Methods and apparatus for the inactivation of infectious agents in, on or around a catheter residing in a patient's body cavity. The method comprises a coupling adapter for facilitating the transmission of non-ultraviolet sterilizing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) substantially axially along an optical element into the catheter body. Through delivery of the sterilizing EMR to particular areas of highest infection, the present disclosure is able to inactivate the major sources of infection in catheters.

This disclosure relates to various systems and methods related to preventative laser-based treatment of a dental tissue; for example, to prevent a patient from forming cavities. In some instances, a laser-based treatment system can generate a laser beam pulse with a fluence profile at a treatment site that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. In some instances, the laser-based treatment system can direct the laser beam to various locations within a treatment site according to a temporal and/or spatial pattern, that results in either an increase in acid resistance of the tissue or removal of carbonate from the tissue, without melting or ablating the tissue. Many other systems and techniques for preventative and other laser-based treatment are also described.

In a corneal measurement system, an optical element focuses an excitation light to an area of corneal tissue at a selected depth. In response, a fluorescing agent applied to the cornea generates a fluorescence emission. An aperture of a pinhole structure selectively transmits the fluorescence emission from the area of corneal tissue at the selected depth. A detector captures the selected fluorescence emission transmitted by the aperture and communicates information relating to a measurement of the selected fluorescence emission captured by the detector. A controller receives the information from the detector and determines a measurement of the fluorescing agent in the area of corneal tissue at the selected depth. The system may include a scan mechanism that causes the optical element to scan the cornea at a plurality of depths, and the controller may determine a measurement of the fluorescing agent in the cornea as a function of depth.

Disclosed is a plasma skin care device including a handpiece, an ozone decomposition module, and a suction fan. The handpiece has a plasma generator and discharges plasma in a state in which a front end portion of the plasma generator is adjacent to skin. The ozone decomposition module is configured to receive and decompose ozone, which is generated when the plasma is discharged, from the handpiece. The suction fan is configured to draw the ozone generated in the handpiece to the ozone decomposition module by suction pressure.

An apparatus and methods for tissue restoration are provided. The apparatus may include a catheter shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal tip, the catheter shaft defining lumens including an inflation lumen and a light fiber lumen, a coated balloon positioned on a translucent distal segment of the catheter shaft proximal to the distal tip in fluid communication with the inflation lumen, the coated distal balloon comprising a translucent material and a coated material on an outer surface of the coated balloon, and a light fiber positioned in the catheter shaft in the light fiber lumen and extending through the translucent distal segment.

A fractional handpiece and systems thereof for skin treatment include a passively Q-switched laser assembly operatively connected to a pump laser source to receive a pump laser beam having a first wavelength and a beam splitting assembly operable to split a solid beam emitted by the passively Q-switched laser assembly and form an array of micro-beams across a segment of skin. The passively Q-switched laser assembly generates a high power sub-nanosecond pulsed laser beam having a second wavelength.

Disclosed is a structure for therapeutic applications comprising at least one layer with sensor elements and heating elements. A first force affects the layer from one side and a second force affects the layer from the other side. The forces are detectable. The sensor elements can comprise, for example, position sensors, pressure sensors, and temperature sensors.

Disclosed is a structure for therapeutic applications comprising at least one layer with sensor elements and heating elements. A first force affects the layer from one side and a second force affects the layer from the other side. The forces are detectable. The sensor elements can comprise, for example, position sensors, pressure sensors, and temperature sensors.

Summary

The therapeutic device of the invention consists of a support to be placed on the skin of a patient and made of specific nanocrystals, which when properly activated, produce electromagnetic emissions that have beneficial effects on inflammatory, painful pathologies, and neuro-muscular and postural modulations of the patient.

Provided herein is a device for improved induction of sound by electromagnetic radiation, comprising a carrier layer; a first substance having a reflective property with respect to electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined wavelength spectrum; and a second substance having an absorptive property with respect to electromagnetic radiation having said predetermined wavelength spectrum; wherein said first substance is disposed in a region between said carrier layer and said second substance. Furthermore, a corresponding method is provided.