A method and system of treating connective tissue to increase flexibility of the connective tissue or decrease tension in the connective tissue includes forming perforations in the connective tissue to at least 90% of the depth or thickness of the connective tissue and maintaining the perforations in the connective tissue. The method alters the tissue to enhance the fundamental mechanisms involved the immunology, biochemistry, and molecular genetics of the metabolism of the connective tissue.

The invention concerns an implant that comprises an anterior part and a posterior part extending along a longitudinal axis and having respectively an anterior (A) and a posterior pole (E) both located on axis. The anterior and posterior parts extend each radially relative to axis, on either side thereof, the anterior and posterior parts having each two portions located on both sides of axis respectively when viewed in a sagittal plane. Each portion of the anterior part has a radial extension that increases from anterior pole (A) to a point (B, B) where the anterior part ends and the posterior part begins, each portion of the posterior part having a radial extension decreasing from point (B, B) to the posterior pole (E). The outer outline of each portion of the anterior part forms a curve having a radius of curvature that is greater at anterior pole (A) than at point (B, B). The implant is made of one or more materials that have elastic or visco-elastic and cohesive properties in a solid state such that the shear modulus is between 10 Pa and 10 kPa.

An imaging probe comprises a camera or endoscope with an external detector array, in which the probe is sized and shaped for surgical placement in an eye to image the eye from an interior of the eye during treatment. The imaging probe and a treatment probe can be coupled together with a fastener or contained within a housing. The imaging probe and the treatment probe can be sized and shaped to enter the eye through an incision in the cornea and image one or more of the ciliary body band or the scleral spur. The treatment probe may comprise a treatment optical fiber or a surgical placement device to deliver an implant. A processor coupled to the detector can be configured with instructions to identify a location of one or more of the ciliary body band, the scleral spur, Schwalbe's line, or Schlemm's canal from the image.

A treatment probe for treating an eye of a patient includes an elongate body that defines a handle and a treatment fiber that is housed within the elongate body. The treatment fiber is configured to deliver treatment light energy to the eye. A contact member is disposed on an end of the elongate body. The contact member has a contact surface for positioning on a surface of the eye, two side edges that are positioned on opposite sides of the contact surface, and a fluid channel. The contact surface conforms to the shape of the eye's sclera and the two side edges are shaped to direct fluid that is present on the surface of the eye toward the fluid channel when the contact member is moved laterally across the surface of the eye. The fluid aggregates within the fluid channel and contacts a distal end of the treatment fiber.

Disclosed is a handheld laser probe for laser thermal conjunctivoplasty, the handheld laser comprising: a forceps; and a line focused laser light source coupled to the forceps, wherein the forceps are configured to grasp a conjunctival fold and hold the fold in a light beam of the line focused laser, and wherein the line focused laser beam is configured to uniformly heat the conjunctival fold held in the forceps. Disclosed are systems for laser thermal conjunctivoplasty including the handheld laser. Disclosed are methods of conjunctivoplasty using the handheld laser probe.

A laser delivery system is configured to delivery light energy to soften and realign the tissue of the eye in order to increase accommodation and treat glaucoma. The laser system can be configured to increase a circumlental space of the eye and increase movement of a posterior vitreous zonule in order to increase accommodation. The light energy may comprise wavelengths strongly absorbed by collagen of the sclera. In many embodiments a heat sink is provided to couple to the conjunctiva and the heat sink comprises a material transmissive to the light energy absorbed by collagen, for example Zinc Selenide. The heat sink can be chilled to inhibit damage to the conjunctiva of the eye. In many embodiments, one or more layers of the epithelium of the eye remain substantially intact above the zone where the eye has been treated when the heat sink has been removed.

A laser system suitable for a treatment of a cartilage tissue in a joint includes a laser source; a feedback controller, configured to regulate a dosimetry of the laser source to produce spatially and/or temporally modulated laser light; a first optical delivery element, configured to guide the spatially and/or temporally modulated laser light to an area in the joint to irradiate a first part of the area; and a detecting element, configured to detect one or more physical, chemical, mechanical and/or structural characteristics in the area in a real-time; wherein the feedback controller is configured to regulate in a real-time the dosimetry of the laser source based on the real-time detected information pertaining to the one or more physical, chemical, mechanical and/or structural characteristics in the area for a controlled activation of a stem cell outside of the first part of the area to form a hyaline cartilage tissue.

A laser system for changing an IOP of an eye includes a laser source; a feedback controller, configured to regulate a dosimetry of the laser source to produce spatially and/or temporally modulated laser light; a first optical delivery element, configured to guide the spatially and/or temporally modulated laser light to irradiate a first area on the eye; and a detecting element, configured to detect one or more physical, chemical, mechanical and/or structural characteristics in a second area on the eye in a real-time during the change of the IOP, wherein the feedback controller is configured to regulate the dosimetry of the laser source in a real-time based on the real-time detected information pertaining to the one or more physical, chemical, mechanical and/or structural characteristics in the second area.

A treatment probe for treating an eye of a patient includes an elongate body that defines a handle and a treatment fiber that is housed within the elongate body. The treatment fiber is configured to deliver treatment light energy to the eye. A contact member is disposed on an end of the elongate body. The contact member has a contact surface for positioning on a surface of the eye, two side edges that are positioned on opposite sides of the contact surface, and a fluid channel. The contact surface conforms to the shape of the eye's sclera and the two side edges are shaped to direct fluid that is present on the surface of the eye toward the fluid channel when the contact member is moved laterally across the surface of the eye. The fluid aggregates within the fluid channel and contacts a distal end of the treatment fiber.

The present invention discloses a device suitable for delivery of a fluid composition to an eye, especially therapeutic compositions, comprising: a hollow needle with a bore having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end configured to pass into a passage in a sclera of an eye, said bore configured to function as a conduit for a fluid from said proximal end to said distal end, and a solid separator having a distal tip, configured to move inside said bore of said hollow needle allowing said distal tip of said separator to protrude from said distal end of said needle.