Non-uniform beam optical treatment methods and systems

A method of treating human tissue comprising a first layer of tissue overlaying a second layer of tissue, the method comprising:

• generating a treatment beam having a non-uniform energy profile from a light source, said non-uniform energy profile being comprised of regions of relatively high energy per unit area within background region of relatively low energy per unit area;
• and
• directing the treatment beam to impinge on the first layer of tissue to form one or more sacrificial channels of damaged tissue in the first layer at positions corresponding to regions of relatively high energy per unit area, wherein the sacrificial channels are surrounded by regions of substantially undamaged tissue in the first layer at positions corresponding to regions of relatively high energy per unit area;
• and
• transmitting treatment beam light through the sacrificial channels to the second layer.

A method of treating human tissue comprising a first layer of tissue overlaying a second layer of tissue, the method comprising:

• generating a first light beam at a first wavelength, the first light beam having a nonuniform energy profile, said non-uniform energy profile being comprised of regions of relatively high energy per unit area within background region of relatively low energy per unit area;
• and directing the first treatment beam to impinge on the first layer of tissue to ablate tissue in the first layer at positions corresponding to regions of relatively high energy per unit area to form channels extending at least partially through the first layer;
• generating a second light beam at a second wavelength;
• directing the second light beam to impinge on the first layer such that a portion of the second light beam is transmitted the channels to the second layer.

An apparatus comprising:

• an optical scanner configured to selectively direct light to each of plurality of locations of a treatment region comprising a first layer of tissue overlaying a second layer of tissue;
• a controller configured to, for each of the plurality of locations:
• direct a first beam of light at a first wavelength from the scanner to the first layer of tissue to ablate a respective channel at least partially through the first layer of tissue;
• and direct a second beam of light at a second wavelength from the scanner to the first layer of tissue and through the channel to the second layer of tissue.

A method of treating human tissue comprising a first layer of tissue overlaying a second layer of tissue, the method comprising:

• using an optical scanner to direct light to each of a plurality of locations on the first layer of tissue;
• and
• at each location respectively,
• directing a first beam of light at a first wavelength to the location to ablate a respective channel at least partially through the first layer of tissue;
• and
• directing a second beam of light at a second wavelength to the location to transmit a portion of the light at the second wavelength through the channel to the second layer of tissue.