The disclosed invention relates to an improved system and method for treatment of soft tissue, e.g., for treatment of a snoring condition. The system can include a laser source; a hand piece; and a device for directing radiation emitted by the laser source to a treatment area (e.g., an oral treatment area). In some cases, the handpiece can include an optical element (e.g., a lens) mounted within a replaceable cartridge and adapted to modulate a laser beam such that it is non-ablative, prior to its delivery to a treatment region. In various embodiments, the system includes a CO2 laser capable of performing treatment in a more efficient manner than conventional techniques.

A method for adjusting a laser beam includes, following passage of the laser beam through a beam-shaping device, measuring, via a detector of a detector device, a beam profile of the laser beam. The method further includes determining a beam quality property of the laser beam based on the measured beam profile and altering an adjustable optical unit for modifying at least one property of the laser beam prior to the entry into the beam-shaping device. For adjusting the laser beam, the adjustable optical unit is altered based on the determined beam quality property.

A laser source includes a first laser device configured to generate a first laser beam having a first wavelength, a second laser device configured to generate a second laser beam having a second wavelength, which is different from the first wavelength, and a non-linear crystal configured to receive simultaneously the first and second laser beams and to generate a third laser beam that has a third wavelength, which is larger than each of the first and second wavelengths. The non-linear crystal has a length and a width, and a variable poling period is distributed across the width so that the third wavelength varies within a given wavelength range based on an incident position of the first and second laser beams along the width of the non-linear crystal.

A CO.sub.2 laser that generates laser-radiation in just one emission band of a CO.sub.2 gas-mixture has resonator mirrors that form an unstable resonator and at least one spectrally-selective element located on the optical axis of the resonator. The spectrally-selective element may be in the form of one or more protruding or recessed surfaces. Spectral-selectivity is enhanced by forming a stable resonator along the optical axis that includes the spectrally-selective element. The CO.sub.2 laser is tunable between emission bands by translating the spectrally-selective element along the optical axis.

A method of manufacturing a segmented electro-optic display includes providing an electro-optic display stack including a first substrate layer, a first layer of light-transmissive electrically-conductive material, a layer of electro-optic material, a lamination adhesive, a second layer of light-transmissive electrically-conductive material, and a second substrate layer. The method also includes forming electrically-isolated conductive segments on the second layer of electrically-conductive material using a laser etching process that includes irradiating the second substrate and second electrically-conductive layers at multiple locations with a laser emitting light within a first range of wavelengths. The second substrate layer is transmissive of light within the first range of wavelengths, and the light-transmissive electrically-conductive material is substantially absorptive of light within the first range of wavelengths. At each of the multiple locations, the second substrate layer substantially transmits the light emitted from the laser and the light-transmissive electrically-conductive material substantially absorbs the light and is removed.

The disclosed invention relates to an improved system and method for treatment of soft tissue, e.g., for treatment of a snoring condition. The system can include a laser source; a hand piece; and a device for directing radiation emitted by the laser source to a treatment area (e.g., an oral treatment area). In some cases, the handpiece can include an optical element (e.g., a lens) mounted within a replaceable cartridge and adapted to modulate a laser beam such that it is non-ablative, prior to its delivery to a treatment region. In various embodiments, the system includes a CO2 laser capable of performing treatment in a more efficient manner than conventional techniques.

An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism An electromagnetic radiation steering mechanism configured to steer electromagnetic radiation to address a specific location within a two-dimensional field of view comprising a first optical element having an associated first actuator configured to rotate the first optical element about a first rotational axis to change a first coordinate of a first steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, a second optical element having an associated second actuator configured to rotate the second optical element about a second rotational axis to change a second coordinate of a second steering axis in the two-dimensional field of view, and an electromagnetic radiation manipulator optically disposed between the first and second optical elements. A first angle is defined between the first and second rotational axes and a second angle is defined between the first and second steering axes. The electromagnetic radiation manipulator is configured to introduce a difference between the first angle and the second angle.

A CO.sub.2 laser configured to produce infrared electromagnetic radiation comprising an optical element comprising a frequency selective structure having a substantially periodic pattern of features. A frequency response of the optical element is configured to change upon receipt of a signal. A Q-factor of the CO.sub.2 laser changes upon receipt of the signal. A laser marking system may incorporate the CO.sub.2 laser.

A light source capable of operating third and fourth reflection mirrors included in a beam splitting device in conjunction with movements of first and second reflection mirrors included in a beam transfer device and an optical assembly, respectively. The third and fourth reflection mirrors are disposed on optical paths of a pre-pulse and a main pulse emitted from first and second pulse generators, respectively. The light source operates the third and fourth reflection mirrors to offset an excessive compensation of the main pulse caused in a process of compensating for an optical path error of the pre-pulse. The light source may be included in an extreme ultraviolet light source system.

The concentration of substance in blood is measured non-invasively, with high accuracy and with simple configuration. Laser light generated by a light source is locally irradiated on the body epithelium of a subject, and the resulting diffused reflected light is detected by a light detector. The laser light has a wavelength of 9.26 μm. The laser light is generated by converting and amplifying pulsed excitation light from an excitation light source to a long wavelength. A plate-shaped window that is transparent to mid-infrared light is brought in close contact with the body epithelium. The glucose concentration in interstitial fluid can be calculated using normalized light intensity calculated from a signal ratio of signals from a monitoring light detector and the light detector.