The present disclosure relates generally to the use of medical devices for the treatment of vascular conditions. In particular, the present disclosure provides devices and methods for using laser-induced pressure waves created within a sheath to disrupt intimal and medial calcium within the vasculature.

An apparatus for microdisruption of cataracts in lens tissue by impulsive heat deposition comprising: a source of pulsed laser radiation, a user input device, a control circuit, and an optical waveguide configured to transmit the pulsed laser radiation. The light intensity which exits the optical waveguide has a wavelength selected to match an absorption peak of at least one component of the lens tissue, a pulse duration time shorter than a time required for thermal diffusion out of the laser irradiation volume and shorter than a time required for a thermally driven expansion of the laser irradiated volume, and a pulse energy resulting in a peak intensity of each laser pulse below a threshold for ionization-driven ablation to occur.

Methods, systems and devices for treating a patient include providing a tissue treatment element constructed and arranged to deliver energy to tissue and treating tissue of the gastrointestinal tract by causing the tissue treatment element to deliver energy to an energy delivery zone. Treatment results in a reduction in the luminal surface area of at least a portion of the gastrointestinal tract. In particular embodiments, the methods, systems and devices are used to treat diabetes.

A laser device for dermocosmetic, medical, or aesthetic treatments, comprising: A) a laser system comprising a lamp-pumped source; B) an optical fibre transporting the laser beam produced by said source; C) a handpiece or a scanner connected to said optical fibre, comprising a lens and mirror system projecting the image of the laser beam onto the area to be treated; characterized in that said optical fibre has a rectangular section and said image is rectangular.

A method of dermocosmetic laser treatment characterized by rectangular laser spots is also claimed.

It is a further object of the present invention a tracing kit, which allows the marking of a surface area, preferably of biological tissue, with a fluorescent or photosensitive substance invisible to light. Such an invisible and fluorescent or photosensitive substance absorbs the electromagnetic radiation with the proper wavelength emitted by the illuminator and reflects it in the visible spectrum.

An injection needle has an opening at a distal end thereof the injection needle and defines a hole. An optical fiber is configured to output a light from a light source and inserted in the hole. The optical fiber has a distal end positioned on an inner side of the opening. A protector is configured to transmit the light and is positioned further towards an opening side of the injection needle than the distal end. The protector is configured to prevent adherence of tissue to the optical fiber. The light emitted from the optical fiber is configured to irradiated onto a treatment target in a state in which the injection needle is inserted into skin, the distal end is positioned on an inner side of the opening, and the protector is positioned further towards the opening side of the injection needle than the distal end.

An electromagnetic beam scanning system and corresponding method of use is provided. The system includes a motor, a reciprocating mechanism, and a focus optic. The motor is configured to generate a rotational movement. The reciprocating mechanism is operatively coupled with the motor and configured to convert the rotational movement to a reciprocating movement including a plurality of strokes along a first scanned axis. The reciprocating movement has a constant speed over a portion of at least one stroke of the plurality of strokes. The focus optic is operatively coupled to the reciprocating mechanism such that the focus optic moves experiences the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating mechanism. The focus optic is configured to focus an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) beam incident upon the focus optic to a focus along an optical axis substantially orthogonal to the first scanned axis.

A laser device for dermocosmetic, medical, or aesthetic treatments, comprising: A) a laser system comprising a lamp-pumped source; B) an optical fibre transporting the laser beam produced by said source; C) a handpiece or a scanner connected to said optical fibre, comprising a lens and mirror system projecting the image of the laser beam onto the area to be treated; characterized in that said optical fibre has a rectangular section and said image is rectangular. A method of dermocosmetic laser treatment characterized by rectangular laser spots is also claimed. It is a further object of the present invention a tracing kit, which allows the marking of a surface area, preferably of biological tissue, with a fluorescent or photosensitive substance invisible to light. Such an invisible and fluorescent or photosensitive substance absorbs the electromagnetic radiation with the proper wavelength emitted by the illuminator and reflects it in the visible spectrum.

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system and method for ablating tissue. The method may comprise, for example, aligning a needle of a medical device with the target tissue; piercing tissue adjacent to the target tissue with the needle; sliding into the target tissue a laser fiber moveably disposed within the needle, wherein the needle is hollow and the laser fiber includes a prism; and delivering laser energy through the laser fiber and prism.

Embodiments of the invention include a method of initiating an optical fiber. In some embodiments, a distal portion of the optical fiber is coated with an energy absorbing material. In some embodiments, the material includes a metal flakes or powder dispersed in a solution of organic solvents. After the material dries, laser energy is fired through the optical fiber. The laser energy can be absorbed in the material and ignites the organic solvents. This combustion melts the material of the optical fiber, and impregnates the optical fiber with the metal flakes or powder of the material. The resulting optical fiber is thus permanently modified so that the energy applied through the fiber is partially absorbed and converted to heat.

There is provided a cutting element for use in a hair cutting device. The cutting element includes an optical waveguide having an optical axis and a sidewall, wherein a portion of the sidewall forms a cutting face for contacting hair; wherein the optical waveguide includes a plurality of structures formed along the optical axis, the structures having a refractive index which is different to a refractive index of the optical waveguide. A hair cutting device comprising a cutting element, and a method of manufacturing an optical waveguide cutting element are also disclosed.