Method and device for sensing skin contact
First Claim
16. A dermatologic treatment device comprising a window shaped to contact a surface and capable of heat transfer with the surface;
- a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the window;
one or more heat-transfer elements thermally coupled to the window;
three or more sensors around a periphery of the window; and
control circuitry coupled to the three or more sensors and configured to inhibit activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless contact with a compliant surface is sensed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A skin contact sensor and method are disclosed in a dermatologic treatment device that includes a skin contacting structure, a treatment source capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the skin contacting structure. A plurality of sensors are positioned around a periphery of the skin contacting structure, and control circuitry coupled to the plurality of sensors inhibits activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless contact with a compliant surface is sensed. Another embodiment employs a single sensor which is positioned distal to the skin contacting structure so that a non-compliant surface in contact with the skin contacting structure is unable to activate the single sensor.
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Citations
70 Claims
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16. A dermatologic treatment device comprising
a window shaped to contact a surface and capable of heat transfer with the surface; -
a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the window;
one or more heat-transfer elements thermally coupled to the window;
three or more sensors around a periphery of the window; and
control circuitry coupled to the three or more sensors and configured to inhibit activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless contact with a compliant surface is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A dermatologic treatment device comprising
a window shaped to contact a surface; -
a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the window;
three or more sensors around a periphery of the window and positioned to have a sensor activation point distal to the window; and
control circuitry coupled to the three or more sensors and configured to inhibit activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless contact with a compliant surface is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A dermatologic treatment device comprising
a window shaped to contact a surface and capable of heat transfer with the surface; -
a source of electromagnetic radiation capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the window;
one or more heat-transfer elements thermally coupled to the window;
three or more mechanical sensors around a periphery of the window and positioned to have a sensor activation point distal to the window; and
control circuitry coupled to the three or more sensors and configured to inhibit activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless contact with a compliant surface is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method for providing a skin contact sensor in a dermatologic treatment device having a skin contacting structure and a treatment source capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the skin contacting structure, comprising the steps of
positioning a plurality of sensors around a periphery of the skin contacting structure; - and
inhibiting activation of the treatment source unless contact with a compliant surface is indicated by signals from the plurality of sensors. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 58, 59)
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59-1. The method claim 58, wherein the configuring step includes the step of shaping the skin contacting structure to have a flat skin contacting surface, and further including the step of positioning the active contact areas of the plurality of sensors to be recessed with respect to the flat skin contacting surface.
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60. A method for configuring a dermatologic treatment device comprising the steps of
providing a window shaped to contact a surface and capable of heat transfer with the surface; -
controllably activating a source of electromagnetic radiation to supply a dermatologic treatment through the window;
thermally coupling one or more heat-transfer elements to the window;
positioning three or more mechanical sensors around a periphery of the window and to have a sensor activation point distal to the window; and
inhibiting activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless contact with a compliant surface is sensed by the three or more sensors. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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63. A dermatologic treatment device comprising
a skin contacting structure; -
a treatment source capable of being activated to supply a dermatologic treatment through the skin contacting structure;
a sensor positioned with respect to the skin contacting structure so that a non-compliant surface in contact with the skin contacting structure is unable to activate the sensor; and
control circuitry coupled to the sensor and configured to inhibit activation of the dermatologic treatment device unless contact with a compliant surface is sensed. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification