1155 results about "Laser treatment" patented technology

A laser catheter is disclosed wherein optical fibers carrying laser light are mounted in a catheter for insertion into an artery to provide controlled delivery of a laser beam for percutaneous intravascular laser treatment of atherosclerotic disease. A transparent protective shield is provided at the distal end of the catheter for mechanically diplacing intravascular blood and protecting the fibers from the intravascular contents, as well as protecting the patient in the event of failure of the fiber optics. Multiple optical fibers allow the selection of tissue that is to be removed. A computer controlled system automatically aligns fibers with the laser and controls exposure time. Spectroscopic diagnostics determine what tissue is to be removed.

A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue. The total catheter assembly includes a stylet guide lumen communicating with the stylet port and a stylet positioned in said stylet guide lumen for longitudinal movement from the port through intervening tissue to a target tissue. The stylet can be an electrical conductor enclosed within a non-conductive layer, the electrical conductor being a radiofrequency electrode. Preferably, the non-conductive layer is a sleeve which is axially moveable on the electrical conductor to expose a selected portion of the electrical conductor surface in the target tissue. The stylet can also be a microwave antenna. The stylet can also be a hollow tube for delivering treatment fluid to the target tissue. It can also include a fiber optic cable for laser treatment. The catheter can include one or more inflatable balloons located adjacent to the stylet port for anchoring the catheter or dilation. Ultrasound transponders and temperature sensors can be attached to the probe end and / or stylet. The stylet guide can define a stylet path from an axial orientation in the catheter through a curved portion to a lateral orientation at the stylet port.

A typical treatment system for use with tip embodiments includes an optical energy source, such as, for example, a laser. A set of tips may be interchangeably attached to the treatment system, for example to alter the system parameters and the treatment provided through the individual tips. Embodiments of the present invention include tips with a security chip and / or a memory. A security chip protects the treatment system from use with unauthorized tips, and the memory stores information about the tips and / or the treatment system to enhance the treatment

The invention improves the laser sculpting of a region of a material to a predetermined shape by improving the smoothness and accuracy of surfaces formed by the sculpting technique. The technique includes projecting plurality of partially overlapping beams toward the region. The invention includes blurring an edge of an ablation to smooth an internal portion of the ablation that is separate from the edge. The blurred edge may be formed by the partially overlapping beams. Using a computer controlled laser delivery system, the position and shape of the overlapping beams may be precisely controlled to sculpt the material to a desired shape according to a laser treatment table.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, method and system can be provided for obtaining information associated with at least one portion of a sample. For example, a temperature change can be caused in the portion of the sample. At least one first electro-magnetic radiation can be forwarded to a section near or in the portion of the sample. A deformation of the section can be identified at a plurality of depths as a function of (i) a phase of at least one second electro-magnetic radiation provided from the section, and / or (ii) a rate of change of the phase and / or an amplitude of the second electro-magnetic radiation. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, method and system can be provided for controlling a temperature distribution in a sample. For example, an electro-magnetic radiation can be provided to the section in the sample at a particular wavelength. The temperature distribution can be controlled by modifying the particular wavelength of the electro-magnetic radiation when the electro-magnetic radiation is provided to the section.

A system and method for delivering therapeutic laser energy onto selected treatment locations of the retina following a predetermined spatial distribution pattern using one single laser beam. A beam steering mechanism and control system delivers the laser energy sequentially to treatment locations forming a pre-selected treatment layout pattern. The invention allows time consuming therapeutic laser procedures such as pan-retinal photo-coagulation and segmental photocoagulation to be performed with increased accuracy and in a fraction of the time currently required for such procedures.

A laser treatment device and process with controlled cooling. The device contains a cooling element with high heat conduction properties, which is transparent to the laser beam. A surface of the cooling element is held in contact with the tissue being treated while at least one other surface of the cooling element is cooled by the evaporation of a cryogenic fluid. The cooling is coordinated with the application of the laser beam so as to control the temperatures of all affected layers of tissues. In a preferred embodiment useful for removal of wrinkles and spider veins, the cooling element is a sapphire plate. A cryogenic spray cools the top surface of the plate and the bottom surface of the plate is in contact with the skin. In preferred embodiments the wavelength of the laser beam is chosen so that absorption in targeted tissue is low enough so that substantial absorption occurs throughout the targeted tissue. In a preferred embodiment for treating large spider veins with diameters in the range of 1.5 mm, Applicants use an Er:Glass laser with a wavelength of 1.54 microns.< / PTEXT>

A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue. The total catheter assembly includes a stylet guide lumen communicating with the stylet port and a stylet positioned in said stylet guide lumen for longitudinal movement from the port through intervening tissue to a target tissue. The stylet can be an electrical conductor enclosed within a non-conductive layer, the electrical conductor being a radiofrequency electrode. Preferably, the non-conductive layer is a sleeve which is axially moveable on the electrical conductor to expose a selected portion of the electrical conductor surface in the target tissue. The stylet can also be a microwave antenna. The stylet can also be a hollow tube for delivering treatment fluid to the target tissue. It can also include a fiber optic cable for laser treatment. The catheter can include one or more inflatable balloons located adjacent to the stylet port for anchoring the catheter or dilation. Ultrasound transponders and temperature sensors can be attached to the probe end and / or stylet. The stylet guide can define a stylet path from an axial orientation in the catheter through a curved portion to a lateral orientation at the stylet port.

