Enhanced noninvasive collagen remodeling

• US 20030040739A1
• Filed: 08/21/2001
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Star Lasers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: New Star Lasers Incorporated
• Inventors: Koop, Dale E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,094,252 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 Sensing and controlling the application of energy

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treatment of skin or other tissue, using a source of thermal, electromagnetic radiation, electrical current, ultrasonic, mechanical or other type of energy, to cause minimally-invasive thermally-mediated effects in skin or other tissue which stimulates a wound-healing response, in conjunction with topical agents or other wound healing compositions, for application on the skin or other tissue which accelerate collagenesis, such as in response to wound healing. The dosage and time period of application of the compositions are adjusted to prevent external or surface tissue damage.

Claims

1. A method for treatment of skin comprising:

Treating a subsurface layer of skin with a source of energy sufficient to cause stimulation of collagen remodeling, in conjunction with applying a wound healing composition to the skin to wound healing, thereby achieving improved collagenesis in the skin.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy is electromagnetic energy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy is mechanical energy, such as microdermabrasion.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the wound healing promoting substance is a growth factor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the wound healing promoting substance is H3 protein.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the treatment is repeated serially with more than one day between any successive treatments.

7. A method for treatment of acne scars in skin, comprising:

Treating subsurface and surface layers of the skin with a source of energy in order to stimulate collagenesis in the skin without substantial injury to the epidermis, in conjunction with applying a wound healing promoter composition which enhances a healing response in the skin, thereby improving the appearance of the acne scars.

8. A method for treatment of photodamaged skin, comprising:

Treating the skin with a source of energy which stimulates collagenesis without substantial injury to the epidermis, in conjunction with applying a wound healing promoter composition to the skin which enhances a healing response, thereby improving the appearance of the photodamaged skin.

9. A method for treatment of wrinkled skin, comprising:

Treating the skin with a source of energy which stimulates collagenesis without substantial injury to the epidermis, in conjunction with applying a wound healing promoter composition to the skin which enhances a healing response, thereby improving the appearance of the wrinkled skin.

10. An system for treatment of skin, comprising:

a source of energy which is sufficient to stimulate collagenesis in the skin without substantial injury to the epidermis; and

a wound healing promoter composition which enhances a healing response in the skin to accelerate collagenesis therein, thereby resulting in improved appearance of skin.

11. A method for treatment of tissue comprising the following steps:

causing a subdermal wound using a source of electromagnetic energy; and

applying a growth factor to the tissue, such that collagenesis, repair and healing improvement of tissue is accelerated.