Method and apparatus to enhance optical transparency of biological tissues
First Claim
1. A method of irradiating a target object in skin comprising:
- providing a clarification agent in a topical formulation;
ascertaining that the target object is located in a sub-papillary layer of the skin, wherein the target further comprises a dye;
topically applying the clarifying agent to at least one layer of epidermis and a papillary layer of dermis under a protocol effective to achieve clarification of the at least one layer of epidermis and the papillary layer while providing substantially no clarification of the sub-papillary layer;
irradiating the skin with laser irradiation having visible light emission at a wavelength of less than 700 nm and at an energy effective to at least partially destroy the target object; and
wherein the step of irradiating is performed under a protocol effective to avoid thermal damage in the at least one layer of epidermis and the papillary layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Contemplated methods and compositions use selected agents to clarify biological tissues, and particularly tissues in vivo. In especially preferred aspects, the clarification agent is topically applied to clarify a plurality of layers, wherein the dermal layer that includes a target object remains unclarified. Light energy is then applied to the skin in an amount and under a protocol effective to destroy or alter the target object such that all skin layers avoid thermal damage. For example, hair follicles, collagen, and/or tattoo pigments located in the dermal reticular layer of skin are irradiated under a protocol in which the dermal papillary layer and all epidermal layers are clarified while the dermal reticular layer remains unclarified. Remarkably, such protocol significantly reduces thermal damage in the dermis, epidermis, and hypodermis.
54 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of irradiating a target object in skin comprising:
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providing a clarification agent in a topical formulation;
ascertaining that the target object is located in a sub-papillary layer of the skin, wherein the target further comprises a dye;
topically applying the clarifying agent to at least one layer of epidermis and a papillary layer of dermis under a protocol effective to achieve clarification of the at least one layer of epidermis and the papillary layer while providing substantially no clarification of the sub-papillary layer;
irradiating the skin with laser irradiation having visible light emission at a wavelength of less than 700 nm and at an energy effective to at least partially destroy the target object; and
wherein the step of irradiating is performed under a protocol effective to avoid thermal damage in the at least one layer of epidermis and the papillary layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A kit comprising:
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a topical formulation for application to skin comprising a clarification agent in an amount effective to provide clarification of an epidermal layer of the skin and optionally a papillary layer of the skin when applied topically to the skin; and
an instruction to apply the formulation under a protocol effective to achieve clarification of at least one epidermal layer and optionally papillary layer of the skin while providing substantially no clarification of a sub-papillary layer of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of removing hair having a hair follicle, comprising:
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topically applying a clarification agent to skin such that at least one layer of epidermis and a papillary layer of dermis is clarified while substantially no clarification occurs in a sub-papillary layer of the skin; and
irradiating the hair follicle in the sub-papillary layer with visible laser light having a wavelength of above 700 nm at an energy effective to at least partially destroy the hair follicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification