Methods and apparatus for dermatological laser treatment, e.g. for the removal of unwanted tattoos or other skin pigmentation. Removal of multiple colors with a single pulsed laser beam may be achieved using intensities in excess of about 50 GB/cm.sup.2. Methods for reducing the pain and tissue damage associated with laser tattoo removal include using a spot size of less than 2 mm with a fluence in the range of 0.5-10 J/cm.sup.2. Scanning the laser beam over an area of skin to be treated allows such areas to be treated accurately with scanning patterns calculated to promote rapid dissipation of heat away from treated portions of the skin. Multiple treatment rooms may be served by a single pulsed treatment laser by beam toggling, splitting or pulse-picking to minimise downtime of the laser.

Systems and methods for performing laser operations to improve the accommodative amplitude of an eye. Systems, methods and laser delivery patterns and operations for structural pillars in the lens of the eye to permit deformation of laser effected areas of the lens that are adjacent to the pillars.

Systems and methods for controlling an irrigation flow rate during a lithotripsy procedure are provided. The system includes a laser configured for lithotripsy procedure, a lithotripsy irrigation system, and a temperature sensor configured to provide input to enable control of a flow of the lithotripsy irrigation system in response to a change in temperature from the operation of the laser.

A surgical instrument comprising a handle, a shaft rotatable relative to the handle, and an articulation joint rotatable relative to the shaft. The surgical instrument further comprises a motor-driven articulation system including articulation controls which are flipped by a control system of the surgical instrument when the shaft is rotated upside down relative to the handle.

Systems for treatment of glaucoma comprise an excimer laser, a plurality of fiber probes, and a processor. Each fiber probe is attachable to the excimer laser to treat a subject having glaucoma by delivering shots from the laser. The processor is configured to monitor and limit a variable number of shots delivered by each fiber probe, the number of shots delivered by each fiber probe programmable within a range. Methods of treating glaucoma include programming a fiber probe to deliver a number of shots from an excimer laser. The fiber probe is inserted into an eye of a subject having glaucoma and adjusted to a position transverse to Schlemm's canal in the eye. A plurality of shots is applied from the excimer laser source while the probe is in the transverse position, thereby treating glaucoma by creating a plurality of perforations in Schlemm's canal and/or the trabecular meshwork.

A laser device for skin treatment, includes: a laser generating unit including one or a plurality of diode lasers configured to generate a diode laser pulse, one or a plurality of diode laser drivers each arranged to correspond to the diode laser and configured to vary diode laser pulses generated from the diode laser into pulses having different durations, a laser amplifying unit configured to amplify the pulse transmitted from the diode laser generating unit, and a controller configured to control the diode laser generating unit and the laser amplifying unit to control a wavelength and intensity of a laser output from the laser amplifying unit.

The present invention relates to methods, devices and systems for performing the removal of thrombus from a vessel lumen. More particularly the present invention relates to a thrombectomy system that includes an elongate catheter and a disposable aspiration pump and methods of performing medical procedures to remove clots, thrombus and emboli to re-establish the normal intravascular flow of blood.

The disclosed invention relates to an improved system and method for treatment of soft tissue, e.g., for treatment of a snoring condition. The system can include a laser source; a hand piece; and a device for directing radiation emitted by the laser source to a treatment area (e.g., an oral treatment area). In some cases, the handpiece can include an optical element (e.g., a lens) mounted within a replaceable cartridge and adapted to modulate a laser beam such that it is non-ablative, prior to its delivery to a treatment region. In various embodiments, the system includes a CO2 laser capable of performing treatment in a more efficient manner than conventional techniques.

A system includes a focus optic configured to converge an electromagnetic radiation (EMR) beam to a focal region located along an optical axis. The system also includes a detector configured to detect a signal radiation emanating from a predetermined location along the optical axis. The system additionally includes a controller configured to adjust a parameter of the EMR beam based in part on the signal radiation detected by the detector. The system also includes a window located a predetermined depth away from the focal region, between the focal region and the focus optic along the optical axis, wherein the window is configured to make contact with a surface of a tissue.

A surgical instrument comprising a first jaw and a second jaw is disclosed. At least one of the first and second jaws comprises a proximal portion and a distal tip rotatable relative to the proximal portion.