An adapter for attachment to a medical application device includes an energy generating device and a distal tip for applying the energy generated to skin tissue. The adapter includes a substantially hollow body with a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The proximal end portion is sized to mount on the distal tip of the energy generating device; the distal end portion is substantially open. The adapter further includes at least one through port extending from the proximal end portion to the open distal end portion of the adapter.

The present invention relates to a flexible surgical system for endoscopic spinal decompression and methods thereof. Various methods of accessing the epidural space with this instrument are described. The system design enables placement of the device through several approaches. It is then advanced under direct visualization or fluoroscopic (X-Ray), for example, into areas of the spine including lumbar (low back), thoracic (mid and upper back) and cervical (neck). The pathologies encroaching upon the spinal space can then be visualized wherein the epidural membrane can optionally be displaced to further aid in visualization. The membrane can be used to protect regions of tissue adjacent the site to tissue removal.

An apparatus includes a reference fixture. The reference fixture includes a joint, and a joint tracker to track motion of the joint. The apparatus also includes a surgical instrument. A tether is connected between the joint and the surgical instrument. A shape sensor extends from the reference fixture through the joint, through the tether, and into the surgical instrument. The shape sensor is substantially free of twist. The joint tracker measures the motion of the joint. Information from the shape sensor in combination with information from the joint tracker provides absolute three-dimensional information relative to the reference fixture, i.e., provides absolute three-dimensional information in a fixed world reference frame.

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 surgical system comprises a surgical instrument having distal and proximal portions. The surgical system also comprises a reference fixture positioned in a first reference frame and a shape sensor extending from the distal portion through the proximal portion to the reference fixture. The surgical system also comprises a processor configured to perform a registration step to register the first reference frame to a fixed world reference frame. The registration step includes receiving a set of shape information of the shape sensor with a distal point of the surgical instrument located at a patient reference point. A first portion of the shape sensor is in a known geometrical shape at a fixed location along a length of the shape sensor. The registration step also includes computing a location of the patient reference point and computing a pose of the first reference frame relative to the fixed world reference frame.

A bacteria removal laser is provided, especially for removing caries bacteria from natural or prosthetic teeth, the prosthetic teeth also being treated via extraoral approach, having a gripping handle, a laser radiation source, an application optics having a predetermined radiation exit surface, especially a radiation guide rod through which laser radiation passes, and an energy source such as a mains connection or an accumulator. The laser emits in the wavelength range between 2200 nm and 4000 nm and is especially designed as an Er:YAG laser. The energy output averaged over time is less than 1 mJ/mm.sup.2 at the radiation exit surface.

The present invention relates to a method of treating a hip joint of a human patient, the hip joint comprising an acetabulum, the acetabulum being a part of the pelvic bone, and a caput femur, the caput femur being the proximal part of the femoral bone, said method comprising the steps of: cutting the skin of the human patient, dissecting an area of the pelvic bone on the opposite side from the acetabulum, creating a hole in said dissected area, said hole passing through the pelvic bone and into the hip joint of the human patient, and performing an action in the hip joint, through said hole in the pelvic bone.

A system comprises a first cannula comprising a proximal end and a cannula opening at the proximal end. The system further comprises a teleoperated surgical instrument, and a manually operated surgical instrument configured to be inserted into the cannula opening. The system further comprises a teleoperated manipulator, a controller, and a first position sensor coupled to the teleoperated surgical instrument, the first position sensor configured to provide a first sensor input to the controller. The system further comprises a second position sensor coupled to the manually operated surgical instrument, the second position sensor configured to provide a second sensor input to the controller, the second sensor input comprising an insertion depth of the manually operated surgical instrument into the first cannula. The system further comprises a reference fixture coupled to the first and second position sensors and to the teleoperated manipulator, the reference fixture being movable with the teleoperated manipulator.

The invention provides a method and apparatus for stimulating cellulite reduction using a femtosecond diode laser irradiation system. The system comprises a femtosecond diode laser capable of generating laser light that has a wavelength of 1000 nm-10,000 nm, a power level of 300 mw-5 W, and a pulse duration of less than 1 picosecond. A light-emitting device is coupled to the diode laser by means of flexible waveguide and is held over the skin. The device may be a handheld wand or an area pad comprising a plurality of light-emitting lenses on a surface of the pad. Laser setting controls are set to achieve a depth of photon absorption into the skin to reach subcutaneous adipose tissue.

A laser treatment apparatus includes a primary handset and an auxiliary handset; the primary handset is connectable to the auxiliary handset; the primary handset has a laser source with a primary heat exchanger, and a main cooling circuit to provide cooling fluid to the primary heat exchanger to cool the laser source; the cooling circuit has a circuit connection for engagement with the auxiliary handset. The circuit connection comprises one or more fluid connectors for connection to an auxiliary cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset and the cooling circuit within the auxiliary handset includes a secondary heat exchanger. An electro-mechanical mechanism within the primary handset switches from a first position so that cooling fluid flows in the main cooling circuit within the primary handset when no auxiliary handset is attached and in a second position diverts flow of the cooling fluid to the heat exchanger in the auxiliary handset when the auxiliary handset is connected to the primary handset.