Method and apparatus for vacuum-assisted light-based treatments of the skin

• US 20060259102A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Original Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Inventors: Slatkine, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00752 Hair removal or transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00291 using suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00458 Deeper parts of the skin, e.g. treatment of vascular disorders or port wine stains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/008 Suction kneading
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0057 Suction suction kneading A61H7/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/422 Desensitising skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/425 Protruding skin to facilitate piercing, e.g. vacuum cylinders, vein immobilising means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for enhancing the absorption of light in targeted skin structures and for the inhibition of pain transmission during light based treatments of the skin. After applying a vacuum to a vacuum chamber placed on a skin target and modulating the applied vacuum, the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels is increased within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of the skin target. Optical energy associated with light directed in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining the skin target is absorbed within the predetermined depth. The apparatus is suitable for treating vascular lesions with a reduced treatment energy density level than that of the prior art and for evacuating condensed vapors produced during the cooling of skin. The vacuum chamber may also have a skin flattening transmitting element which inhibits pain transmission upon applying a sufficiently high vacuum.

Claims

1. An apparatus for vacuum-assisted light-based skin treatments, comprising:

a) a non-ablative intense pulsed monochromatic or non-coherent light source;

b) a vacuum chamber placeable on a skin target which has an opening on the distal end thereof and provided with a transmitting element on the proximate end thereof, said transmitting element being transparent or translucent to light generated by said source and directed to said skin target;

c) means for applying a vacuum to said vacuum chamber, the level of the applied vacuum suitable for drawing said skin target to said vacuum chamber via said opening; and

d) means for preventing influx of air into vacuum chamber during a vacuum applying mode.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum applying means comprises a vacuum pump.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum applying means further comprises at least one control valve and control means for controlling operation of the vacuum pump, the at least one control valve, and the light source, said control means being suitable for firing the light source after a first predetermined delay ranging from approximately 0.5 sec to approximately 4 seconds following operation of the vacuum pump, for increasing the pressure in the vacuum chamber to atmospheric pressure following deactivation of the light source, to allow for effortless repositioning of the vacuum chamber to a second skin target, for verifying that a desired energy density level of the light is being directed to the skin target, and for deactivating the light source if the energy density level is significantly larger than said desired level, said control means being selected from the group of electrons means, pneumatic means, electrical means, and optical means and being actuated by means of a finger depressable button positioned on a light treatment handpiece.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein influx of air into the vacuum chamber during a vacuum applying mode is prevented by means of a control valve and control circuitry.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength of the light ranges from 400 to 1800 nm, the pulse duration of the light ranges from 10 nanoseconds to 900 msec, the energy density of the light ranges from approximately 2 to approximately 150 J/cm², and the level of applied vacuum within the vacuum chamber ranges from approximately 0 to approximately 1 atmosphere.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum chamber is connected to, or integrally formed with, a proximately disposed handpiece through which light propagates towards the skin target, and the vacuum chamber optionally has a proximate cover formed with an aperture which is attachable to a handpiece having an integral transmitting element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light source is selected from the group of Dye laser, Nd:

YAG laser, Diode laser, light emitting diode, Alexandrite laser, Ruby laser, Nd;

YAG frequency doubled laser, Nd;

Glass laser, a non-coherent intense pulse light source, and and a non-coherent intense pulse light source combined with an RF source, the light is suitable for hair removal, collagen contraction, photorejuvenation, treatment of vascular lesions, treatment of sebacouse or sweat glands, treatment of warts, treatment of pigmented lesions, treatment of damaged collagen, treatment of acne, treatment of warts, treatment of keloids, treatment of sweat glands, and treatment of psoriasis, and the vascular lesions are selected from the group of port wine stains, telangectasia, rosacea, and spider veins.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting element is separated from the adjoining skin surface by a gap ranging from 0.5 to 50 mm and is suitable for transmitting the light in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining the skin target.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum chamber has at least one suction opening and is provided with a rim for sealing the peripheral contact area between the skin surface adjoining the skin target and a vacuum chamber wall, the vacuum being applied to the vacuum chamber via said at least one suction opening.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum chamber is U-shaped.

11. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the increase in vacuum chamber pressure is triggered by means of a light detector which transmits a signal to the control means upon sensing a significant decrease in optical energy generated by the light source or after a second predetermined delay, following deactivation of the light source.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width of the treatment spot per pulse of the light is greater than 5 mm or ranges from 15 to 50 mm.

13. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the vacuum pump is a pump for drawing air and gel from the interior of the vacuum chamber via a hose connected to a conduit in communication with the interior of the vacuum chamber or is an air pump.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a skin contact detector for sensing the placement of the vacuum chamber onto the skin target and for generating a first signal to activate the vacuum pump following placement of the vacuum chamber chamber onto the skin target, wherein the control valve is opened following generation of a second signal by means of a light detector which is adapted to sense termination of the light directed to the skin target, atmospheric pressure air thereby being introduced to the interior of the vacuum chamber, said second signal also being suitable for deactivating the vacuum pump.

15. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an array of vacuum chambers placeable on a skin surface, wherein said array is formed from a single sheet made of material which is transparent or translucent to the light, said sheet is formed with a plurality of conduits for air evacuation such that each of said conduits is in communication with a corresponding vacuum chamber, the distance between adjacent vacuum chambers is sufficiently small to allow light which has diffused from the interior of each chamber to treat a skin area located underneath a corresponding conduit, and each conduit branches into first and second portions which are in communication with the vacuum pump and with a source of compressed air, respectively.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each vacuum chamber is provided with a contact detector for triggering a signal to activate the vacuum pump, two control valves to control the passage of fluid through the corresponding first and second conduits portions, respectively, and a light detector which generates a signal to introduce compressed air through the corresponding second conduit portion upon sensing the termination of the light directed to the skin target or the first conduit portions are arranged such that the air from all vacuum chambers is evacuated simultaneously upon activation of the vacuum pump.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum applying means comprises:

a) a vertically displaceable cover to which the transmitting element is secured;

b) chamber walls which surround, and are of a similar shape as, said cover, a vacuum being generated within a vacuum chamber defined by the volume between said cover, said walls, and the skin target upon proximal displacement of said cover relative to said walls; and

c) an aeration tube for introducing atmospheric air to the vacuum chamber during a vacuum release mode, said aeration tube being in communication with a valve which is actuated upon conclusion of a skin target treatment,

wherein the means for preventing influx into the vacuum chamber is a sealing element which is secured to the outer periphery of the cover and resiliently contacts the chamber walls,

wherein a proximally directed force or distally directed force is generated by any means selected from the group of a plurality of solenoids, a spring assembly, and a pneumatic device, or a combination thereof, which are deployed around the periphery of the cover and connected to the walls,

wherein the proximally directed force is controllable so as to adjust the height of the drawn skin target relative to the adjoining skin surface and is optionally supplemented by means of a vacuum pump.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the solenoids are energized by a 1.5 V battery.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for preventing passage of skin cooling gel to the vacuum applying means which comprises a trap, a first conduit through which gel and air are drawn from the vacuum chamber to said trap, a second conduit through which air is drawn from said trap to the vacuum pump, and optionally a filter at the inlet of said first and second conduits;

a detachable vaccum chamber upper portion having an open central area, a transmitting element attached to said upper portion, vacuum chamber walls, a vacuum chamber cover perpendicular to said walls and suitably sized so as to support said upper portion, and a plurality of attachment clips pivotally connected to a corresponding vacuum chamber wall for detachably securing said upper portion to said vacuum chamber cover, detachment of said upper portion allowing removal of gel retained within the vacuum chamber interior;

a hydrophobic material to which vacuum chamber walls are coated;

or a vacuum chamber configured such that at least one suction opening is sufficiently spaced above the distal end of a vacuum chamber wall and from the centerline of the vacuum chamber so as to prevent obstruction of the at least one suction opening by gel and drawn skin upon application of the vacuum.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the trap is suitable for the introduction therein of an ion exchange resin with which the gel is boundable.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, comprising indication means that the skin target has undergone a light-based treatment by means of gel which is discharged from an end of the hose onto a skin surface during a vacuum applying mode or by means of gel which falls to the skin surface during a vacuum release mode in the shape of the distal end of the vacuum chamber walls.

