Photopatterning of skin

• US 20080039827A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Myhrvold, Nathan, Ferren, Bran, Jung, Edward, Wood, Lowell, Ishikawa, Muriel
• Application Number:
  US11/974,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/9
• 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 2018/20351 Scanning mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20361 with redirecting based on sensed condition, e.g. tissue analysis or tissue movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/205547 Controller with specific architecture or programmatic algorithm for directing scan path, spot size or shape, or spot intensity, fluence or irradiance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0436 Shielding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/049 against light, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/438 Thermochromatic; Photochromic; Phototropic
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/81 Preparation or application process involves irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/02 characterised by special physical form
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/02 Preparations containing skin colorants, e.g. pigments preparations in powder form A61Q1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/025 Semi-permanent tattoos, stencils, e.g. "permanent make-up"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating skin for aesthetic or health purposes are described. According to various embodiments, photoresponsive materials and light are delivered in a controlled fashion to produce a patterned distribution of a material in the skin.

Claims

1-44. -44. (canceled)

45. A system for delivering light to skin in a pattern, comprising:

a light source capable of producing light of at least one defined wavelength band;

memory capable of storing a pattern in machine-readable form representing a plurality of locations within a skin region to which light from said light source is to be directed;

a controllable positioning system configured to adjust the positioning of light from said light source on a skin region;

one or more optical components capable of focusing light from said light source at a specific depth within a skin region in response to a control signal; and

a controller configured to generate a control signal for driving said controllable positioning system to direct light onto a plurality of skin locations according to the pattern stored in said memory.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein said controller is configured to generate a control signal from driving said one or more optical components to adjust the focusing of light at different depths and at different skin locations according to said pattern.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein said controllable positioning system comprises one or more controllable deflectors configured to aim light from said light source, wherein the position of at least one of said one or more deflectors is controllable to aim light toward any of said plurality of skin locations.

48. The system of claim 45, wherein said controller includes one or more of hardware, software, and firmware.

49. The system of claim 45, wherein said controller includes a microprocessor.

50. The system of claim 45, further comprising an imaging device.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said imaging device is a CCD camera.

52-57. -57. (canceled)