An articulating instrument including a distal assembly having first and second configurations and intermediate configurations between them. At least one of the first and second configurations is substantially stable such that the distal assembly of the instrument has a tendency to remain in the stable configuration when placed in that configuration by a user of the instrument. Preferably, the distal assembly terminates in a distal tip unit defining at least one distal feature that is useful for manipulating tissue.

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; and a control unit that is coupled to the light source, wherein the control unit is configured to receive an input relating to a region of the body on which hair is to be cut and/or a speed of movement of the hair cutting device, and to control the power of the light generated by the light source based on the received input.

A multi-point light-delivering device, comprising a waveguide carrying light along a longitudinal axis and including multiple optical windows, through which the carried light is out-coupled from the waveguide. The waveguide comprises a tapered region along which the optical windows are distributed, wherein each optical window out-couples a specific subset of propagating modes of the carried light, to which the optical window is matched.

Methods and systems for the controlled generation of bubbles in a medium having a liquid phase are generally provided. Laser pulses having a time-dependent pulse parameter controllable over their duration are generated. The medium is irradiated with the laser pulses with a radiant exposure sufficient to initiate microcavitation within the medium during each laser pulse. The time-dependent pulse parameter of each laser pulse is controlled according to a generally positive variation over the pulse duration such that the medium absorbs a greater quantity of energy from the laser pulse at an end of the pulse duration than at a beginning thereof. Such methods and systems may be used for various applications such as biology, medicine or material processing.

A handpiece for laser treatment of a target surface on a patient, such as a skin surface, mitigates the effects of backscattered radiation at high optical power levels that can heat the handpiece to dangerous levels, as well as exposing practitioners and patients to the backscattered light and/or the handpiece structures heated thereby. A standoff affixed to the handpiece is configured to guide the handpiece position with respect to the target surface during use, such that the angle of incidence of treatment light is held near a predetermined angle that is not perpendicular to the target surface. This angle decreases the fraction of treatment light scattered directly back toward the handpiece, and the standoff may additionally be used to set a preferred distance to the target surface. Systems for laser treatment using a handpiece having these features, and methods for laser treatment using the handpiece are also provided.

A method and delivery system are disclosed for creating an aqueous flow pathway in the trabecular meshwork, juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal of an eye for reducing elevated intraocular pressure. Pulsed laser radiation is delivered from the distal end of a fiber-optic probe sufficient to cause photoablation of selected portions of the trabecular meshwork, the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and an inner wall of Schlemm's canal in the target site. The fiber-optic probe may be advanced so as to create an aperture in the inner wall of Schlemm's canal in which fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye flows. The method and delivery system may further be used on any tissue types in the body.

An end-firing surgical laser fiber suitable for Thulium Laser Fiber lithotripsy applications includes a standoff that extends beyond the distal end surface of the fiber to prevent contact between the end face of the fiber and a targeted stone. The standoff may either (1) extend along only one side of or partially around a circumference of the fiber, so that dust from the pulverized stone can freely flow downstream from the treatment site without being trapped by or accumulating on the standoff, or (2) include at least one flushing port that prevents dust accumulation by permitting passage of dust from within the standoff. Flushing of dust from within the standoff may be facilitated by including a source of fluid to entrain the dust and carry it through the flushing port.

The present disclosure relates to a multi-core optical fiber cable (MCF). In some embodiments, an MCF comprises a plurality of cores surrounded by a cladding and a coating surrounding the cladding, wherein a refractive index of one or more of the plurality of cores is greater than a refractive index of the cladding. The MCF further comprises a probe comprising a probe tip coupled with a distal end of the MCF and a lens located at a distal end of the probe tip. In some embodiments, the lens is configured to translate laser light from the distal end of the MCF to create a multi-spot pattern of laser beams on a target surface and a distal end of the MCF terminates at an interface with the lens.

A medical device that includes a hand piece; a beam fiber; and a beam disperser located at a distal end of the beam fiber through which beam energy is dispersed. The beam disperser includes one face, or a plurality of substantially planar faces through which the beam energy is dispersed.

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 cutting element also comprises a hair support structure configured to restrict lateral movement of a hair in contact with the cutting face, relative to the optical waveguide. The hair support structure comprises a plurality of movement restrictors extending from the cutting face. Each movement restrictor comprises a ridge protruding from the cutting face of the optical waveguide, these ridges are arranged parallel to one another. A hair support structure for use with a cutting element, and a hair cutting device including such a cutting element are also disclosed.