22. The apparatus according to according to claim 8, further comprising means for skin cooling,

said skin cooling means being adapted to reduce the rate of temperature increase of the epidermis at the skin target and the level of the applied vacuum being suitable for evacuating condensed vapors which are produced within the gap between the transmitting element and the skin target and condense on the transmitting element during the cooling of skin,

wherein the skin cooling means is a metallic plate positionable on the skin surface adjoining the skin target and in abutment with the vacuum chamber on the external side thereof or in contact with the transmitting element, said plate being cooled by means of a thermoelectric cooler;

a polycarbonate layer transparent to the directed light which is attached to the distal face of the transmitting element;

or a gel, a low temperature liquid or gas applied onto the skin target.

23. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus is suitable for alleviating or preventing pain caused by a non-ablative light-based treatment of a targeted skin structure,

wherein the gap separating the transmitting element from the skin surface adjoining the skin target and the magnitude of the proximally directed force resulting from the applied vacuum in combination are suitable for drawing the skin target to the vacuum chamber via the opening on the distal end of the vacuum chamber until the skin target contacts the transmitting element for a duration equal to, or longer than, the first predetermined delay, whereby pain signals generated by the nervous system during the treatment of the skin structure are alleviated or prevented,

wherein the control means is suitable for firing the light source after the first predetermined delay, following operation of the vacuum applying means, and is suitable for controlling the vacuum level generated by the vacuum applying means,

wherein the control means has a plurality of finger depressable buttons, each of which being adapted to set the vacuum applying means and light source at a unique combination of operating conditions so as to generate a predetermined vacuum level within the vacuum chamber and to fire the light source after a predetermined time delay following the operation of the vacuum applying means.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means to stabilize the vacuum chamber on a substantially non-planar skin surface.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum chamber has at least one support element suitable for inducing an increase in the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of the skin target and is releasably attachable to a treatment light handpiece.

26. The apparatus according to any of claim 1, wherein the vacuum chamber is one-hand graspable by means of a handle connected thereto.

27. An apparatus for controlling the depth of light absorption by blood vessels under a skin surface, comprising:

a) a vacuum chamber placed on a skin target which is formed with an aperture on the distal end thereof and provided with a transmitting element on the proximate end thereof, said transmitting element being transparent or translucent to intense pulsed monochromatic or non-coherent light directed to said skin target and suitable for transmitting the light in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining said skin target;

b) means for applying a vacuum to said vacuum chamber, the level of the applied vacuum suitable for drawing said skin target to said vacuum chamber via said aperture; and

c) means for inducing an increase in the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of said skin target, optical energy associated with the directed light being absorbed within said predetermined depth and suitable for thermally injuring or treating predetermined skin structures located at said depth.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the means for inducing an increase in the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of said skin target is a means for modulating the applied vacuum.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the means for inducing an increase in the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of said skin target is at least one support element positioned at a skin area adjoining the skin target and having a thickness suitable for inducing an increase in the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels within said predetermined depth, and optionally comprising at least one leg having a thickness considerably less than the at least one support element and positioned at the periphery of the vacuum chamber, said at least one leg being separated from an adjacent support element, the at least one support element being adapted to urge blood expelled by said at least one leg towards the skin target.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27, which is suitable for drawing the skin target approximately 1 mm from the adjoining skin surface, wherein the maximum protrusion of the drawn skin from the adjoining skin surface is limited by the transmitting element.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the frequency of vacuum modulation ranges from 0.2 to 100 Hz.

32. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a control unit for controlling operation of the vacuum applying means and light source, for controlling operation of at least one control valve in communication with the vacuum chamber, for firing the light after a predetermined delay ranging from approximately 10 msec to approximately 1 second following application of the vacuum, and for electronically modulating the vacuum.

33. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the duration of vacuum application to the vacuum chamber is less than 2 seconds.

34. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the light emitted from the light source has any wavelength band from 400 nm to 1800 nm,

wherein the treatment energy density level for treatment of vascular lesions, port wine stains, telangectasia, rosacea, and spider veins with light emitted from a dye laser unit and having a wavelength of 585 nm ranges from 5 to 12 J/cm²,

wherein the treatment energy density level for treatment of vascular lesions, port wine stains, telangectasia, rosacea, and spider veins with light emitted from a diode laser unit and having a wavelength of 940 nm ranges from 10 to 30 J/cm²,

wherein the treatment energy density level for treatment of vascular lesions with light emitted from an intense pulsed non-coherent light unit and having a wavelength of 570 to 900 nm ranges from 5 to 20 J/cm²,

wherein the treatment energy density level for photorejuvination with light emitted from a dye laser unit and having a wavelength of 585 nm ranges from 1 to 4 J/cm²,

wherein the treatment energy density level for photorejuvination with light emitted from an intense pulsed non-coherent light unit and having a wavelength of 570 to 900 nm ranges from 5 to 20 J/cm²,

wherein the treatment energy density level for photorejuvination with a combined effect of light emitted from an intense pulsed non-coherent light unit and having a wavelength ranging from 570 to 900 nm and of a RF source is approximately 10 J/cm² for both the intense pulsed non-coherent light unit and RF source,

wherein the treatment energy density level for hair removal with light emitted from a Nd:

YAG laser unit and having a wavelength of 1604 nm ranges from 25 to 35 J/cm²,

wherein the treatment energy density level for porphyrin-based photodynamic therapy with light emitting diodes delivering light at a wavelength of 420 nm, 585 nm, or 630 nm ranges from 5 to 20 J/cm².

35. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a pulsed radio frequency (RF) source for directing suitable electromagnetic waves at a frequency ranging from 0.2 to 10 MHz to the skin target,

wherein the RF source is a bipolar RF generator which generates alternating voltage applied to the skin surface via wires and electrodes or is a monopolar RF generator,

wherein the control unit is suitable for transmitting a first command pulse to the at least one control valve and a second command pulse to both the light source and RF source.

36. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising an erythema sensor for measuring the degree of skin redness induced by the vacuum applying means, wherein the control unit is suitable for controlling, prior to firing the light source, the energy density of the light emitted from the light source, in response to the output of the erythema sensor.

37. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a skin contact detector for sensing the placement of the vacuum chamber onto the skin target, the control unit being suitable for activating the vacuum applying means in response to a signal transmitted by said skin contact detector.

38. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a light detector for sensing the termination of the light directed to the skin target, the control unit being suitable for regulating a control valve in response to a signal transmitted by said light detector so as to introduce atmospheric pressure air to the interior of the vacuum chamber.

39. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising an array of vacuum chambers placeable on a skin surface, wherein the array is formed from a single sheet made of material which is transparent or translucent to the light, said sheet being formed with a plurality of conduits for air evacuation such that each of said conduits is in communication with a corresponding vacuum chamber.

40. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising means for skin cooling, said skin cooling means adapted to reduce the rate of temperature increase of the epidermis at the skin target.

41. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising means for preventing passage of skin cooling gel to the vacuum applying means.

42. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the vacuum chamber is releasably attachable to a treatment light handpiece.

43. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the vacuum chamber is one-hand graspable by means of a handle connected thereto.

44. The apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising means to stabilize the vacuum chamber on a substantially non-planar skin surface.

