1. A non-surgical method for the cosmetic treatment of a skin condition comprising directing illuminating radiation toward a target zone of skin in accordance with predetermined delivery regime in order to effect at the target zone a plurality of interactions, including:
(a) a reaction leading to at least partial disabling or eradication of the cause of the skin condition; and
(b) non-ablative heating of tissue stimulating an inflammatory response to a degree sufficient to effect collagen production.
2. A method according to claim 1, for the cosmetic treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, therein the illuminating radiation is of a predetermined wavelength.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the interactions (a) and (b) occur substantially contemporaneously.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the reaction leading to at least partial disabling or eradication of the cause of the skin condition is a photochemical reaction.
6. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the illuminating radiation delivered is pulsed.
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the pulse duration of the illuminating radiation is less than the thermal relaxation time of the target structure.
8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the pulse duration of the illuminating radiation is between 10 s to 100 ms.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the pulse duration of the illuminating radiation is between 50 s to 10 ms.
10. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the wavelength of the illuminating radiation is in the range of 400 nm to 1500 nm.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the illuminating wavelength is in the range 500 nm to 650 nm.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the wavelength of the illuminating radiation comprises a primary wavelength or narrow wavelength band substantially in the range 570 nm to 590 nm.
13. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the energy density of the illuminating radiation is in the range of 0.5 Jcm2 to 5 Jcm2.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the energy density of the illuminating radiation is in the range 1.5 Jcm2 to 3.5 cm2.
15. Apparatus for cosmetic treatment of a skin condition comprising illuminating radiation delivery means for delivering illuminating radiation to a target skin zone or structure.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15, for cosmetic treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
17. Apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, arranged to output radiation of a discrete wavelength or narrow primary wavelength band substantially in or about the range 400 nm to 1500 nm.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, arranged to output radiation of a discrete wavelength or narrow primary wavelength band substantially in or about the range 500 nm to 650 nm.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18, arranged to output radiation of a discrete wavelength or narrow primary wavelength band substantially in or about the range 570 nm to 595 nm.
20. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 19, arranged to deliver radiation at an energy density at the skin surface substantially in the range 0.5 Jcm2 to 5 Jcm2.
21. Apparatus according to claim 20, configured to inhibit output of energies substantially above 5 Jcm2.
22. Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, configured to permit variable selection of energy densities within the range 0.5 Jcm2 to 5 Jcm2.
23. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, arranged to deliver radiation at an energy density at the skin surface substantially in the range 1.5 Jcm2 to 3.5 Jcm2.
24. Apparatus according to claim 23, configured to inhibit output of energy substantially above 3.5 Jcm2.
25. Apparatus according to claim 23 or 24, configured to permit variable selection of energy densities within the range 1.5 Jcm2 to 3.5 Jcm2.
26. Apparatus according to any of claims 15 to 25, arranged to deliver illuminating radiation in a pulsed regime.
27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the pulse duration of the illuminating radiation is substantially in the range 10 s to 100 ms.
28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the pulse duration of the illuminating radiation is substantially in the range 50 s to 10 ms.
29. A method or apparatus for the manufacture of an agent for the treatment of a skin condition, the agent comprising illuminating radiation active to effect at the target zone the following interactions:
(a) a reaction leading to at least partial disabling of the cause of the skin condition; and
(b) non-ablative heating of tissue stimulating an inflammatory response to a degree sufficient to effect collagen production.
30. A method according to claim 29, for the treatment of Acne Vulgaris.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A radio relay comprising:
a housing comprising upper and lower surfaces, wherein, after being released from a mobile platform onto a support surface, the housing is configured to come to rest in an initial orientation with either its upper or its lower surface resting on the support surface;
a radio mounted within the housing, wherein the radio is configured to relay radio frequency (RF) signals and to operate as a node in a telecommunications network;
first and second antenna masts, each having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein each proximal end is rotatably coupled to the housing;
first and second antenna elements operatively coupled to the radio and attached to respective distal ends of the first and second antenna masts;
an antenna mast rotation mechanism mounted within the housing and coupled to the proximal ends such that once the housing is in its initial orientation and regardless of whether the housing is resting on its upper or lower surface the antenna mast rotation mechanism is configured to upwardly rotate the first and second antenna masts to a raised position such that the first and second antenna masts are substantially parallel to the ambient gravity vector without changing the orientation of the housing from its initial orientation and regardless of whether or not the support surface is level, and wherein the first and second antenna elements are configured so as to enable antenna diversity operation;
an antenna friction brake operatively coupled to the first and second antenna masts, wherein the antenna friction brake is configured to hold the first and second antenna masts in position once the antenna mast rotation mechanism has positioned the first and second antenna masts to be substantially parallel to the ambient gravity vector; and
wherein the radio relay is configured to be released from the mobile platform such that the distal ends of the first and second antenna masts are the first elements of the radio relay to strike the support surface.
2. The radio relay of claim 1, wherein the mobile platform is an unmanned vehicle.
3. The radio relay of claim 2, wherein the first and second antenna elements are operatively coupled to the radio via wires routed through the first and second antenna masts respectively.
4. A radio relay comprising:
a housing having upper and lower surfaces, wherein the housing is geometrically constrained to rest in an initial orientation on either the upper or the lower surface after being ejected from an unmanned vehicle to a support surface;
a radio mounted within the housing;
first and second antenna masts, each antenna mast having a distal and a proximal end, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second antenna masts are rotatably coupled to an exterior of the housing such that the axis of rotation of the first and second antenna masts are parallel to the upper and lower surfaces;
first and second antenna elements attached to the distal ends of the first and second antenna masts respectively, and operatively coupled to the radio;
an antenna mast rotation mechanism mounted within the housing and attached to the proximal ends of the first and second antennas, wherein, no matter which surface the housing is resting on and no matter the angle of inclination of the support surface with respect to the ambient gravity vector, the antenna mast rotation mechanism is configured to upwardly rotate the first and second antenna masts without altering the initial orientation of the housing until the antenna masts are substantially parallel with the ambient gravity vector;
a three-axis accelerometer mounted within the housing and operatively coupled to the antenna mast rotation mechanism; and
wherein, after being ejected from the unmanned vehicle, the distal ends of the first and second antenna masts are configured to strike the support surface before the housing.
5. The radio relay of claim 4, wherein the distal ends of the first and second antenna masts are coupled together with a crossbar.
6. The radio relay of claim 5, further comprising a sensor operatively coupled to the radio and attached to the crossbar.
7. The radio relay of claim 6, wherein the sensor is a video camera.
8. The radio relay of claim 7, further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver operatively coupled to the radio such that the housing’s geo-spatial coordinates may be transmitted to another node in the network.