APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SKIN TREATMENT WITH COMPRESSION AND DECOMPRESSION
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a volume of tissue, comprising:
- applying a negative pressure to at least a portion of the volume of tissue;
mechanically restraining a second portion of the volume of tissue; and
irradiating the second portion of the volume with energy.
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Abstract
The present invention generally provides methods and devices that allow more efficient delivery of a stimulus, such as optical radiation, to the skin. In many embodiments, negative and/or positive pressure is applied to one or more skin regions in order to maintain a skin target under tension so as to redistribute blood volume between the skin target and other skin segments. In many cases, such tension can cause a depletion of the volumetric blood content in the skin target (that is, in the blood vessels beneath a surface of the skin target), thereby facilitating delivery of radiation to the skin target.
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Citations
84 Claims
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1. A method for treating a volume of tissue, comprising:
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applying a negative pressure to at least a portion of the volume of tissue;
mechanically restraining a second portion of the volume of tissue; and
irradiating the second portion of the volume with energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A photocosmetic method, comprising
placing an optically transmissive surface in proximity of a skin region, applying a negative pressure to the skin region in order to draw a portion thereof into contact with the optical surface so as to redistribute blood volume between the skin portion in contact with the optical surface and the remainder of the skin region, and applying radiation through the surface to the skin portion.
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47. A method of dermatological treatment, comprising
applying negative pressure to a plurality of surface skin segments within a skin region so as to redistribute blood within the region, applying radiation to the skin region, wherein the blood redistribution causes a non-uniform absorption of the radiation across the skin region.
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51. A dermatological treatment method, comprising
placing an optical surface in proximity of a skin region containing a skin target, the optical surface being at least partially surrounded by a negative pressure chamber, applying a negative pressure to the skin region so as to draw the skin target into contact with the optical surface causing redistribution of blood volume between the skin target and the remainder of the skin region, and applying radiation through the surface to the skin target.
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52. An dermatological device, comprising
an optical element adapted for contact at one end thereof with a skin target, a negative pressure chamber at least partially surrounding the end of the optical element, wherein the negative pressure chamber is adapted to apply a negative pressure to one or more locations of a skin region so as to draw the skin target into compressive contact with the end of the optical element and to cause a depletion of blood volume within the skin target.
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64. A dermatological device, comprising
an element configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation and further configured to be in contact with a skin target for applying electromagnetic radiation thereto, a channel extending from a proximal end adapted for coupling to a pressure source to a distal end defining a pressure chamber and configured to apply a pressure to a skin region containing at least one skin portion offset from the skin target, wherein at least a portion of the element is located within the pressure chamber.
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70. An adapter for use with a photocosmetic device, comprising
a pressure applicator assembly adapted to removeably and replaceably couple to a distal end of a waveguide of the device, the coupling comprising a seal between the assembly and the distal end, the assembly comprising, a negative pressure chamber at a distal end thereof adapted for coupling to a skin portion to apply a negative pressure thereto, and at least one channel extending from a proximal end adapted for coupling a source of negative pressure to the distal end having an opening to the chamber.
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73. A method of treating the skin, comprising
placing a surface of a radiation-transmissive element in contact with a skin target, applying a negative pressure to a periphery of the skin target so as to cause stretching thereof, and applying radiation through the surface to the skin in contact therewith.
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74. A dermatological device, comprising
an optical waveguide adapted for contact at one end thereof with a skin target, a skin pressure applicator coupled to the end of the waveguide, the applicator comprising a first channel adapted for coupling at a proximal end to a source of positive pressure and for applying at a distal end a positive pressure to a first skin region, a second channel adapted for coupling at a proximal end to a source of negative pressure and for applying at a distal end a negative pressure to a second skin region.
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78. A dermatological device, comprising
a housing providing an optical path extending from a proximal end thereof to a distal end for applying radiation to a skin region, a skin pressure applicator coupled to the distal end of the housing for applying pressure to the skin region, the pressure applicator comprising a pressure mask having a plurality of openings to allow application of pressure to a plurality of locations of the skin region so as to non-uniformly redistribute blood volume.
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84. A method for treating a volume of tissue, comprising:
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applying a negative pressure to at least a portion of the volume of tissue;
compressing a second portion of the volume of tissue; and
irradiating the second portion of the volume with electromagnetic radiation.
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Specification