical site of the subject so as to guide the laser thereto; a sensor installed in the laser tip so as to measure pressure applied by the laser tip to the predetermined surgical site; and a processor for checking whether the measured pressure is within the pressure range set for the predetermined surgical site, determining, according to the result of the checking, whether the pressure applied to the predetermined surgical site needs to be adjusted, and performing control such that a guide signal for the laser tip is output.

A light radiating device (1A) performs solidification or cauterization of a biological tissue (PL) by radiating a light beam (BM). A light source (10A) emits the light beam (BM). An optical waveguide (20A) is a member being provided with a reflection surface (21A) totally reflecting the light beam (BM) on an inner circumferential side wall, causing the light beam (BM) emitted from the light source (10A) to enter a part enclosed by the inner circumferential side wall from one end, and sending the light beam (BM) to the other end. A catoptric system (30A) reflects the light beam (BM) sent to the other end of the optical waveguide (20A) and condenses the light beam (BM) on the biological tissue (PL).

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.