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.

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.

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for enabling ultraviolet radiation treatments are provided.

A safety system for laser treatment, comprising a first sensor configured to monitor a parameter at a source and to generate first parameter data, a second sensor configured to monitor the parameter at a treatment head and to generate second parameter data, a control system configured to receive the first parameter data and the second parameter data and to determine whether the first parameter data or the second parameter data exceed a predetermined value and the control system further configured to modify an operational parameter of the source in response to a determination that the first parameter data or the second parameter data exceed the predetermined value.

A treatment support device includes an irradiation unit configured to emit treatment light to a medical agent, a fluorescence intensity acquisition unit configured to acquire fluorescence intensity of fluorescence emitted by the fluorescent material of the medical agent excited by the treatment light, and a treatment light imaging unit configured to capture a treatment light image based on the treatment light. The treatment support device is configured such that a first region of interest is capable of being set based on a position of the treatment light in the treatment light image captured by the treatment light imaging unit, the first region of interest being a region for selectively acquiring a temporal change in the fluorescence intensity acquired by the fluorescence intensity acquisition unit.

An apparatus for obtaining an anti-tumour immunologic response by thermotherapy of a treatment lesion covering at least a portion of a tumour is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a heating probe comprising an optical fiber and a cooling catheter. The optical fiber is inserted in the cooling catheter. Further the heating probe has a light emitting area, and the heating probe is interstitially insertable into the tumour of the treatment lesion. The heat probe is internally cooled by a fluid circulating in said catheter. The apparatus further comprises a first thermal sensor member having at least one sensor area. The first thermal sensor member is positionable at a distance from said boundary. The apparatus also comprises a control unit for controlling a power output of said light source based on a measured first temperature.

A method for treating an oral cavity malady of a patient, comprising: applying a spot of a laser beam to a target area around the oral cavity, said laser beam having a wavelength of about 800 to 840 nm and a power of between 1000 and 4000 mW, and wherein said spot has a spot size of about 1 to about 10 mm; and moving said spot on said target area for a treatment time sufficient to deliver a dose of about 0.5 to about 30 J/cm.sup.2 to said target area.

A photodynamic therapy (PDT) apparatus and method are disclosed. The PDT apparatus includes a light flap that includes a plurality of light emitting devices wherein each of the light emitting devices has a plurality of operating states. The plurality of operating states are used to train a neural network model capable of producing a treatment irradiance profile. The method includes using an image of an area of interest for targeted treatment of PDT wherein the image is used an input to the trained neural network model. The neural network model produces a plurality of optimized feature states and the apparatus in turn produces a treatment irradiance profile closely matching the area of interest.

An ultraviolet therapy apparatus having an LED light source can achieve a stable therapeutic effect regardless of the temperature of the LED light source. The ultraviolet therapy apparatus includes an LED light source configured to emit light including ultraviolet light; a controller configured to control lighting of the LED light source; and a measurement unit configured to detect change in a temperature of the LED light source from a reference temperature. The controller includes a calculator configured to calculate a modifying value for modifying an irradiation dose of the ultraviolet light on the basis of change in a degree of effect on a human body caused by change in spectral spectrum of the light due to change in the temperature detected by the measurement unit, and a lighting controller configured to cause the LED light source to emit the light on the basis of the modifying value calculated by the calculator.

A method for evaluating the effectiveness of a skin treatment on a skin feature includes correcting the color of a first image before the skin treatment, correcting the color of a second image after the skin treatment, determining the sizes of the skin feature in the first and second images, and comparing the corrected colors and sizes of the skin feature in the first and second images. In some embodiments, the first and second images include the skin feature and an indicator adjacent to the skin feature, where the indicator has a standard color and a known size.