A method for forming optical devices includes providing a gallium nitride substrate having a crystalline surface region and a backside region. The backside is subjected to a laser scribing process to form scribe regions. Metal contacts overly the scribe regions.

Defects at the grain boundaries of a crystal silicon film, which has been crystallized from an amorphous silicon film, are passivated without using a hydrogen plasma treatment. An underlying film and a crystal silicon film which has been crystallized from an amorphous silicon film are formed on a glass substrate. A thermal oxide film is grown on the surface of the crystal silicon film by heating in an oxygen atmosphere into which NF3 gas has been added. As the thermal oxide film is grown, non-coupled Si is generated. The defects at the grain boundaries of the crystal silicon film are passivated by the additional Si. Then, the thermal oxide film is removed and the crystal silicon film is patterned into an island shape to form an active layer of a TFT. A gate insulating film, a gate electrode and the like are then formed sequentially to complete the TFT.

A method for reducing skin is disclosed, in which a plurality of incisions or removals are made to collectively form a patch of skin to be reduced, instead of making a single large treatment of the patch. Thus, scarring after healing is less noticeable. Preferably, the treated regions of skin are arranged such that a total area of all removed skin segments taken in a direction perpendicular to an axis of said patch changes gradually along said axis. The removed regions of skin are preferably navicular in shape, and the patches are preferably navicular in shape in the event an elongated incision is made. The removal of skin regions can be realized by proper treatment methods such as incisions and laser treatment.

A method for automated treatment of an area of skin of a patient with laser energy. The method including: identifying the area to be treated with the laser; modeling the identified area of the skin to be treated; and controlling the laser to direct laser energy to within the modeled area of the skin.

Apparatuses and processes for maskless deposition of electronic and biological materials. The process is capable of direct deposition of features with linewidths varying from the micron range up to a fraction of a millimeter, and may be used to deposit features on substrates with damage thresholds near 100° C. Deposition and subsequent processing may be carried out under ambient conditions, eliminating the need for a vacuum atmosphere. The process may also be performed in an inert gas environment. Deposition of and subsequent laser post processing produces linewidths as low as 1 micron, with sub-micron edge definition. The apparatus nozzle has a large working distance-the orifice to substrate distance may be several millimeters-and direct write onto non-planar surfaces is possible. This invention is also of combinations of precision spray processes with in-flight laser treatment in order to produce direct write electronic components, and additionally lines of conductive, inductive, and resistive materials. This development has the potential to change the approach to electronics packaging in that components can be directly produced on small structures, thus removing the need for printed circuit boards.

A method and apparatus for treating in situ biologic tissue include identifying a patient with a condition susceptible to treatment by forming a lesion in the tissue and accessing a surface of the tissue. A lesion formation tool is positioned against the accessed surface. The tool includes an optical fiber for guiding a coherent waveform of a selected wavelength to a fiber tip for discharge of light energy from the fiber tip. The wavelength is selected for the light energy to penetrate a full thickness of the tissue to form a volume of necrosed tissue through the thickness of the tissue. The tool further includes a guide tip coupled to the fiber tip. The guide tip is adapted to have a discharge bore aligned with the fiber tip to define an unobstructed light pathway from the fiber tip to the tissue surface. The guide tip is further adapted to be placed against the tissue surface with the guide tip slidable along the tissue surface in atraumatic sliding engagement with the discharge bore opposing the tissue surface. The lesion formation tool is manipulated to draw the guide tip over the tissue surface in a pathway while maintaining the discharge bore opposing the tissue surface to form a transmural lesion in the tissue extending a length of the pathway.

A coaxial illuminated laser endoscopic probe and active numerical aperture control apparatus and method of use, succinctly known as an illumination and laser source, capable of selectively providing illumination light and laser treatment light through a single optical fiber. The apparatus and method is especially useful during ophthalmic surgery. The present art is capable of providing the aforesaid through an optical fiber of such small size that heretofore said fiber was only useable for laser treatment light only. The present art also, with its unique optical system, allows for two illumination light outputs from a single illumination source. The apparatus utilizes a phototoxicity risk card to calibrate the system to prior art or safe illumination levels since the unique optical system provides illumination light of greater intensity than the prior art.

A method of cutting a glass sheet that has been thermally or chemically strengthened along a predetermined line, axis, or direction with high speed and with minimum damage on the cut edges. The strengthened glass sheet may be cut into at least two pieces, one of which having a predetermined shape or dimension. At least one damage line is formed within the strengthened glass sheet. The at least one damage line is formed outside the strengthened compressive stress surface layers and within the tensile stress layer of the strengthened glass sheet. The at least one damage line may be formed by laser treatment. A crack is initiated in the strengthened glass sheet and propagated along the at least one damage line to separate the strengthened glass sheet along the predetermined line, axis, or direction into at least two pieces.

