The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating skin by means of intense pulsed light (IPL). Such apparatus may be used for the treatment of, for example, cosmetic purposes such as hair depilation or dermatological treatment of skin conditions such as acne or rosacea. The present invention provides an improved apparatus that can be used by a non-medical practitioner and comprises a light source comprising a light emitting element for transmitting light energy to the skin and a charge storage device for discharging an energy dose to the light emitting element. There is further provided at least one sensor for measuring a parameter of the skin and a control system configured to determine the treatment energy dose to be delivered. This treatment energy dose is derived using the sensor measurement and means of reduction in unwanted time delay associated with charging or discharging of the charge storage device in sole dependence on the current or most recently measured skin parameter.

Body-worn air-treatment devices include a body that is configured to be selectively coupled proximate to a respiratory tract inlet of a living individual, and a pathogen-deactivating mechanism that is supported by the body. Methods include deactivating pathogens proximate to a respiratory tract inlet of a living individual.

A control method for a light therapy device, including steps of: set a light dose range (1-4 J/cm.sup.2) required by an illuminated portion under a skin surface; calculate an appropriate intensity range outputted by a light source based on the set light dose, an illuminated time, and a proportion of light beam shape variation between the light source and the skin surface; build a corresponding relation between the appropriate intensity range and an ideal illumination range for the skin surface; measure an illumination of the skin surface, and monitor an output light intensity of the light source based on the illumination, ensuring that a light intensity outputted by the light source is a set ideal light intensity whereby, a light dose transmitted from the light therapy device to the illuminated portion could be kept in the set light dose by simply controlling the illumination to be within the set illumination range.

A method of and apparatus for processing optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans through a subject's skin, the method comprising, using a computing device (1): receiving a plurality of OCT scans through the subject's skin (7), the OCT scans representing an OCT signal in slices through the subject's tissue; processing the OCT scans to determine a set of parameters; processing each parameter to determine a set of control settings for an energy-delivery device (20); transmitting the control settings from the computing device (1) to the energy-delivery device (20); in which the set of parameters comprises the depth of the superficial plexus (108) through the subject's skin (7).

Configurations are described for utilizing light-activated proteins within cell membranes and subcellular regions to assist with medical treatment paradigms, such as hypertension treatment via anatomically specific and temporally precise modulation of renal plexus activity. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-sensitive proteins to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides systems, devices, and methods for millisecond-timescale temporal control of certain cell activities using moderate light intensities, such as the generation or inhibition of electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells.

A phototherapy system wearable on a portion of a user's face includes a lamp platform and a controller unit disposed on, and electrically coupled to, the lamp platform, and a frame for holding the lamp platform in a fixed orientation on a user's face. The controller unit has an inwardly facing surface directed toward the user's face during use; a rechargeable power source; and a charging receptacle disposed in the inwardly facing surface and in electrical communication with the charging receptacle. In use, the frame holds the lamp platform and controller unit in a relationship such that the spacing between the charging receptacle and a closest surface of the user's face defines a charging receptacle clearance.

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.

Phototherapy systems comprising a therapeutic lamp platform for radiant lamps such as LEDs disposed in a holdable spot applicator assembly, the holdable spot applicator assembly including a reflective surface facing towards a patient and a plurality of LEDs for communicating lamp radiation from the lamps to a user. The lamps and associated circuitry are housed within a holdable elongated structure.