A laminated laser window having an inner layer transparent to light having wavelengths between 3.5 micrometers and 12 micrometers and having as an outer surface a nanometric-thick outer layer of SiO2. The window allows the passage of light within this wavelength range, for example from a CO2 laser. In The SiO2 outer layer maintains biocompatibility when used in laser devices for insertion into externally accessible bodily cavities.

A present idea relates to a device to kill micro-organisms inside the patient's respiratory tract using UV light, specifically UV-C. It is particularly used to treat patients with Coronaviruses family such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The device consists of a triple-lumen catheter and UV control unit. The distal end of one of the catheter's lumen has a curved UV chamber while the proximal end has a cable with a socket to be connected to the UV control unit. The second lumen of the catheter is used for oxygen supply, and the third lumen of the catheter is used for suction.

A light irradiating medical device 1 includes a catheter shaft 2 extending in a longitudinal direction; a balloon 5 disposed at a distal portion of the catheter shaft 2; a light guiding tool 10 disposed in a lumen of the catheter shaft 2 and movable in the longitudinal direction, the light guiding tool 10 including an optical fiber 11 extending in the longitudinal direction and a tubular member 15 covering the optical fiber 11 and having light transparency, the optical fiber 11 including a core 12, a cladding 13 and a cladding absent portion 14 disposed at a part of a distal portion of the core 12; a first radiopaque marker 21 disposed at the distal portion of the catheter shaft 2; and a second radiopaque marker 22 disposed at the tubular member 15 at a position distal to a distal end 12a of the core 12.

The invention relates to an irradiation apparatus for the prophylaxis of hearing impairment and/or vertigo, to a system of functionally connected apparatus components which interact with each other, and a method that uses the irradiation apparatus for the prophylactic irradiation of the inner ear with photons in order to prevent hearing impairment and/or vertigo in a wearer of the irradiation apparatus.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the cleaning of a circumferentially closed canal by means of a light guide conducting a laser beam. The entry of the laser beam into the light guide is interrupted when the free end of the light guide is outside of the canal and/or the movement of the light guide within the canal is monitored and that if there is no movement or the movement is below a threshold value then a signal is triggered and/or the laser radiation is turned off or its output is reduced.

A multi-phase oral composition for delivering active agents.

Provided is a light irradiated toothbrush, in which light sources, irradiating light having mutually different wavelengths, are arranged in alternation at the bottom of waveguide bristles so that light of different wavelengths give rise to constructive interference which strengthens the intensity of the irradiated light, and the height of the light sources are varied on the basis of the wavelength of the light irradiated therefrom so as to effectively transmit light of short wavelengths to the waveguide bristles, and light having mutually different wavelengths are transmitted by means of the waveguide bristles, thereby effectively transmitting the light to the mouth of a user.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for treating allergic rhinitis (seasonal and perennial hay fever), by application of flash lamp radiation. The nasal cavity can be illuminated in a safe and effective manner, with non-coherent light from a flash-lamp or other suitable source. This illumination can be accomplished in any suitable manner, including by use of a handheld device. Such handheld embodiments may contain a power source (battery or AC), control circuitry, light source (flash-lamp or diode laser), lens (focusing or non-focusing), light filter, and/or fiber-optic for delivering light to the nasal cavity. Embodiments include using any suitable light energy, such as visible light in the red wavelengths with a power output of 1 to 10 Joules per cm.sup.2. The device can be pre-programmed to deliver a specified amount of light in a specified amount of time using multiple pulses (in the case of a flash lamp) or a continuous wave (in the case of a diode laser). In many useful embodiments, a rigid fiber-optic extends from the lens/light filter a length of 10 to 20 mm, although it can be any convenient and useful size and shape. Contact sensors can be arrayed on the device for various purposes, such as to restrict illumination to times when the fiber optic is inserted into the nasal cavity. This and/or other safety features can prevent the high-intensity light from being fired into open space, a person's eyes, and/or otherwise causing a potential vision or other hazard. Preferably, the device can be easily and comfortably inserted into a nostril. The fiber-optic can be angled (either in its own shape or by the user manipulating it to a convenient angle/position) so as to allow the user to easily grip the device and insert the fiber-optic without having to use a mirror or other aid. Light from the device can be emitted at a specified light frequency that causes a desired immunosuppressive response in the cellular system.

A device is described for treating a nasal airway by modifying a property of a nasal tissue of or near a nasal valve of the airway, without using a surgical incision or an implant, to decrease airflow resistance or perceived airflow resistance in the nasal airway. Various embodiments include an elongate shaft, a bipolar radiofrequency delivery member extending from one end of the shaft, and a handle attached to the elongate shaft at an opposite end from the radiofrequency delivery member. The radiofrequency delivery member is sized to be inserted into a nose and configured to at least temporarily deform the nasal tissue and deliver radiofrequency energy. The radiofrequency delivery member includes two rows of protruding electrodes disposed on a tissue contact surface, and the device is configured to deliver radiofrequency energy from one row of electrodes to the other row of electrodes.

Disclosed is a smart lighting system for applying light to teeth in the context of tooth whitening. This particularly concerns teeth that have been provided with a light-curable whitening varnish. The system comprises a light-generating unit, a light-patterning unit, a mouth imaging unit, a mouth image sensing unit, and an image processing and control unit, and is adapted so as to allow the image processing and control unit to adjust the light-patterning unit on the basis of information obtained from the mouth image sensing unit. By doing so, prior to allowing the light-generating unit to emit light, it can be ensured that light emitted to assist tooth whitening, does not affect soft tissue.