In some embodiments, the instant invention provides for a system that includes at least the following components: (i) an Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem; where the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem is configured to: 1) produce wavelengths between 700 and 820 nm, and 2) produce a pump pulse having: i) a duration between 1 to 10 milliseconds, and ii) an energy measuring up to 100 Joules; where the Alexandrite laser pumping subsystem includes: 1) an optical fiber, and 2) a Lens system, (ii) a Thulium doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Tm:YAG) laser subsystem; where the Tm:YAG laser subsystem includes: 1) a Tm:YAG gain medium, 2) a rod heat sink, and 3) at least one cooling device, (iii) a wavelength selecting device, where the wavelength selecting device is configured to deliver a wavelength between 1.75 microns to 2.1 microns; and where the system is configured to produce a high energy conversion efficiency.

Supercontinuum (SC) (400 nm to 2500 nm) and a microscope produce enhanced microscopic images on sub-micron to cm scale of linear (.sub.1) and nonlinear (.sub.2, .sub.3, .sub.4 . . . ) processes via resonance including linear absorption, SHG, THG, SRG, SRL, SRS. 2PEF, 3PEF, 4PEF, and inverse Raman in a microscope for 2D and 3D imaging. Images and processes in 2D and 3D arise from electronic and vibrational resonances transitions in biological and medical tissues, cells, condensed matter applications. Resonant Stimulated Raman Scattering (RSRS) is proposed to improve vibrational imaging of biomaterials by using part of SC. Quantum mechanical processes from SC for 2 and 4 photons to improve resolution and imaging using entangled photons are described. The addition of time measuring instrument like a Streak camera and the scattering coefficient .sub.s can be mapped to create images of tissue and biomaterial in 5D: Space (3D), Time, and Wavelength.

The present invention relates to a medical instrument comprising a free distal end, intended to penetrate tissue, and a proximal end connectable to a light source, the instrument comprising a tubular support in which there is mounted at least one light guide for substantially frontal emission of the light by the guide via the first optical outlet, the instrument being characterized in that it comprises at least one means of optical deviation of the light, forming a second optical outlet, for deviated emission of light, comprising at least one machining operation on a distal portion of the instrument, with at least one reflective and/or concave polishing configured for a convergence of the light and a reflective and/or convex polishing configured for a divergence of the light, the polishing operations being carried out on the light guide and/or on the support.

Disclosed is an applicator or handpiece configured to apply treatment energy to a segment of skin located in a tissue or skin treatment plane. The treatment energy could be RF energy, applied by a pair of bipolar RF electrodes or optical energy. The applicator includes an optical system configured to form a rectangular spot and homogenize the optical energy distribution.

Aspects of this disclosure pertain to a device with an elongated body having a distal end. The distal end may comprise a port that permits discharge of a laser energy towards a tissue from an optical fiber located in the distal end. An exterior surface of the distal end may include a cauterization portion that permits discharge of a cauterization energy towards the tissue. In some aspects, the device includes an insulative portion that attaches the distal end to the elongated body and limits energy transfer therebetween. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Medical devices and related methods are described, including a medical device that includes a handle including a housing. The housing may include a grip and an actuator. The handle may further include an imaging module including a printed circuit board, and a laser module including a first laser source configured to couple to a first laser fiber and a second laser source configured to couple to a second laser fiber. The laser module and the imaging module may be contained within the housing or the imaging module, the laser module, or both the imaging module and the laser module may be selectively attachable to and detachable from the housing.

The present invention relates to a light therapy apparatus, system, and method for providing light delivered to a body organ, e.g., skin such as a scalp, via one or more light guides in therapeutic dosages from one or more light sources operating in a variety of wavelengths. The light source may comprise one or more LEDs coupled to an illumination assembly, wherein an array of illumination assemblies may be coupled to a dome configured for conformal placement near or on a body organ. The plurality of illumination assemblies may be actuated upon by one or more actuators that form an active system to cause conformal contact with the body organ utilizing one or more actuator types. A control system may be operably connected to the plurality of illumination assemblies to control one or more parameters, such as localized light position and intensity, and activation of the actuators.

Photodynamic therapy methods using near infrared light and visible-light-absorbing photosensitizers and methods of generating visible light in an individual. The methods use upconverted incident near infrared light, for example, to excite the photosensitizer or facilitate drug delivery. The methods can be carried out on humans and non-human animals.

A method for treating a condition in a tissue, includes the steps: (1) providing a PS within the tissue; (2) irradiating the tissue containing the PS with a first light of a first wavelength; and (3) irradiating the tissue containing the PS with a second light of a second wavelength so as to treat the condition in the tissue, wherein: (a) the PS absorbs light at the first wavelength and the second wavelength; and (b) the second light is more strongly absorbed by the tissue than the first light or vice versa, so as to achieve a predetermined absorbed photon density gradient. An apparatus for conducting the method includes first and second light sources, a power supply, a focusing device, and a controller which adjusts light emission such that I(d)=I(1 at d=0)exp (.sub.eff (1)d)+I(2 at d=0)exp (.sub.eff(2)d).

A method and an apparatus are provided for producing SuperContinuum (SC) light for medical and biological applications is provided. Pulses are focused from a laser system into at least one of a pressurized cell and one or more fibers. A pump pulse is converted into the SC light at a specified rate of repetition. The SC light is applied at the specified rate of repetition to tissue for medical and biological applications.