A Laser system is disclosed which comprises a pump, wherein the laser system is adapted to be operated in pulsed operation so that at least one individual pulse of a temporally limited pulse duration (T.sub.0) is generated, wherein the pulse ablates a material such that a debris cloud forms above the ablated material. Further, the pump power of the pump is modulated in such a way that the following three conditions are fulfilled: (1) the intensity of the pulse oscillates between maximum values and minimum values during the pulse duration, wherein the laser pulse comprises a plurality of intensity maxima I.sub.max which occur at times {T.sub.i, i=1, . . . N}; and a plurality of intensity minima I.sub.min which occur at times {t.sub.k, k=1, . . . (N1)}, wherein the intensity does not vanish at the intensity minima; (2) the intensity oscillations of the laser pulse induce oscillations of the size of the debris cloud so that, during the pulse duration (T.sub.0), there are at least two maxima of the size of the debris cloud which occur at times {T.sub.j, j=1, . . . M} and which are located in between two intensity maxima of the laser pulse; and (3) at least 70 percent of the maxima of the size of the debris cloud occur near an intensity minimum of the pulse such that, for at least 70 percent of the maxima of the size of the debris cloud, the intensity of the pulse I(T.sub.j) at the time of the maximum of the size of the debris cloud is smaller than I.sub.min(t.sub.k)+0.5[I.sub.max(T.sub.i)I.sub.min(t.sub.k)], wherein I.sub.min(t.sub.k) is the intensity minimum of the pulse which is closest to the maximum of the size of the debris cloud at time T.sub.j and I.sub.max(T.sub.i) is the intensity maximum of the pulse which is closest to the maximum of the size of the debris cloud at time T.sub.j.

A method of non-thermally ablating undesirable tissue in the body by application of pulsed, bipolar, instant charge reversal electrical fields of sufficient energy to cause complete and immediate cell membrane rupture and destruction. Energy is delivered through radio frequency pulses of particular frequencies, wave characteristics, pulse widths and pulse numbers, such that enhanced physical stresses are placed on the cell membrane to cause its immediate and complete destruction thereby spilling the entire cell content and membrane constituents into, the extracellular space without denaturing proteins so as to enable an immunological response to destroy and remove the target tissue and similarly marked tissue elsewhere in the subject.

A cosmetic method of treating skin tissue with a laser source includes applying a plurality of short pulses of predetermined parameters to ramp up the temperature of the skin tissue to reach a desired temperature and then applying a plurality of short pulses to maintain a temperature dwell time. The predetermined parameters are selected from one or more of: pulse peak power, pulse duration, pulse repetition rate and laser wavelength.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.

A therapeutic laser for use in treating ophthalmological conditions can be modulated by a spatial light modulation device in order to focus the therapeutic laser on a plurality of target locations simultaneously.

Retrieval of material from vessel lumens can be improved by electrically enhancing attachment of the material to the thrombectomy system. The system can include a catheter having a distal portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a thrombus in a blood vessel, an electrode disposed at the distal portion of the catheter, and an interventional element configured to be delivered through a lumen of the catheter. The electrode and the interventional element are each configured to be electrically coupled to an extracorporeal power supply.

Methods and systems for distributing electrical energy to tissue which minimize Joule heating, thermal effects, and/or thermal damage, without sacrificing efficacy of treatment, are described. The methods and systems are particularly suitable to electrical energy-based therapies employing multiple electrodes, such as arrays of electrodes.