An endovascular laser treatment device designed to be used with an optical fiber to treat venous diseases such as varicose veins is provided. The device includes a spacer that positions the distal end of the optical fiber away from the inner wall of the blood vessel during delivery of laser energy to provide an even distribution of thermal energy around the vessel, thereby avoiding vessel perforation and incomplete vessel collapse.

A photoacoustic probe for port wine stain (PWS), burn and melanin depth measurements is comprised of optical fibers for laser light delivery and a piezoelectric element for acoustic detection. The probe induced and measured photoacoustic waves in acryl amide tissue phantoms and PWS skin in vivo. Acoustic waves were denoised using spline wavelet transforms, then deconvolved with the impulse response of the probe to yield initial subsurface pressure distributions in phantoms and skin. The waves were then analyzed for epidermal melanin concentration, using a photoacoustic melanin index (PAMI) related to the amount of laser energy absorbed by melanin. Propagation time of the photoacoustic wave was used to determine the depth of blood perfusion underlying necrotic, burned tissue. Thus, the photoacoustic probe can be used for determining PWS, burn and melanin depth for most patients receiving laser therapy.

The surface of a material is textured and crystallized in a single step by exposing the surface to pulses from an ultrafast laser. The laser treatment causes pillars to form on the treated surface. These pillars provide for greater light absorption. The crystallization of the material provides for higher electric conductivity and changes in optical properties of the material. The method may be performed in a gaseous environment, so that laser assisted chemical etching will aid in the texturing of the surface. This method may be used on various material surfaces, such as semiconductors, metals, ceramics, polymers, and glasses.

A method for forming optical devices. The method includes providing a gallium nitride substrate member having a crystalline surface region and a backside region. The method also includes subjecting the backside region to a laser scribing process to form a plurality of scribe regions on the backside region and forming a metallization material overlying the backside region including the plurality of scribe regions. The method removes at least one optical device using at least one of the scribe regions.

The present invention refers to a Laser therapy system and a method for skin treatment, comprising:a unit for dispensing a Photosensitizer containing agent;a first light source which generates at least one first light with a first wavelength;a second light source as a Laser light source which generates at least a second light with a second wavelength;an optical system which is connected to the first and to the second light source, comprising an electromechanical displacement device with an optical deflection and focusing system such that the first and second light gets focused and a respective focus point can be controllably positioned in the skin; anda control unit for controlling the electromechanical displacement device and the first and the second light source such that the respective light spot with a controlled energy and position in the skin is produced.

Systems, devices, and methods for treating a glaucomatous eye are provided. An amount of pulsed laser energy is delivered to the pars plana of the eye by a hand-holdable device which comprises a hand-holdable elongate member and a contact member disposed on an end of the elongate member. A contact surface of the contact member is placed in direct contact with the eye so that a reference edge of the contact member aligns with the limbus and a treatment axis defined by the elongate member is angularly offset from the optical axis of the eye. The amount of pulsed laser energy delivered is insufficient to effect therapeutic photocoagulation but is sufficient to increase uveoscleral outflow so as to maintain a reduction from pre-laser treatment intraocular pressure. Amounts of pulsed laser energy will be transmitted to a circumferential series of tissue regions of the eye.

The present invention is a method for promoting faster wound healing and alleviating pain during and after various dermatology-related treatments. The method comprises using low level laser therapy in conjunction with dermatological treatments including intense pulsed light, radio frequency, dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, chemabrasion, chemical peels, ablative lasers, and cryogenics.

A light-permeable member (lens 3) is provided to lead laser beams to an eyeball (2), and a spacer member (refrigerator forming portion 14) is provided to maintain a predetermined space (refrigerator chamber 13) between the light-permeable member (lens 3) and the eyeball (2). The eyeball (2) is cooled by introducing a fluid into the space (refrigerator chamber 13) so as to cool the eyeball (2) while applying the laser beams to the eyeball (2). The laser beams of higher intensity is applied with an occurrence of keratoedema reduced, while at the same time, preventing the complication which otherwise would be caused due to the heat generation of the eyeball (2).

An apparatus and method to apply photo-stimulation, photo-dynamic therapy and / or ablation laser treatment to biological tissue. The apparatus includes a plurality of radiation energy sources, preferably laser beams. Additionally, the apparatus allows either a single wavelength or a combination of various wavelengths, either coincidentally or adjacently, to be utilized to achieve a desired treatment effect. Laser beams are transmitted to the treatment area by one or more fiber optic cables which terminate at an assembly structured to collimate the emitted radiation prior to application to the tissue. In addition, the apparatus includes a focal length setting mechanism which assures that a constant, fixed distance exists between the point of discharge of the laser beam and the biological tissue, thus assuring a constant energy density at the point of application. A method is presented for applying photo-stimulation, photocollagen stimulation and / or ablation laser treatment utilizing the above apparatus.