Dermatological treatment device with deflector optic

• US 20060253176A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Altshuler, Gregory B., O'Shea, Liam, Caruso, Joseph P.
• Application Number:
  US11/357,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20060253176A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• 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 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20359 by movable mirrors, e.g. galvanometric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0629 Sequential activation of light sources

Abstract

This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for utilizing energy, e.g., optical radiation, to treat various dermatological and cosmetic conditions. A handheld dermatological device that facilitates viewing and measuring parameters of a treatment area before, during, and after application of a treatment modality, and methods of use therefor, are disclosed. The device can include a deflective device that can steer radiation to control a target position of the radiation. The device can also include a control device to allow a user to control the radiation through manipulation of the deflective device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing a treatment on tissue, comprising:

a housing having a portion that defines a target treatment area on the tissue when located in proximity to the tissue;

a radiation source for generating radiation; and

a deflector to selectively steer radiation from the radiation source to a treatment location within the target treatment area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflector comprises an optical device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the deflector comprises a mechanical motor and an optic device, wherein the mechanical motor can adjust an angular position of the optic device to steer radiation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an illumination source for illuminating the target treatment area on the tissue.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control device for controlling the deflector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detector to detect radiation emanating from the tissue.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a first polarizer coupled to the radiation source and a second polarizer coupled to the detector.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the detector is an image capture device for generating an image of the illuminated tissue in the target treatment area.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a display device to display the image.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an image processor in communication with the image capture device and the display device.

11. A handheld dermatological device for performing a treatment on tissue, comprising:

a housing having a head portion that defines a target treatment area on the tissue when located in proximity to the tissue;

a radiation source for generating radiation;

an image capture device for capturing an image of the target treatment area;

a display, operably coupled to the housing, to display the image;

a deflector to steer radiation from the radiation source to a treatment location within the target treatment area; and

a user control device to control the deflector.

12. A method of operating a handheld dermatological device, comprising:

capturing an image of a condition on tissue through an image capture device of the handheld dermatological device, wherein the image of the condition is of at least a portion of the condition in a target treatment area defined by a head portion of the handheld dermatological device when located in proximity to the tissue; and

steering radiation to selectively treat the condition within the target treatment area.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the act of steering comprises steering radiation through adjustment of a deflector.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the deflector comprises a mechanical motor and an optic device, wherein the mechanical motor can adjust an angular position of the optic device to steer radiation.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling the steering of the radiation through a user control device.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying the image to an operator of the handheld dermatological device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein displaying the image includes displaying a graphic to represent where the radiation will strike the tissue.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying an image of the condition to an operator of the handheld dermatological device.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising illuminating the target treatment area to aid in capturing the image.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising calculating positional information of the condition within the target treatment area.