A long pulse alexandrite laser for treating dermatological specimens is disclosed. The use of alexandrite allows operation in the near-infrared, specifically in a 50 nm range surrounding 755. Infrared in this range allows good penetration while still achieving an acceptable ratio of hemoglobin to melanin absorption. In operation, the laser generates pulses having a durations between 5 and 100 msec and fluences between 10 and 50 J/cm.sup.2. A light delivery system is provided that transmits the laser light output pulse to dermatological targets of a patient. The invention is also directed to a hair removal system. Here, it is desirable to use an index-matching application on the skin sections to be treated, and a visual indicator is thermo- or photo-responsive or otherwise responsive to the laser light pulse to generate a visible change. Also, the invention is directed to a combined sclerotherapy and light treatment method and kit for unwanted veins. Substantially increased success has been achieved by implementing a dwell time of between 12 hours and 6 months between the light-based therapy and the sclerotherapy. Finally, the invention relates to pulse periodic heating of biologic targets, including systems and methods for generating an effective light output pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses with a limited duty cycle and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of the targeted structure.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/835,012, filed Apr. 8, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,883, entitled "Alexandrite Laser System for Treatment of Dermatological Specimens," by Horace W. Furumoto, et al., which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US97/05560, filed Apr. 4, 1997, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/015,082, filed Apr. 9, 1996, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/835,012 is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/745,133, filed Nov. 7, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,072, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety, and a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/744,344, filed Nov. 7, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,479, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety.
A laser depilating method for depilating treatment by irradiating a skin surface with a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser. A treatment region of the skin surface is treated with a semiconductor laser beam for an irradiation time of 100 msec or more per irradiation while controlling the laser beam so that the energy density when irradiating the skin surface may be in a range of 0.01 1 J/mm.sup.2. Irradiation of the skin surface with a semiconductor laser beam under such a condition provides a more secure and efficient treatment effect of laser depilation. A plurality of semiconductor laser beams are used as necessary to irradiate a wider area of skin surface at a time.
A method for generating a long effective pulse duration output beam of laser radiation using a flashlamp-excited dye laser is described. A spaced series of excitation pulses is electronically generated using a pulse forming module. The series of excitation pulses are provided to a flashlamp-excited dye laser, which generates an output beam of laser radiation. The output beam is comprised of a series of spaced micropulses of laser radiation which, in combination, provide a long effective pulse duration.
Lasers capable of lasing at at least two wavelengths are provided having a lasing medium which is capable of lasing at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength. Also disclosed are laser workstations having two lasers driven by a single electronics drive system in which a single energy storage network is connected to a first laser pump chamber operative to excite a first laser medium and connected to a second laser pump chamber operative to excite a second laser medium.
A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, typically sufficient or intended to rapidly induce and beneficially employ transient cavitation. Applying energy during the pulsed energy on period comprises applying energy during a first high energy period, and applying energy during a second nonzero lower energy period.
A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, comprising applying energy during a series of short burst periods, the short burst periods interspersed by short rest periods. The method and apparatus further comprise delivering minimal energy during a long off period, the long off period comprising a relatively long period when minimal energy is applied, wherein one long off period follows each pulsed energy on period. The short burst periods and the short rest periods are relatively brief in duration as compared with the long off period.