45. A dermatological vacuum pump which is in fluid communication with a vacuum chamber placeable on a gel coated skin area and provided with a transmitting element transparent or translucent to pulsed light suitable for effecting a light-based dermatological treatment on the proximate end thereof and with an opening on the distal end thereof, said pump comprising:

a) an eccentrically rotating rotor having an outer profile of generally equilateral triangular shape with convexly curved faces terminating at an apex, wherein each of said faces is formed with a central face slot adjacent to the centerline of the corresponding face and substantially parallel thereto; and

b) a casing formed with an epitrochoidal inner wall defining a cavity in which said rotor rotates and being configured such that the apexes of said rotor are in contact with said wall throughout the eccentric angular displacement of said rotor,

wherein variably sized compartments defined by the volume within said cavity between said inner wall and a corresponding face of said rotor and through which controlled volumes of air and gel drawn from said vacuum chamber are sequentially transferable to a pump discharge, following operation of said pump, are established,

wherein each of said compartments increases from a first volume to a second volume in an intake-expansion cycle to generate a vacuum in said vacuum chamber, decreases from said second volume to a third volume in a compression-exhaust cycle to discharge air and gel,

wherein a corresponding rotor face in the vicinity of a central face slot is flexible upon reaction to the force applied thereto by gel that is pressurized within a corresponding compartment during a compression-exhaust cycle.

46. The vacuum pump according to claim 45, wherein the casing is formed with an inlet in communication with a conduit through which air and gel are drawn from the interior of the vacuum chamber to the pump cavity and with an outlet through which the air and gel are discharged to an exhaust tube.

47. The vacuum pump according to claim 46, further comprising an exhaust pipe larger in size than the exhaust tube.

48. The vacuum pump according to claim 46, further comprising means for restoring the pressure within the vacuum chamber to atmospheric pressure.

49. The vacuum pump according to claim 48, wherein the vacuum chamber pressure is restorable to atmospheric pressure within approximately 0.1 second.

50. The vacuum pump according to claim 48, wherein the rotational direction of the pump is reversible, in order to deliver atmospheric-pressure air to the vacuum chamber.

51. The vacuum pump according to claim 48, which is capable of evacuating air and gel from said vacuum chamber for at least 500 treatment cycles, each of said treatment cycles being characterized by a vacuum generating step, a treatment firing step, and a vacuum release step, and of generating, during each of said treatment cycles, a vacuum level within said vacuum chamber which is suitable for drawing said skin area to said vacuum chamber via said opening.

52. The vacuum pump according to claim 45, wherein the vacuum level generated within the vacuum chamber is greater than 500 mm Hg.

53. The vacuum pump according to claim 47, further comprising means for limiting the vacuum level generated within the vacuum chamber.

54. The vacuum pump according to claim 53, wherein the vacuum level generated within the vacuum chamber is limited by means of remaining atmospheric-pressure not discharged through the exhaust tube or exhaust pipe, said remaining atmospheric-pressure air being transferable to the inlet and mixable with the air drawn from the vacuum chamber.

55. The vacuum pump according to claim 53, wherein the vacuum level generated within the vacuum chamber is limited to approximately 0.05-0.1 atmospheres.

56. The vacuum pump according to claim 51, wherein the evacuation rate is sufficiently high to allow the completion of a treatment cycle at each treatment site within 3 seconds.

57. The vacuum pump according to claim 54, wherein the evacuation rate is sufficiently high to allow the completion of a treatment cycle at each treatment site within 1-3 seconds, 2-3 seconds, or less than one second.

58. The vacuum pump according to claim 45, further comprising means for the rotor to conform to the shape of the casing.

59. A dermatological handpiece system, comprising:

a) a vacuum chamber placeable on a gel coated skin area and provided with a transmitting element transparent or translucent to pulsed light suitable for effecting a light-based dermatological treatment on the proximate end thereof and with an opening on the distal end thereof;

b) a handiece body attached to said vacuum chamber;

c) a vacuum pump housed in said handpiece body, comprising an eccentrically rotating rotor having an outer profile of generally equilateral triangular shape with convexly curved faces terminating at an apex such that each of said faces is formed with a central face slot adjacent to the centerline of the corresponding face and substantially parallel thereto, and a casing formed with an epitrochoidal inner wall defining a cavity in which said rotor rotates and being configured such that the apexes of said rotor are in contact with said wall throughout the eccentric angular displacement of said rotor;

