According to an aspect, there is provided a handheld device (2) for applying energy pulses to skin (17) of a subject to perform a treatment operation as the handheld device is moved across the skin, the handheld device comprising: an aperture (6) that is to be placed adjacent to the skin; at least one energy source (8) for generating an energy pulse and for providing the energy pulse through the aperture to perform the treatment operation on 5 skin adjacent the aperture, wherein the at least one energy source has a minimum pulse repetition period following the generation of an energy pulse before a subsequent energy pulse can be generated; a first skin property sensor (14) for measuring a skin property and for outputting a first measurement signal representing measurements of the skin property at a first sensing position (24), wherein the skin property is a property that changes in response to the application of an energy pulse to the skin, and wherein the first sensing position is in front of the aperture relative to an intended motion direction of the handheld device over the skin; a second skin property sensor (16) for measuring the skin property and for outputting a second measurement signal representing measurements of the skin property at a second sensing position (26), wherein the second sensing position is behind the aperture relative to the intended motion direction; a memory unit (56); and a control unit (10) that is coupled to the at least one energy source to control the generation of energy pulses by the at least one energy source, and coupled to the first skin property sensor and the second skin property sensor to obtain the first measurement signal and the second measurement signal, wherein the control unit is configured to store a profile of at least the first measurement signal in the memory unit; wherein the control unit is further configured to, when the handheld device is moving in the intended motion direction over the skin: analyse the profile of the first measurement signal to determine if the first skin property sensor is passing over a previously treated area of skin; on detecting that the first skin property sensor is not passing over a previously treated area of skin, control the at least one energy source to generate an energy pulse if, or once, the minimum pulse repetition period following the generation of a previous energy pulse has expired; on detecting that the first skin property sensor is passing over a previously treated area of skin, performing the consecutive operations of: preventing the generation of an energy pulse, even if the minimum pulse repet

There is provided a hair cutting device for cutting hair on a body of a subject, the hair cutting device comprising a light source for generating light at one or more specific wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths absorbed by one or more chromophores in or on hair; a cutting element that comprises an optical waveguide that is coupled at a first end to the light source to receive light, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the optical waveguide forms a cutting face for contacting hair; a light sensor that is coupled to the optical waveguide away from the first end, wherein the light sensor is for measuring the light level in the optical waveguide and for providing an output signal representing the measured light level; and a control unit that is coupled to the light source, and coupled to the light sensor to receive the output signal, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a measure of the amount of input light transmitted across the optical waveguide from the measured light level and an input light level at the first end of the optical waveguide; and to control the power of the light generated by the light source based on the determined measure.

A laser system for performing ophthalmologic procedures comprising a pulsed laser for emitting laser pulses, a focusing optics for generating at least one focal point in the anterior region of a patient's eye, a deflection device for varying the position of the focal point in the anterior region of the patient's eye, and a control unit for controlling the deflection device. The pulsed laser has a pulse duration in the range of nanoseconds, and the laser system is designed as a handheld device.

There is provided a cutting element for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting element comprises an optical waveguide having a sidewall, wherein a portion of the sidewall forms a cutting face for contacting hair. The optical waveguide includes a plurality of optical structures spaced along its length, the optical structures being configured to reflect light at one or more wavelengths. When broadband light is directed along the optical waveguide the optical waveguide is such that: if the cutting face of the optical waveguide in is not in contact with a target object, then each of the plurality of optical structures reflects light having a first wavelength; and if the cutting face of the optical waveguide is in contact with a target object, then at least one of the optical structures reflects light having a second wavelength different to the first wavelength. A hair cutting device comprising the cutting element and a method of operating the hair cutting device are also provided.

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.

Dermatological systems and methods for providing a therapeutic laser treatment using a handpiece delivering one or more therapeutic laser pulses to a target skin area along a first optical path, and sensing the temperature of the target skin area based on infrared energy radiating from the target skin area along a second optical path generally counterdirectional to the first office action, and sharing a common optical axis with the first optical path for at least a portion of the first and second optical paths. The handpiece may also provide contact cooling for a first skin area comprising the target skin area.

An assembly with a handpiece assembly configured to receive electromagnetic energy and fluid, and to selectively deliver the electromagnetic energy and/or the fluid to a target surface. The handpiece assembly includes a handpiece housing and a plurality of fluid lines extending through the handpiece housing. The plurality of fluid lines can transfer fluid from a proximal end of the handpiece assembly to a distal end of the handpiece assembly. A spray mixer can be positioned at the distal end that is coupled to fluid lines of the plurality of fluid lines. An air input port can be positioned at the proximal end that is configured to be coupled to an auxiliary air hose, and an air delivery channel can be coupled to the air input port, and can supply air to a tip of an exchangeable applicator that can be coupled to the distal end of the handpiece housing.

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.

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 device configured to cut hair using laser light includes a handle portion and a shaving portion. The handle portion includes a battery and a laser light source. The laser light source is coupled to and configured to receive power from the battery. The laser light source is also configured to generate laser light having a wavelength selected to target a predetermined chromophore to effectively cut a hair shaft. The shaving portion includes a support and a single fiber optic supported by the support. The fiber optic has a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall, and a cutting region positioned towards the distal end and extending along a portion of the side wall. The fiber optic is positioned to receive the laser light from the laser light source at the proximal end, conduct the laser light from the proximal end toward the distal end, and emit the light out of the cutting region and toward hair when the cutting region is brought in contact with the hair.