APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVE TREATMENT OF TISSUE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method to destroy a target tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed, the method comprising:
- heating a target tissue and surrounding tissue to a temperature below what is required to destroy the target tissue and surrounding tissue, wherein the target tissue has a thermal relaxation time which is greater than a thermal relaxation time of the surrounding tissue;
allowing the target tissue and surrounding tissue to cool for a time interval, wherein the target tissue does not cool as much as the surrounding tissue cools; and
reheating the target tissue and surrounding tissue wherein the target tissue is destroyed and the surrounding tissue is not destroyed.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and devices to selectively treat a target tissue located in a region of skin. The region of skin undergoes a series of energy applications to selectively treat a target tissue. The region of skin may also be cooled to reduce damage to surrounding tissue.
99 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method to destroy a target tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed, the method comprising:
-
heating a target tissue and surrounding tissue to a temperature below what is required to destroy the target tissue and surrounding tissue, wherein the target tissue has a thermal relaxation time which is greater than a thermal relaxation time of the surrounding tissue; allowing the target tissue and surrounding tissue to cool for a time interval, wherein the target tissue does not cool as much as the surrounding tissue cools; and reheating the target tissue and surrounding tissue wherein the target tissue is destroyed and the surrounding tissue is not destroyed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system to destroy a target tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed, the system comprising:
-
a device for providing energy applications to a target tissue; a processing system coupled to the device and wherein the processing system is configured to regulate energy applications of the device depending on a thermal relaxation time of the target tissue; and a timer coupled to the processing system, the timer being used to allow the energy applications to be timed based on the thermal relaxation time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method to destroy a target tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed, the method comprising:
applying a plurality of energy applications to a target tissue and surrounding tissue, wherein between each energy application the target tissue and surrounding tissue are allowed to cool for a time interval such during the time interval more heat is retained by the target tissue than the surrounding tissue, and wherein the target tissue eventually retains enough heat to destroy the target tissue while concurrently the surrounding tissue does not retain enough heat to be destroyed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
25. A system to destroy a target tissue while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed, the system comprising:
-
a processing system including a microprocessor having software for applying a plurality of energy applications to a target tissue and surrounding tissue wherein between each energy application the target tissue and surrounding tissue are allowed to cool for a time interval such during the time interval more heat is retained by the target tissue than the surrounding tissue, and wherein the target tissue eventually retains enough heat to destroy the target tissue while concurrently the surrounding tissue does not retain enough heat to be destroyed; and a timer coupled to the processing system.
-
Specification