Methods and apparatus for delivering low power optical treatments

• US 20040147984A1
• Filed: 11/04/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Altshuler, Gregory B., Caruso, Joseph P.
• Application Number:
  US10/702,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20040147984A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/023 with means for inducing vibration to the bristles
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/102 Brush specifically designed for massaging the skin or scalp A46B2200/1026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 7/10 as a rotating cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/28 for heating a thermal probe or absorber
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/206 the laser light passing along a liquid-filled conduit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0087 Hand-held applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0089 Chemotherapy developing heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0292 using latent heat produced or absorbed during phase change of materials, e.g. of super-cooled solutions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/108 Cold packs, i.e. devices to be cooled or frozen in refrigerator or freezing compartment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/005 : for cooling the radiator
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 : Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 : Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 : Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0668 : Apparatus adapted for operation in a moist environment, e.g. bath or shower
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 : Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 : Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0617 : Hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed that uses at least one low power optical radiation source in a suitable head which can be held over a treatment area for a substantial period of time or can be moved over the treatment area a number of times during each treatment. The apparatus, a hand held light emitting applicator (LEA) or light emitting skin applicator (LESA), can be in the form of a brush or roller adapted to be moved over the patient'"'"'s skin surface as radiation is applied to the skin. The skin-contacting surface of the LEA or LESA can have protuberances such as projections or bristles that can massage the skin and deliver radiation. In addition, an apparatus which delivers optical radiation to a treatment area is disclosed that contains a retrofit housing adapted to be joined to a skin-contacting device.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treatment of a patient condition, comprising:

an applicator having a skin-contacting surface comprising at least one protuberance, and

at least one optical radiation source coupled to said applicator in a manner so as to, when activated, deliver optical radiation through said skin-contacting surface to a patient'"'"'s skin in contact with said surface.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said applicator is in the form of a brush adapted to be moved over the patient'"'"'s skin surface as radiation is applied thereto.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said applicator is in the form of a roller adapted to be moved over the patient'"'"'s skin surface as radiation is applied thereto.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said skin-contacting surface has at least one protuberance selected from the group of projections and bristles extending therefrom.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said protuberance is adapted to apply a compressive force to the skin during use.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radiation at the patient'"'"'s skin surface is between approximately 1 mW/cm² and approximately 100 W/cm², the radiation depending at least on the condition being treated and the wavelength of the radiation.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said radiation at the patient'"'"'s skin surface is between 10 mW/cm² and 10 W/cm².

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one optical radiation source is an array of optical radiation sources, each said source being mounted to deliver optical radiation through at least one corresponding protuberance.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of the plurality of sources is mounted to deliver radiation through a corresponding protuberance.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein a skin contacting end of each protuberance has total internal reflection for the radiation when not in contact with the patient'"'"'s skin, but passes radiation to the patient'"'"'s skin when in contact therewith.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one optical radiation source is an array of semiconductor radiation-emitting elements.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one optical radiation source is operable at different wavelengths to effect a desired treatment protocol.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one optical radiation source is a continuous wave radiation source.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a heat sink.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 including a handle for said apparatus which is adapted to be held by the operator when the apparatus is in use, said heat sink sinking heat from said at least one radiation source to said handle, heat from said handle being sinked to said operator'"'"'s hand.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including a detector of contact between said applicator and the patient'"'"'s skin, and controls operative in response to said detector for permitting radiation to be applied from said at least one source to the patient'"'"'s skin.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes a mechanism for applying a substance to the patient'"'"'s skin as the skin is being irradiated.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radiation sources are retrofitted to said applicator, and including a mechanism for attaching the sources to the applicator.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one radiation source is part of said applicator.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said applicator is a hand-held unit.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said skin-contacting surface is formed of a plate having good thermal conducting properties, said at least one optical radiation source being mounted to said plate so that heat from said at least one source heats said plate, said heated plate thereby being adapted to heat a skin region during use.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a heat sink component in thermal contact with said at least one source, said component being adapted to be cooled prior to use of the apparatus.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein said component undergoes a phase change when cooled, and returns to its initial phase when extracting heat from said at least one source.

