Method and device for the treatment of mammalian tissues

Abstract

A method and device for causing a predetermined physiological change in a mammalian tissue. The method includes irradiating the tissue with a radiation having a power density in the tissue substantially larger than an activation threshold power density, the tissue being irradiated under conditions suitable to cause the predetermined physiological change. The device can emit raditation and forms to the anatomy of a patient. The device can both cool the patient and treatment head using one cooling system.

1 . A method of photoactivating mammalian tissue causing a predetermined physiological change, comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the tissue with a first pulse having a power density above an activation threshold power density;   irradiating the tissue with a second pulse;   emitting the first pulse for a duration of about 1 femtosecond to about 1 hour; and   separating the first pulse from the second pulse by an inter-pulse interval of about 1 microsecond to about 10 seconds.   
     
     
         2 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for photoactivating mammalian tissue, comprising the steps of:
 irradiating the tissue with a time-varying radiation including a power density temporal profile, wherein the irradiating step includes:   activating molecular cascades of events; and   activating cells contained within the tissue.   
     
     
         30 - 82 . (canceled) 
     
     
         83 . A photoactivation device for modulating the physiology of a target biological activity by directing a photoactivating beam of light having a predetermined set of photoactivating light parameters on a target surface, said device comprising:
 a photoactivating light source for emitting said photoactivating beam of light;   a positioning means operatively coupled to said photoactivating light source for allowing selective positioning of said photoactivating light source relative to said target surface; and   a position evaluating means for evaluating the position of said photoactivating light source relative to said target surface.   
     
     
         84 - 90 . (canceled)