d) a conduit in fluid communication with said vacuum chamber and a first port of said pump cavity;

e) an exhaust tube in communication with a second port of said pump cavity

f) a bi-directional motor for driving said pump rotor;

g) a control unit for said motor;

h) a power source for said motor and said control unit; and

i) means in electrical communication with said power source for activating and deactivating said motor,

wherein variably sized compartments defined by the volume within said cavity between said inner wall and a corresponding face of said rotor and through which controlled volumes of air and gel drawn from said vacuum chamber via said conduit are sequentially transferable to said exhaust tube, following activation of said motor, are established,

wherein each of said compartments increases from a first volume to a second volume in an intake-expansion cycle to generate a vacuum in said vacuum chamber, decreases from said second volume to a third volume in a compression-exhaust cycle to discharge air and gel,

wherein a corresponding rotor face in the vicinity of a central face slot is flexible upon reaction to the force applied thereto by gel that is pressurized within a corresponding compartment during a compression-exhaust cycle.

60. The handpiece system according to claim 59, wherein the control unit, following reception of a suitable command, is capable of reversing the rotational direction of the motor and consequently of the rotor, in order to deliver atmospheric-pressure air to the vacuum chamber.

61. The handpiece system according to claim 59, wherein gel discharged from the exhaust tube to a skin area constitutes indication means that a skin target has undergone a light-based treatment.

62. The handpiece system according to claim 59, wherein the means for activating and deactivating the motor are at least one sensor in electrical communication with the control unit.

63. The handpiece system according to claim 59, wherein the handpiece body has a sufficiently small size, low weight and ergonometric design so as to prevent operator fatigue when intermittently held by one hand of an operator for more than one hour during repeated repositioning thereof to different skin areas.

64. The handpiece system according to claim 59, wherein the handpiece body further houses the light source.

65. The handpiece system according to claim 64, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the operation of both the vacuum pump and of the light source.

66. The handpiece system according to claim 65, wherein the control unit is suitable for synchronizing in sequence a vacuum generating step, a treatment firing step, and a vacuum release step for each treatment cycle of a corresponding skin area.

67. The handpiece system according to claim 66, wherein the control unit is suitable for synchronizing a predetermined delay ranging from approximately 0.5 sec to approximately 4 seconds between the activation of the vacuum pump and the firing of the source, in order to ensure that a drawn skin area will be in contact with the transmitting element of the vacuum chamber for a sufficiently long nerve inhibiting duration after the light source is fired.

68. The handpiece system according to claim 66, wherein the control unit is also suitable for increasing the pressure in the vacuum chamber to atmospheric pressure by reversing the polarity of the motor following deactivation of the light source.

69. Use of a Wankel mechanism to generate a vacuum in a vacuum chamber placed on a gel coated skin area.

70. Use of a peristaltic pump to generate a vacuum in a vacuum chamber placed on a gel coated skin area.

71. Use of a peristaltic pump according to claim 70, wherein the peristaltic pump is attached to a handpiece housing a light source suitable for effecting a light-based vacuum-assisted dermatological treatment.

72. An apparatus for alleviating or preventing pain caused by a treatment with electromagnetic energy of a targeted skin structure, comprising:

a) an element subjected to a generated vacuum therebelow, the level of the generated vacuum being sufficiently high to draw a skin target underlying said element towards, and in a compressing relation against, said element, whereby to alleviate or prevent the transmission of a pain signal generated by pain receptors located within said skin target; and

b) a pulsed source of electromagnetic energy for generating waves that are transmitted through said element and that are suitable for treating a skin disorder within said skin target.

73. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the electromagnetic energy is laser or IPL light.

74. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the electromagnetic energy is RF energy.

75. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein the RF energy is generated by a monopolar or bipolar RF source.

