Surgery – Instruments – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-13
2004-01-13
Gibson, Roy D. (Department: 3739)
Surgery
Instruments
Light application
C606S011000, C606S017000, C606S018000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06676654
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for tissue treatment, such as cosmetic tissue treatment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to utilise laser light for tissue treatment, such as cosmetic tissue treatment, such as dermal ablation, removal of hair, photocoagulation of veins, etc.
During dermal ablation, a laser ablates a thin epidermal layer of illuminated derma of a patient. During healing, a new epidermal layer is formed on the ablated surface having the look of the derma of a young person; i.e. the new epidermal layer is formed without previously existing scars, wrinkles, etc.
Lasers that operate at a wavelength that is absorbed in water are used for dermal ablation. When the laser power density (W/mm
2
) at illuminated cells is sufficient, cellular water is superheated causing small explosions that disrupt heated cells.
During photocoagulation of veins, such as spider veins or spider nevi, regions along the vein are subject to selective photothermolys is. The vein is cut off and the pigment, usually blood, is eventually reabsorbed by the body of the patient.
Hair removal is effected by directing a laser beam at a hair follicle to destroy the hair follicle and its adjacent blood vessels by the heat produced by photothermolysis.
During treatment of tissue, such as an epidermal layer, hair, veins, etc, it is essential not to damage underlying or surrounding tissue. Residual heat may cause untreated cells to char and become necrotic, whereby scars may be formed. Thus, it is desirable to apply laser power only to tissue to be treated and only for a short time, to minimise transmission of conducted heat to underlying and surrounding tissue.
To some extend this has been obtained by selective photothermolysis, i.e. laser light is utilised having a wavelength that is selectively absorbed by tissue to be treated and that is not absorbed by the surrounding and healthy tissue. The selective absorption of the laser light causes selective photothermolysis in the tissue to be treated.
It is also known to automatically control whether or not light is transmitted towards tissue of a certain type. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,740, an apparatus is disclosed for automatically delivering a laser beam to an intricated coloured region of a treatment area, e.g. for laser photocoagulation treatment of malformed veins. Typically, venular malformation forms an extremely intricate pattern and consequently, the task of precisely delivering the laser beam exclusively to the malformed veins becomes quite formidable. During scanning over the treatment region, the colour of tissue to be treated is detected and the laser automatically treats only areas having a specified colour.
It is a disadvantage of the apparatus that it is bulky and cannot easily be moved into treatment positions in relation to various surfaces of a human body. Rather, a tissue surface to be treated has to be brought into a specific position in relation to the apparatus before treatment can take place.
It is still another disadvantage of the known apparatuses that the distance between the surface to be treated and the output laser beam optics is unknown so that the degree of focusing of the laser beam on the surface to be treated is dependent on the operator.
It is yet another disadvantage of known apparatuses that no feedback on the quality of the treatment currently in progress is provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore desired to accurately control the amount of light energy transferred to tissue to be treated. The amount of energy must be sufficient for the treated cells to photothermolyse, i.e. decompose because of heat generated by light absorption, and, simultaneously, the amount of residual energy heating untreated cells must be so low that untreated cells will not be damaged.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for tissue treatment in which one or more tissue parameters are detected and comprising a display for displaying tissue features based on the detected tissue parameters.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for tissue treatment, comprising user interface means for selecting areas of tissue for treatment based on the displayed tissue features.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for tissue treatment in which parameters of the laser beam is automatically adjusted according to one or more detected tissue parameters. This may facilitate different treatment of different tissue features in a single operation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for tissue treatment that include means for detecting the distance between the surface of tissue to be treated and the output optics focusing treating light onto the tissue so that optimum focusing conditions may automatically be obtained during treatment.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for tissue treatment that includes a temperature measuring device for measurement of tissue temperature.
It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for tissue treatment that is adapted to automatically and accurately treat tissue to a desired depth causing only a minimum of damage to surrounding tissue that are not treated.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned and other objects are fulfilled by an apparatus for tissue treatment, comprising a light source for emission of a light beam towards tissue to be treated, a handpiece with an output for emission of the treating light beam, a detector means for detection of at least one tissue parameter, and a display for displaying a map of the at least one tissue parameter.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned and other abjects are fulfilled by an apparatus for tissue treatment having a light source for emission of a treating light beam towards tissue to be treated, detector means for detection of tissue temperature and a display f or displaying a map of tissue temperature.
The light beam ma y be emitted from a handpiece.
The handpiece may be adapted to be held in one hand by an operator and may be freely manipulated for easy aiming of the light beam towards various areas of a patient.
It is preferred to shape the handpiece ergonomically so that a comfortable hand grip is provided for the operator of the apparatus. For example, it is preferred to direct the light beam towards a target area at a substantially right angle to the area. The ergonomic form of the handpiece allows the operator to point the light beam at a substantially right angle to the target surface without having to bend the wrist in an uncomfortable way.
Preferably, the handpiece is light so that it is easy for the operator to hold the handpiece and bring it into any desired position in relation to the target surface to be treated. The weight of a preferred handpiece according to the present invention—interconnecting cables not included—is less than 500 grams, such as 290 grams, or such as 250 grams.
The handpiece may comprise the light source, such as a laser, such as a solid state laser, e.g. a laser diode.
Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise an optical fibre for transmission of the light beam from the light source to the handpiece. The fibre has a beam-inlet end that is aligned with the emitted light beam so that a light beam is coupled into the optical fibre and a beam-outlet end for emission of the transmitted light beam. The handpiece is coupled to the optical fibre at the beam-outlet end and comprises an output for emission of the light beam towards a target area of tissue to be treated.
It is preferred, that the light source utilised in the present invention is a laser, but other light sources, such as light emitting diodes and halogen bulbs, may be utilised.
The power emitted by the light source utilised is dependent on the specific application of the light source. For example, when removing hairs, a method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,035, ThermoLase Corporation
Asah Bjarne
Balle-Petersen Olav
Dolleris Casper
Asah Medico A/S
Gibson Roy D.
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