The invention provides systems and method for the removal of diseased cells during surgery

An ablation instrument (e.g., an ablation balloon catheter system) includes an elongate catheter having a housing with a window formed therein. An energy emitter is coupled to the elongate catheter and is configured to deliver ablative energy. A controller is received within the window and is coupled to the energy emitter such that axial movement of the controller within the window is translated to axial movement of the energy emitter and rotation of the controller within the window is translated into rotation of the energy emitter. The instrument includes a motor that is at least partially disposed within the housing of the catheter; a first gear that is operatively connected to and driven by the motor; and a second gear that is coupled to the energy emitter and is driven by the first gear to cause rotation of the energy emitter, while allowing the energy emitter to move axially.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a head fixation apparatus including a number of support posts, and a curved ring portion including a number of connectors configured to adjustably and releasably mount support posts on the lower ring portion, such that the support posts are selectively mounted to a subset of the connectors in a customized arrangement for a patient. The apparatus may include a ring mount configured for fixation to a platform, including a curved channel substantially matching a curvature of the curved ring portion, and a mount locking mechanism for locking the curved ring portion within the channel of the ring mount. The curved ring portion may be configured to rotate within the channel of the ring mount while the ring mount is fixed to the platform, an angular head position of the patient being selectably adjustable while the patient is laying on the platform.

A pulsed laser skin treatment device is for laser induced optical breakdown of hair or skin tissue. A beam scanning system scans the beam to define a circular or arc path, using a rotated prism which implements a lateral shift to the beam. A focusing system at the output side of the beam scanning system focuses the incident light beam into a focal spot in the hair or skin tissue, and it rotates with the prism.

A noninvasive treatment of uterine growths such as myomas (fibroids) and polyps is presented. Treatment involves carrying out diagnostic hysteroscopy and ultrasound procedures to detect, measure, and evaluate unwanted uterine growths; then inserting optical fiber into a hysteroscope, reaching target tissue with optical fiber and eliminating said tissue or shrinking it to a size/shape for easy mechanical removal. Finally, ultrasound imaging is used to confirm success of procedure. In one embodiment, optical fiber has an off-axis firing end but can be inserted inside a conventional hysteroscopy device. In another embodiment, a laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) fiber is used to treat myomas found on the outside of the uterus. A high energy laser is used that can emit at wavelengths easily absorbed by water and blood, such as 980 nm and 1470 nm. Procedure is fast and can be done in the physician's office with little or no anesthesia used.

A variable length interstitial probe apparatus includes: a probe for effecting thermal therapy and/or cryotherapy to a tissue; a flexible umbilical sheath permanently affixed to the probe, including at least one interface for supplying energy, cooling fluid, cooling gas, heating fluid, and/or heating gas to the probe; and an adjustable depth stop configured to slide along a length of a shaft region of the probe, and lock to the shaft region at a selected position. The adjustable depth stop is configured to engage a probe driver and/or a skull mount apparatus to stabilize positioning of the probe and to control a depth of entry of the probe into a patient. The probe may be configured to effect temperature modulation therapy, where processing circuitry activates a modulation pattern of thermal therapy emission and cryogenic therapy emission for applying a thermal dose to the tissue.

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 adjustable focusing system.

Apparatus and techniques described herein can include delivery of a surgical laser beam for tissue excision or to facilitate hemostasis. The surgical laser beam can be generated, for example, using an ultrafast laser source. Such an approach can provide non-invasive treatment in relation to, for example, aerodigestive anatomy, such as for treatment of laryngeal, oropharyngeal, bronchial, and oral cavity tissues. Other generally available laser sources and their associated treatments may present various drawbacks making them less suitable for treatment for laryngeal, pharyngeal or bronchial pathologies, and use of the apparatus and techniques described herein can address such drawbacks.

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.

A system for direct imaging and diagnosing of abnormal cells in a target tissue includes a disposable optical speculum and an image acquisition system having the speculum assembled on and mechanically secured thereto. The image acquisition system is arranged to capture at least one of a single image or multiple images or video of cells within the target tissue using at least one of bright field or dark field ring illumination divided into independently operated segments to obtain a plurality of data sets. An image analysis and control unit in communication with the image acquisition system analyzes the data sets and applies algorithms to the data sets for diagnosing abnormal cells.