Method and Apparatus for Inhibiting Pain Signals During Vacuum-Assisted Medical Treatments of the Skin
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus adapted to inhibit pain signals generated by pain receptors in the skin during a skin related medical treatment such as an injection. An evacuation chamber is provided with an essentially rigid interface element through which a medical treatment can be administered to a selected skin region, one or more walls which are placeable on, or in the vicinity of, the skin region, an interior defined by the walls and by the interface element, and an opening at the bottom of the interior which is sealable by the skin region. A device generates a vacuum within the evacuation chamber interior to a level suitable for drawing the skin region through the opening towards, and in a compressing relation against, the interface element, to inhibit the transmission of a pain signal generated by pain receptors located within the skin region.
128 Citations
138 Claims
-
1-131. -131. (canceled)
-
132. An apparatus (20, 30, 90, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 219, 250, 700, 775, 1970) which is adapted to inhibit pain signals generated by pain receptors in the skin during a skin related medical treatment from being transmitted to the brain by inducing a controlled compression of a skin region, comprising:
-
a) an evacuation chamber (19, 12, 115) comprising an essentially rigid interface element (22, 32) through which a medical treatment can be administered to a selected skin region (26) one or more walls which are placeable on, or in the vicinity of, said skin region, an interior defined by at least said one or more walls and by said interface element, and an opening at the bottom of said interior which is sealable by said skin region; b) means for generating a vacuum (28, 112) within said evacuation chamber interior, the level of the generated vacuum being suitable for drawing said skin region through said opening towards said interface element; and c) means (25, 31, 184, 783, 1908) for administering a painful skin related medical treatment, said administering means adapted to pass through said interface element and to be directed to said drawn skin region, characterized in that the surface area of said interface element is greater than a threshold surface area and in that the vacuum level within the evacuation chamber is greater than a threshold vacuum level of at least approximately 400 mmHg which is suitable for drawing said skin region in a compressing relation against said interface element, said threshold vacuum level and said threshold surface area in combination being suitable for inhibiting the transmission of a pain signal generated by pain receptors located within said compressed skin region during said medical treatment.
-
-
133. A method for inhibiting pain signals generated by pain receptors in the skin during a skin related medical treatment, comprising the steps of:
-
a) positioning a rigid interface element above a selected skin region; b) applying a vacuum of a sufficient value over said skin region such that the latter is flattened and compressed against said interface element; and c) administering a skin related medical treatment by means adapted to pass through said interface element and to be directed to said compressed skin target, whereby pain signals generated by the nervous system during said medical treatment are inhibited due to the contact of said skin region onto said interface element.
-
-
134. 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.
-
-
135. 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 or decrease in the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of said skin target, and 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.
-
-
136. Use of a peristaltic pump to generate a vacuum in a vacuum chamber placed on a gel coated skin area.
-
137. 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.
-
-
138. 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.
-
Specification