24. Apparatus for treatment of a patient condition, comprising:

an applicator including at least one liquid delivery conduit for directing liquid onto a skin surface, and

at least one optical radiation source coupled to said applicator in a manner so as to, when activated, deliver optical radiation together with the liquid to the skin surface.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said applicator is a bath brush, water being applied through said applicator both for bathing or showering.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein water is applied to also cool at least one radiation source.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said water is applied through openings in said surface to form water streams, and wherein radiation from said at least one source is also applied through said openings, said streams acting as wave guides for delivery of said radiation to the patient.

28. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said applicator is shaped to fit a portion of the patient'"'"'s body to be treated.

29. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 including a mechanism for at least one of vibrating and otherwise stimulating the skin.

30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said radiation sources are retrofitted to said applicator, and including a mechanism for attaching the sources to the applicator.

31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said at least one radiation source is part of said applicator.

32. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said applicator is a hand-held unit.

33. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said skin-contacting surface is formed of a plate having good thermal conducting properties, said at least one optical radiation source being mounted to said plate so that heat extracted from said at least one source heats said plate, said heated plate thereby being adapted to heat a skin region during use.

34. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 including a heat sink component in thermal contact with said at least one source, said component being adapted to be cooled prior to use of the apparatus.

35. Apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein said component undergoes a phase change when cooled, and returns to its initial phase when sinking heat from said at least one source.

36. Apparatus for treatment of a patient condition, comprising:

an applicator having a skin-contacting surface, and

at least one optical radiation source coupled to said applicator in a manner so as to, when activated, deliver optical radiation through said skin-contacting surface to a patient'"'"'s skin in contact with said surface,

wherein the apparatus further comprises a mechanism for applying at least one of a magnetic field, an electric field and an acoustic field to the patient'"'"'s skin.

37. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said skin contacting surface is created such that it retro-reflects radiation reflected from the patient'"'"'s skin back into the skin.

38. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 including a generator activated by movement of the applicator over the patient'"'"'s skin to generate electrical energy for the radiation sources.

39. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said radiation sources are retrofitted to said applicator, and including a mechanism for attaching the sources to the applicator.

40. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said at least one radiation source is part of said applicator.

41. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said applicator is a hand-held unit.

42. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein said skin-contacting surface is formed of a plate having good thermal conducting properties, said at least one optical radiation source being mounted to said plate so that heat extracted from said at least one source heats said plate, said heated plate thereby being adapted to heat a skin region during use.

43. Apparatus as claimed in claim 36 including a heat sink component in thermal contact with said at least one source, said component being adapted to be cooled prior to use of the apparatus.

44. Apparatus as claimed in claim 43 wherein said component undergoes a phase change when cooled, and returns to its initial phase when sinking heat from said at least one source.

45. Apparatus for treatment of a patient condition, comprising:

a retrofit housing adapted to be joined to a skin-contacting device, and

at least one optical radiation source coupled to the retrofit housing in a manner so as to, when activated, deliver optical radiation to a skin surface concurrently with use of the skin-contacting device.

46. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the skin-contacting device is in the form of a brush adapted to be moved over the patient'"'"'s skin surface as radiation is applied thereto.

47. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the skin-contacting device is in the form of a roller adapted to be moved over the patient'"'"'s skin surface as radiation is applied thereto.

48. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein said skin-contacting surface has at least one protuberance selected from the group of projections and bristles extending therefrom.

49. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein said protuberance is adapted to apply a compressive force to the skin during use.

50. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the skin-contacting device is in the form of a bath brush adapted to deliver water to a skin surface as radiation is applied thereto.

51. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein said radiation at the patient'"'"'s skin surface is between approximately 1 mW/cm² and approximately 100 W/cm², the radiation depending at least on the condition being treated and the wavelength of the radiation.

52. Apparatus as claimed in claim 51 wherein said energy at the patient'"'"'s skin surface is between 10 mW/cm² and 10 W/cm².

53. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein said at least one optical radiation source is an array of semiconductor radiation-emitting elements.

54. Apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the at least one optical radiation source is operable at different wavelengths to effect a desired treatment protocol.

55. Apparatus for phototreatment substantially as shown and described.