Phototreatment device for use with coolants

• US 20070067006A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gaal, Christopher, Erofeev, Andrei, Altshuler, Gregory, Yaroslavsky, Ilya, Lopez, Robert, Zenzie, Henry, Burke, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,915 B2
• 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 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0057 Photodynamic therapy with a photosensitizer, i.e. agent able to produce reactive oxygen species upon exposure to light or radiation, e.g. UV or visible light; photocleavage of nucleic acids with an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for phototreatment in which replaceable containers comprising one or more adjuvant (consumable or re-useable) substances are employed. The adjuvant substance can be, for example, a topical substance or a coolant. Systems are disclosed for using a topical substance to detect contact of a phototreatment device with a tissue, detect speed of a phototreatment device over the tissue, detect regions of tissue that have been treated by a phototreatment device and/or to provide other benefits to the tissue such as improved skin tone and texture, tanning, etc. Safety systems are also disclosed that ensure that a proper consumable substance and/or container is connected to a phototreatment device and/or directed to a proper target. Additionally, cooling systems and methods that utilize phase change materials for extracting heat from a light generating device are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for measuring a speed of motion of a phototreatment device over a tissue region, the phototreatment device having an electromagnetic source to effect a phototreatment and the tissue region having a substance applied thereto, comprising:

a radiation source positioned on the phototreatment device to irradiate the tissue region and the applied substance;

a detector associated with the phototherapeutic device configured and arranged to monitor the substance; and

a processor for calculating a speed of motion of the phototreatment device based on signals from the detector.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an applicator coupled to the phototreatment device for depositing the substance onto the tissue prior to irradiation of the tissue region by the radiation source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a comparator for comparing the calculated speed of motion with a defined minimum speed value in order to determine when the calculated speed has fallen below a threshold established by the defined minimum speed.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a shut-off switch responsive to a control signal to terminate phototreatment when the speed has fallen below the threshold.

5. A cooling system for extracting heat from a light generating device, comprising:

a heat exchanger in thermal contact with a cooling fluid that extracts heat from the light generating device, and

a phase change medium in thermal contact with said heat exchanger, said phase change medium absorbing heat from the heat exchanger to undergo a phase transition, thereby removing heat from the heat exchanger.

6. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein said phase change medium is ice.

7. The cooling system of claim 5, wherein the cooling system further comprises a cartridge for containing a selected quantity of the phase change medium, said cartridge having an ingress port and an egress port and being adapted for removable and replaceable placement in a flow path of said fluid to allow inflow of said fluid carrying heat from the heated element via said ingress port so as to provide thermal contact between said fluid and said phase change material.

8. A cooling system for extracting heat from a handpiece of a photocosmetic device, comprising:

a heat sink in thermal contact with a heated element in the handpiece to extract heat therefrom,

a cartridge storing a phase change medium, said cartridge being adapted for coupling to the heat sink so as to provide thermal contact between said phase change medium and the heat sink, said phase change medium absorbing heat from the heat sink to undergo a phase transition from a solid state to a liquid state thereby removing heat from the heat sink,

wherein said cartridge includes one or more channels for removing liquid generated upon said phase transition.

9. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein said heated element comprises a component of the handpiece in thermal contact with a treatment site of a patient receiving radiation from said photocosmetic device.

10. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein said cartridge comprises a compartment coupled to said channels for collecting said removed liquid.

11. The cooling system of claim 8, further comprising a mechanism coupled to said phase change medium for exerting pressure thereon so as to maximize thermal contact between said phase change medium and said heat sink while said phase transition is in progress.

12. The cooling system of claim 8, further comprising a manifold coupled to said cartridge, said manifold having one or more ports for diverting a portion of said phase change medium in liquid state onto a treatment site of a patient receiving radiation from said photocosmetic device.

13. The cooling system of claim 8, wherein said cartridge further stores any of a therapeutic, a cleaning or a cosmetic agent to be released onto said treatment site via said manifold.

14. A cooling cartridge for coupling to a photocosmetic device, comprising

a housing for storing a phase change medium, said housing being adapted for coupling to a heat sink incorporated in said device so as to provide thermal contact between said phase change medium and said heat sink.

15. The cooling cartridge of claim 14, further comprising

one or more channels formed in said housing for removing fluid generated upon a phase transition of said phase change medium in response to absorbing heat from said heat sink.

16. The cooling cartridge of claim 15, further comprising a compartment coupled to said channels for collecting said removed fluid.

17. The cooling cartridge of claim 14, further comprising a mechanism coupled to said phase change medium for exerting pressure thereon so as to maximize thermal contact between said phase change medium and said heat sink upon engagement of said cartridge with said heat sink.

18. The cooling cartridge of claim 14, wherein the cartridge is adapted to be coupled to a handpiece of the device.

19. A method of operating a phototreatment device, comprising:

applying a topical substance to a tissue;

detecting a parameter associated with the topical substance; and

enabling operation of the phototreatment device based on a detected value of the substance parameter.