Patent ID: 7184614

Claim:
Method of performing an aesthetic or medical treatment which is bodily safe to bystanders exposed to a monochromatic treatment light source, comprising the steps of: a) providing an eye-hazardous monochromatic treatment light source; b) attaching a diffusing unit to the distal end of said light source, said diffusing unit including at least one diffusively transmitting element which is transparent to said light and constitutes an extended diffused source when exposed to said light; c) positioning said distal end at a predetermined location substantially in contact with an outer surface of a target, said location being suitable for effecting an aesthetic or medical treatment; d) firing said monochromatic treatment light; e) causing said monochromatic light to scatter at said distal end such that the radiance of the light exiting said distal end is an eye safe level; and f) allowing said scattered light to propagate to said target so as to effect an aesthetic or medical treatment, whereby at a first position of said distal end relative to said target corresponding to said predetermined location the energy density of an exit beam from said distal end is suitable to effect said treatment and at a second position of the distal end relative to, and above, said target the energy density of the scattered light emitted from said distal end is significantly less than the energy density which is suitable to effect said treatment.