Disclosed in certain embodiments is a method of treating a pathogenic infection comprising (i) contacting a pathogen residing in the oral cavity and/or pharynx of a patient in need thereof with a photosensitizer and (ii) subjecting the photosensitizer contacted pathogen to a light source.

A treatment method for non-ablative tissue regeneration includes directing at least one laser pulse having a wavelength onto a tissue surface of a human or animal body, and controlling an energy delivery time t.sub.ed of the at least one laser pulse, during which the second half of the pulse energy is delivered, to be sufficiently short, so that, given the wavelength and thus a corresponding penetration depth δ of the at least one laser pulse, a thermal exposure time texp of the tissue surface is smaller than 900 microseconds. The thermal exposure time t.sub.exp of the tissue surface is defined as a time interval in which the temperature of the tissue surface is above T.sub.o + (T.sub.max - T.sub.o)/.sub.2, wherein T.sub.o defines the initial temperature of the tissue surface, before the laser pulse arrives, and T.sub.max is a maximal temperature of the tissue surface.

Embodiments may provide self-guided, self-directed diagnostics and treatment of neural conditions. For example, a system may comprise: a processor, signal output circuitry interfacing the processor with a plurality of stimulation devices, the processor to control the stimulation devices to generate and transmit stimulation signals, signal input circuitry interfacing the processor with a plurality sensing devices, program instructions and data stored in the memory to configure the processor to receive sensed signals from the sensing devices, wherein the signal output circuitry and the signal input circuitry are configured to enable simultaneous stimulation and sensing, and program instructions and data stored in the memory to configure the processor to perform dynamic closed loop feedback of the stimulation signals based on the received sensed signals to provide self-guided, self-directed diagnostics and treatment of neural conditions using at least one recipe for a treatment strategy guided by artificial intelligence.

A treatment method for non-ablative tissue regeneration includes directing at least one laser pulse having a wavelength onto a tissue surface of a human or animal body, and controlling an energy delivery time t.sub.ed of the at least one laser pulse, during which the second half of the pulse energy is delivered, to be sufficiently short, so that, given the wavelength and thus a corresponding penetration depth δ of the at least one laser pulse, a thermal exposure time t.sub.exp of the tissue surface is smaller than 900 microseconds. The thermal exposure time t.sub.exp of the tissue surface is defined as a time interval in which the temperature of the tissue surface is above T.sub.o+(T.sub.max−T.sub.o)/2, wherein T.sub.o defines the initial temperature of the tissue surface, before the laser pulse arrives, and T.sub.max is a maximal temperature of the tissue surface.

Devices and methods for impinging light on tissue to induce one or more biological effects, and more particularly illumination devices and related methods that may be used for intranasal delivery of irradiation are disclosed. Exemplary illumination devices may include a light guide that is optically coupled with a light source, where the light guide may be configured for insertion along one or more intranasal passageways. In this manner, the light guide may provide irradiation of light to tissues along or near the upper respiratory tract to prevent and/or treat various infections and other tissue conditions thereof. Light guides may include flexible materials with suitable dimensions and/or shapes that allow the light guides to follow variable paths of intranasal passageways during use.

Body-worn air-treatment devices include a body that is configured to be selectively coupled proximate to a respiratory tract inlet of a living individual, and a pathogen-deactivating mechanism that is supported by the body. Methods include deactivating pathogens proximate to a respiratory tract inlet of a living individual.

Embodiments may provide improved visual prosthesis to restore functional vision in those with partial or total blindness. In an embodiment, a system for artificial vision may comprise a camera adapted to obtain visual information corresponding to a field of view of a person, processing circuitry adapted to transform the obtained visual information to control signals for controlling artificial visual stimulation, communication circuitry adapted to transmit the control signals to an implanted device to perform artificial visual stimulation, and an implant device adapted to be implanted within a body of the person for interacting with brain tissue to perform artificial visual stimulation, wherein the implant device is adapted to receive the control signals, generate stimulation signals based on the control signals, and apply the stimulation signals to neural tissue, wherein the implant device is further adapted to apply stimulation to at least 100,000 sites of the neural tissue..

Devices and methods for treating central nervous system disorders by administering light to a user are disclosed. In some embodiments, the devices are positioned away from the user, and in other embodiments, the devices are attached to the user. In some embodiments, the light is applied through the users skin, and in other embodiments, through an implanted or percutaneous device. Representative central nervous system disorders include cognitive, motor, and behavioral disorders. Where these disorders include an inflammatory component, light is administered at wavelengths which decrease inflammation in the brain. Where these disorders are caused by poor vascularization, light is administered at wavelengths which improve vascularization in the brain. The methods also include repairing damage to the blood brain barrier, and can be used to more effectively administer drugs, such as anticancer drugs, to the brain.

Devices and systems for impinging light on tissue to induce one or more biological effects and, more particularly, illumination devices and related systems for implementing therapeutic treatments of light are disclosed. Systems may include illumination devices that are configured to provide phototherapy for a variety of medical indications and/or health-related benefits. Illumination devices may be connected to systems that administer and/or monitor multiple illumination devices across multiple geographic regions to compile regional and/or global information related to phototherapeutic usage. Certain aspects relate to system elements, such as local devices and/or servers that are capable of generating treatment protocols for illumination devices based on diagnostic information. After treatment protocols are implemented by illumination devices, administered treatment information along with location information may be provided to the local devices and/or servers.

Embodiments may provide techniques that may provide the capability to provide self-guided, self-directed diagnostics and treatment of neural conditions. For example, in an embodiment, a system may comprise program instructions and data stored in the memory to configure the processor to control the stimulation devices to generate and transmit stimulation signals, a plurality of sensing devices connected to signal input circuitry interfacing the processor with the sensing devices, program instructions and data stored in the memory to configure the processor to receive sensed signals from the sensing devices, and program instructions and data stored in the memory to configure the processor to perform dynamic closed loop feedback of the stimulation signals based on the received sensed signals to provide self-guided, self-directed diagnostics and treatment of neural conditions using at least one recipe for a treatment strategy guided by artificial intelligence.