An eyelid manipulation device includes a rigid contact portion dimensioned to be insinuated between an eyelid and a globe, the contact portion having an upwardly-facing surface opposite a downwardly-facing surface, each of the surfaces extending between a distal side and a proximal side of the contact portion; and a rigid stem integral with and extending upwardly from the proximal side of the contact portion. In embodiments, the stem is connectable to a handle. In other embodiments, the stem is elongated, thereby serving as a handle. The eyelid manipulation device may be used during treatment of Meibomian glands or otherwise during treatment of dry eye symptoms.

The present disclosure is directed to a method of performing a photo-thermal dermatological procedure without use of an injectable anesthetic. The method includes applying a topical anesthetic to a treatment area of skin, measuring a surface temperature of the treatment area of skin, and passing a stream of cold air over the area of skin such that the surface temperature of the treatment area of skin is maintained between 0 degrees Celsius and 15 degrees Celsius for a duration of at least 30 seconds. The method further includes administering a photo-thermal energy dose to the area of skin after the duration.

The illustrated embodiments include an apparatus to reduce or eliminate full thickness injury in tissue and to deform tissue which includes a probe or mechanism for deforming tissue, and a subsystem for selectively cooling and/or heating tissue while deformation is of the tissue is being performed. The illustrated embodiments of the invention also extend to a method to reduce or eliminate full thickness injury in tissue and to deform tissue including the steps of deforming tissue, and selectively cooling and/or heating tissue while deformation of the tissue is being performed.

Markers, microwave probes, and related systems and methods are provided for localizing lesions within a patient's body, e.g., within a breast. The marker includes an energy converter e.g., one or more photodiodes, for transforming energy pulses striking the marker into electrical energy, a switch, e.g., FET, coupled to the photodiodes such that light from a probe cause the switch to open and close. A pair of antenna wires are coupled to the switch to provide an antenna, the switch configured to open and close when light strikes the photodiodes to modulate signals from the probe reflected by the antenna back to the probe to identify the location of the marker. The marker also includes an electro static discharge (ESD) protection device coupled to the switch to provide protection against an electrostatic discharge event.

Provided herein are methods for decreasing the toxicity of advanced ablative cancer therapies on neighboring organs. The methods herein provide spacing between single or multiple tumor cites and immediate healthy organs while maintaining or increasing patient quality of life. Such toxicity isolation can be performed by inserting a spacer around the one or more tumor cites, which can be performed concurrently with fiducial marker placement.

The present invention relates to a device for the discrimination of biological tissues, such that it is capable of carrying out the discrimination of tissue under complicated operating conditions, for example due to the presence of contaminating elements given off by a cutting operation, due to the presence of moisture in the biological tissue, or due to the presence of a non-controlled atmosphere that interferes with the results of the readings. The invention allows building more complex devices, including cutting instruments, such that it is possible to carry out a surgical intervention in a safe manner by preventing cutting into tissues that are to be avoided during said cutting operation.

In one embodiment, a catheter introducer for compressing a distal end assembly of a catheter for insertion into a sheath includes a compression conduit having a truncated conical-form cavity, and including a distal and proximal opening, the proximal opening being configured to receive the distal end assembly, the cavity tapering from the proximal to the distal opening so that successive portions of the distal end assembly are compressed as the catheter is advanced distally, a distal connector connected to the distal opening, and configured to be reversibly coupled to the sheath and provide passage for the compressed portions of the distal end assembly into the sheath, and a proximal retainer disposed adjacent to the proximal opening and including opposing surfaces to at least partially prevent compression of portions of the distal end assembly while more distally disposed portions of the distal end assembly are compressed in the compression conduit.

A removable tip for a light energy handpiece comprises a hollow conduit configured to surround a light guide in the handpiece; a support extension having a length longer than a length of the hollow conduit; and a shielding extension coupled to the support extension at an angle less than 180 degrees and located in front of the hollow conduit. The shielding extension is configured to be inserted behind an eyelid and extend to the fornix, the shielding extension comprised of a thermally insulative material.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing injury to an esophagus caused by heat or cold being delivered to the left atrium, the method including altering a heat exchange device from an insertable configuration to a heat exchanging configuration which has an inflated generally flattened cross section (e.g. capsule-shaped, elliptical) corresponding with the cross section of the inside of the esophagus such that the esophagus is maintained in its natural shape and location. In some embodiments the heat exchange device has a heat exchanger which is inflated to be in the heat exchanging configuration.

A clitoris shield has an oval body with a convex surface and a concave surface, a rectangular laser guide extending longitudinally from the oval body; and an arcuate laser guide extending radially from the convex surface. The clitoris shield is made of a material having a color that disperses, reflects, and/or blocks laser energy. The arcuate laser guard has a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the oval body and the rectangular laser guide. The concave surface fits a clitoris. The clitoris shield prevents a woman from getting burned on her clitoris during laser hair removal, avoiding pain and permanent damage to the clitoris.