A light based skin treatment device comprises a laser light source for providing a pulsed incident light beam for treating skin by laser induced optical breakdown of hair or skin tissue. In one arrangement, a focusing system has a pre-focusing lens for increasing the convergence of the an incident light beam and a skin contact lens having convex light input and light exit surfaces. The focal spot position is controlled by adjusting a spacing between the pre-focusing lens and the skin contact lens. In another arrangement, there is an adjustable lens system before an adjustable focusing system for providing compensation for aberration in the focusing system.

In one aspect, devices for light treatment of skin are described herein. A device described herein, in some embodiments, comprises an interior compartment having a proximal end and a distal end, and an optical aperture disposed at the distal end. The device also comprises a laser or BBL source that produces a laser or BBL beam. The laser or BBL beam has a first optical path within the interior compartment, between the proximal end and the distal end. Additionally, the first optical path exits the interior compartment through the optical aperture. The device further comprises a camera that receives light from the aperture. The light received from the aperture has a second optical path within the interior compartment. Further, a selectively reflective optical element is disposed in the first and second optical paths. The selectively reflective optical element generally transmits the laser or BBL beam but generally reflects at least a portion of the light from the aperture toward the camera.

In certain embodiments, apparatus for self-aligning elements of coupled platforms includes a radially repulsive magnetic bearing. The radially repulsive magnetic bearing includes a first axially polarized magnet and a second axially polarized magnet that is concentrically disposed around the first axially polarized magnet and radially repulsive to the first axially polarized magnet. The radially repulsive magnetic bearing is configured to align a first element of a first platform with a second element of a second platform when the first and second platforms are coupled together.

In one aspect, devices for light treatment of skin are described herein. A device described herein, in some embodiments, comprises an interior compartment having a proximal end and a distal end, and an optical aperture disposed at the distal end. The device also comprises a laser or BBL source that produces a laser or BBL beam. The laser or BBL beam has a first optical path within the interior compartment, between the proximal end and the distal end. Additionally, the first optical path exits the interior compartment through the optical aperture. The device further comprises an imaging system that receives a return signal from the aperture. The return signal received from the aperture has a second path within the interior compartment. Further, a selectively reflective optical element is disposed in the first and second optical paths. The selectively reflective optical element generally transmits the laser or BBL beam.

An apparatus and a system for performing thermotherapy on at least a portion of a tissue site is described. The apparatus and system comprise a heating probe comprising an emitting area. The heating probe is connectable to an energy source for heating the tissue by the emitting area. The apparatus and system comprise a sleeve. The heating probe is arrangable in the sleeve, and the sleeve is configured to be slid along the heating probe in a distal and/or proximal direction for positioning of the emitting area in said portion of tissue for controlling the thermotherapy.

A medical instrument includes two jaw members, at least one of which creates conditions of frustrated total internal reflection at a tissue-contacting surface when tissue is grasped between the two jaw members. The first jaw member may include an optical element having a tissue-contacting surface. The medical instrument also includes a light source that provides a light beam for sealing tissue. The light source is positioned so that the light beam is totally internally reflected from an interface between the tissue-contacting surface and air when tissue is not grasped by the jaw members. When tissue is grasped by the jaw members, at least a portion of the light beam is transmitted through that portion of the tissue-contacting surface that is in contact with the tissue. The light source may be movably coupled to a jaw member to scan the light beam and/or to change the incident angle based on optical properties of the tissue.

A dental procedure performed on target tissue without anesthetic or anesthesia including preconditioning the target tissue using a laser device constructed to produce light in a wavelength range of 2750 nm to 11500 nm, to provide an energy fluence in a range of 50 J/cm.sup.2 to 100 J/cm.sup.2, and to operate in a free running pulsed mode providing 60 μm bursts at a frequency of at least 50 Hz. Preconditioning includes selecting a combination of average optical output power and preconditioning time to administer low level laser therapy. The laser device is adjusted to deliver light through the light guide of the laser device at the selected average optical output power. Light delivered through the light guide of the adjusted laser device is directed toward the target tissue for the selected preconditioning time providing analgesia to the target tissue. Oral tissue is removed from the preconditioned target tissue during analgesia.

A dental procedure performed on target tissue without anesthetic or anesthesia including preconditioning the target tissue using a laser device constructed to produce light in a wavelength range of 2750 nm to 11500 nm, to provide an energy fluence in a range of 50 J/cm.sup.2 to 100 J/cm.sup.2, and to operate in a free running pulsed mode providing 60 μm bursts at a frequency of at least 50 Hz. Preconditioning includes selecting a combination of average optical output power and preconditioning time to administer low level laser therapy. The laser device is adjusted to deliver light through the light guide of the laser device at the selected average optical output power. Light delivered through the light guide of the adjusted laser device is directed toward the target tissue for the selected preconditioning time providing analgesia to the target tissue. Oral tissue is removed from the preconditioned target tissue during analgesia.

A hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject includes a light source for generating laser light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in hair; and a cutting element that has an optical waveguide that is coupled to the light source to receive laser light. A portion of a side wall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair where, at least at the cutting face, the optical waveguide has a refractive index that is equal to or lower than the refractive index of hair and higher than the refractive index of skin.

A system includes a focus optic configured to converge an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) beam to a focal region located along an optical axis. The system also includes a detector configured to detect a signal radiation emanating from a predetermined location along the optical axis. The system additionally includes a controller configured to adjust a parameter of the EMR beam based in part on the signal radiation detected by the detector. The system also includes a window located a predetermined depth away from the focal region, between the focal region and the focus optic along the optical axis, wherein the window is configured to make contact with a surface of a tissue.