76. The apparatus according to claim 75, wherein the element comprises electrodes for transmitting RF energy.

77. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein the electromagnetic energy comprises light emitted from an intense pulsed non-coherent light source, a laser source or a light emitting diode source combined with an RF source.

78. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the level of the generated vacuum is greater than 150 mmHg.

79. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the area of the element is greater than 100 mm².

94. The apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the electromagnetic energy is light generated by a Q-switched laser which is suitable for removing tattoos or pigmented lesions.

80. An apparatus for alleviating or preventing pain caused by a light-based treatment of a targeted skin structure, comprising:

a) a non-ablative intense pulsed monochromatic or non-coherent light source for generating any spectral band of light having a wavelength ranging from 400 to 1800 nm;

b) a vacuum chamber placed on a skin target which is formed with an aperture on the distal end thereof and provided with a transmitting element on the proximate end thereof, said transmitting element being transparent or translucent to the light generated by said light source and suitable for transmitting the light in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining said skin target; and

c) a vacuum pump for applying a vacuum to said vacuum chamber, the level of the applied vacuum suitable for drawing said skin target through said aperture towards, and in a compressing relation against, said transmitting element, whereby to alleviate or prevent the transmission of a pain signal generated by pain receptors located within said skin target.

81. The apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising gliding apparatus for displacing a light source distal end over the transmitting element at a speed ranging from 0.3 to 40 cm/sec.

82. The apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising a scanner for scanning by means of said generated light substantially the entire area of the skin target which underlies the transmitting element at a repetition rate of up to 5 pulses/sec.

83. The apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the vacuum chamber for determining whether the applied vacuum level is sufficient to inhibit the transmission of pain signals.

84. The apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising a skin contact detector for sensing the placement of the vacuum chamber onto the skin target.

85. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the vacuum pump is suitable for evacuating air and gel from the vacuum chamber.

86. The apparatus according to claim 85, wherein the vacuum pump is a rotary pump.

87. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the vacuum pump has an eccentrically rotating rotor having an outer profile of generally equilateral triangular shape with convexly curved faces terminating at an apex, each of said faces being formed with a central face slot adjacent to the centerline of the corresponding face and substantially parallel thereto.

88. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the transmitting element is chilled.

89. The apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising means for centering a light source distal end with respect to, and above, walls of the vacuum chamber.

90. The apparatus according to claim 80, further comprising means for repositioning the vacuum chamber to another skin target without gaps or overlaps.

91. The apparatus according to claim 84, further comprising an electronic control unit which is suitable for:

a) receiving a first signal from the skin contact sensor upon placement of the vacuum chamber onto the skin target;

b) transmitting a second signal to a vacuum pump actuator to operate the vacuum pump and to initiate a vacuum applying mode;

c) receiving a third signal from a pressure sensor in communication with the interior of the vacuum chamber when the applied vacuum level is sufficient to inhibit the transmission of pain signals;

d) transmitting a fourth signal to a light source controller to trigger operation of the light source or to enable triggering of the light source;

e) receiving a fifth signal from an optical sensor which is adapted to detect the deactivation of the light source; and

f) transmitting a sixth signal to the vacuum pump actuator to initiate a vacuum release mode.

92. The apparatus according to claim 91, further comprising a dissolving solution pump in fluid communication with a dissolving solution reservoir and with a conduit connected to a vacuum pump discharge, for cleaning and dissolving accumulated gel.

93. The apparatus according to claim 92, wherein the control unit is further adapted to transmit a seventh signal to a dissolving solution pump actuator to activate the dissolving solution pump following a predetermined number of cycles of the vacuum applying and vacuum release mode.

107. The apparatus according to claim 93, further comprising a square beam homogenizer, to prevent overlaps and voids in a scanned zone of the skin target.

