A laser apparatus for permanently removing a plurality of hair follicles, veins or capillaries from the skin of a patient. The laser apparatus includes a housing having a single laser for sequentially emitting a series of pulses of coherent light energy having a pulse duration in the range of 1/2 ms to 10 ms; a fiber optic bundle connected to the laser for transmitting said series of pulses of coherent light energy to the skin of a patient; and a sequence control device for controlling the laser...

Disposable loading units (DLUs) configured for mounting to a robotic arm for performing at least one surgical task are presented. Each DLU includes an attachment platform having at least one connector for engaging at least one connector on a distal end of the robotic arm for connecting the DLU to the robotic arm, a head portion connected to the attachment platform at one end and configured for housing an electro-mechanical actuation assembly therein, and at least one surgical tool member extendi...

A hand-held laser light generator device includes a wand, a semiconductor diode laser for generating a beam of laser light, an optical arrangement, a housing having an interior chamber, a battery in the housing interior chamber, an electrical cord connecting the laser in the wand with the battery in the housing, an electronic timing circuit, a start switch and a selector knob. The wand, capable of being retained in a user's hand, is an elongated hollow tube and defines an interior cavity. The la...

An electrosurgical coagulation electrode to accomplish direct cyclocoagulation for treating glaucoma. To this end, the electrode is a flat, thin, slightly-flexible electrically-conductive member coated with an electrically-insulating coating over all but a small exposed area at one surface of the electrode tip. With this novel shape, it becomes possible to effect coagulation where desired in a relatively simple manner.

An optical fiber device includes a polymeric optical fiber having a proximal end for coupling to a source of light, and a diffusing region. The polymeric optical fiber includes a core and a cladding around the core. The diffusing region includes a length of the polymeric optical fiber in which the cladding is partially removed to expose the core and in which the exposed core and the remaining cladding have a roughened surface for outwardly diffusing light carried through the polymeric optical fi...

Enhancement of the alignment between the eye and a laser beam of a laser eye surgery system using a visual fixation system, the fixation system often having an adjustable optical train. The optical train of the fixation system allows an eye having a significant refractive error to be accurately focused at a fixation target. To accommodate the refractive error, the adjustable optical train will often project an image of the target so that the projected image is in focus in front of or behind the ...

A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring and performing real-time FFT analysis of bioelectrical signals such as (EEG and EMG) for the control of systems. Passive and active interaction with various electronic media such as video games, movies, music, virtual reality, and computer animations is also discussed. A method and apparatus for detecting the presence of a subject in a controlled area and for controlling real or virtual spaces is also disclosed.

The concentration of a substance or group of substances in a body fluid is monitored by means of an interface held in contact with a living human or animal body and a detector is positioned downstream from the interface. A profusion fluid is passed from the interface to and along the detector at a flow rate of less than 60 .mu.l/hour. A constant flow is maintained at the low flow rate with very little or no supply of energy, allowing for a compact construction and reduced measurement delay.

An apparatus and method for occluding a lumen, such as a vessel, in a mammal using alternating current and monitoring reflected power from the occlusion site to determine vessel constriction and/or electrocoagulation. The apparatus is provided with an alternating current (AC) power generator, a first electrode electrically coupled to the generator, a dispersive electrode electrically coupled to the generator and forming in-part with the generator and the first electrode a drive circuit and a ref...

A technique for the derivation of a pulse oximetry signal using fractal dimension analysis of detected light signals. First and second light sources transmit light through the patient's finger or reflect light off the blood vessels in the patient's finger. A light detector detects light from each of the light sources and generates a measured intensity signal. The measured intensity signal includes the true intensity of light transmitted from each of the light sources as well as noise introduced ...