A shock wave generating device includes an optical fiber and a reflective part, and is configured to reflect and converge the shock wave generated inside the reflective part to an outside of the reflective part. The reflective part includes: a reflector having a concave surface having a cut surface-of-revolution shape, and a through hole, which is formed coaxially with a rotating axis of the concave surface, and into which the optical fiber is to be inserted; a sealing body configured to seal an opening portion of the concave surface; and a liquid to be charged between the concave surface and the sealing body. The optical fiber has a distal end arranged at a position on a rear side of a focal point of the concave surface, at which the shock wave reflected by the concave surface is convergeable outside the reflective part.

A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a blood vessel within a body of a patient, the treatment site having a proximal region and a distal region, includes an energy source, a guide shaft, and an energy guide. The energy source generates energy. The guide shaft is positionable adjacent to the treatment site. The energy guide receives energy from the energy source. The energy guide is movably coupled to the guide shaft. The energy guide includes a guide distal end that is configured to be positioned adjacent to the treatment site. The guide distal end of the energy guide is selectively movable relative to the guide shaft and adjacent to and between the proximal region and the distal region of the treatment site while the energy guide receives energy from the energy source.

A catheter system for treating a treatment site within or adjacent to a vessel wall within a body of a patient includes an energy source, a balloon, and an energy guide. The energy source generates energy. The balloon includes a balloon wall that defines a balloon interior. The balloon is configured to retain a balloon fluid within the balloon interior. The balloon is selectively inflatable with the balloon fluid to expand to an inflated state, wherein when the balloon is in the inflated state the balloon wall is configured to be positioned substantially adjacent to the treatment site. The balloon further includes a balloon central axis that extends through a geometric center of the balloon when the balloon is in the inflated state. The energy guide selectively receives energy from the energy source and guides the energy from the energy source into the balloon interior. The energy guide including a guide distal end that is positioned on the balloon central axis when the balloon is in the inflated state.

A laser scanning method including emitting a pulsed laser beam from a distal end of an optical fiber in a liquid medium during a first period, the pulsed laser beam being emitted for generating a bubble at the distal end, stopping emission of the pulsed laser beam from the distal end during a second period, wherein the first period is a period for moving the optical fiber closer toward an operation member disposed parallel to the optical fiber by utilizing contraction of the bubble that comes into contact with or close to the operation member, and wherein the second period is a period for moving the optical fiber away from the operation member.

A laser scanning method that is a method for scanning a laser beam emitted from a distal end of an optical fiber in a liquid medium. The laser scanning method includes emission of a pulsed laser beam from the distal end in the medium, wherein the emission of the pulsed laser beam includes: generating a bubble that is to come into contact with the distal end and an operation member by means of the laser beam emitted from the distal end, the operation member being disposed only at one side of the distal end in a radial direction of the optical fiber; and contracting the bubble by stopping the emission of the laser beam from the distal end.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides techniques for inducing collagen cross-linking in human tissue, such as cartilage or cornea, without using a photosensitizer (e.g., riboflavin), by inducing ionization of the water contained in the tissue to produce free radicals that induce chemical cross-linking in the human tissue. In an embodiment, a femtosecond laser operates at sufficiently low laser pulse energy to avoid optical breakdown of tissue. In an embodiment, the femtosecond laser operates in the infrared frequency range.

An apparatus and a method for cleaning a cavity filled with a liquid are disclosed. An apparatus (1) for applying pulses of electromagnetic radiation to a cavity (2) filled with a liquid (3) may comprise a source (4, 4) for generating a first pulse and a second pulse of electromagnetic radiation and a control unit (22) adapted to control a time between the first pulse and the second pulse as a function of a diameter D and/or a cross-sectional area of the cavity (2).

A method for application of laser energy to skin including applying a first pass of laser energy from a laser system to skin, placing a layer on the skin, and applying a second pass of laser energy from the laser system that impinges on the layer to create a shockwave on the skin.

A device for laser lipolysis is described, comprising a treatment laser source adapted to emit radiation within a wavelength range strongly absorbed by the human body adipocytes. The device further comprises a hand-piece having a handle and a cannula that is adapted to be inserted into an adipose tissue of a patient undergoing a lipolysis treatment. An optical fiber is adapted to connect the laser source to the hand-piece, and the cannula is adapted to receive a distal portion of the optical fiber. The device further comprises a detection system, for detecting the movement speed of the hand-piece when in use, and a control unit, functionally connected to the treatment laser source and adapted to control at least one emission parameter of the treatment laser source, so as to modulate the power emitted by the treatment laser source based on the movement speed of the hand-piece detected by the detection system. The device also comprises a signaling system adapted to signal to an operator a condition of anomalous movement speed.

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.