108. The apparatus according to claim 91, wherein the duration of the vacuum applying mode ranges from 0.1 to 6 seconds.

95. A method of painless hair removal, comprising the steps of:

a) positioning a rigid surface above a selected skin target;

b) applying a vacuum of a sufficient value over said skin target such that the latter is flattened and compressed against said rigid; and

c) firing a source of light which is suitable for a hair removal treatment such that the light is directed to said skin target and hair is removed, whereby pain signals generated by the nervous system during the hair removal treatment are inhibited due to the contact of said skin target onto said rigid surface.

96. A method for the painless removal of tattoos or of pigmented lesions, comprising the steps of:

a) positioning a rigid surface above a selected skin target;

b) applying a vacuum of a sufficient value over said skin target such that the latter is flattened and compressed against said rigid surface; and

c) firing a source of light which is suitable for a tattoo or a pigmented lesion removal treatment such that the light is directed to said skin target and hair is removed, whereby pain signals generated by the nervous system during the tattoo or pigmented lesion removal treatment are inhibited due to the contact of said skin target onto said rigid surface.

97. A method for alleviating or preventing pain caused by a non-ablative light-based treatment of a targeted skin structure, comprising:

a) providing a vacuum chamber having an aperture on the distal end thereof and a transmitting element on the proximate end thereof which is transparent to light suitable for effecting a desired treatment with respect to a selected skin structure;

b) placing said vacuum chamber on a skin target in the vicinity of said skin structure;

c) automatically applying a vacuum of a sufficient level to said vacuum chamber following step b) such that said skin target is drawn by the proximally directed force resulting from said vacuum through said aperture and contacts said transmitting element;

d) directing a distal end of the light source to said skin target;

e) firing the light source after a predetermined delay following step c) such that the light is directed to said skin structure and effects a desired treatment, whereby pain signals generated by the nervous system during the treatment of said skin structure are alleviated or prevented due to the contact and compression of said skin target onto said transmitting element for a duration equal to or longer than said predetermined delay;

f) automatically releasing the vacuum from the vacuum chamber following deactivation of the light source;

g) optionally, repositioning the vacuum chamber to the vicinity of another skin target;

h) directing the distal end of the light source to said another skin target; and

i) repeating steps c), e) and f).

98. The method according to claim 97, wherein the step of directing the distal end of the light source to another skin target is performed by gliding the light source distal end over the transmitting element.

99. The method according to claim 97, wherein the step of directing the distal end of the light source to another skin target is performed by means of a scanner.

100. The method according to claim 97, wherein the delay ranges from approximately 0.5 sec to approximately 4 seconds.

101. The method according to claim 97, wherein the light source is an intense pulsed monochromatic or non-coherent light source.

102. The method according to claim 101 wherein the light is in any optical band in the spectral range of 400 to 1800 nm.

103. The method according to claim 97, wherein the desired treatment is selected from the group of hair removal, treatment of vascular lesions, collagen contraction, tattoo removal, and treatment of pigmented lesions.

104. The method according to claim 97, wherein the vacuum level ranges from approximately 0 to 1 atmosphere.

109. The method according to claim 97, wherein the duration of the applied vacuum ranges from 0.1 to 6 seconds.

105. An apparatus for the treatment of skin disorders, comprising:

a) a vacuum chamber placeable on a skin target which has an opening on the distal end thereof and provided with a transmitting element on the proximate end thereof;

b) means for applying a vacuum to said vacuum chamber, the level of the applied vacuum suitable for drawing said skin target to said vacuum chamber via said opening and for inducing an increase in the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels below the skin surface of said skin target; and

c) a light source suitable for emitting light which is transmitted through said vacuum chamber and propagates through said skin target, and for treating a skin disorder present on said skin target.

106. An apparatus for the treatment of skin disorders, comprising:

a) a vacuum chamber placeable on a skin target which has an opening on the distal end thereof and provided with a transmitting element on the proximate end thereof;

b) means for applying a vacuum to said vacuum chamber, the level of the applied vacuum suitable for drawing said skin target to said vacuum chamber via said opening and for inducing a change in spectral properties of said skin target; and

c) a light source suitable for emitting light which is transmitted through said vacuum chamber and propagates through said skin target, and for treating a skin disorder present on said skin target.