Devices and Methods for Radiation-Based Dermatological Treatments

• US 20120283710A1
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Channel Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: TRIA Beauty Incorporated (Channel Investments, LLC)
• Inventors: Liu, Harvey I-Heng, Beale, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,414,888 B2
• 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 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00769 Tattoo removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00458 Deeper parts of the skin, e.g. treatment of vascular disorders or port wine stains
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0047 Upper parts of the skin, e.g. skin peeling or treatment of wrinkles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00648 using more than one sensed parameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00732 Frequency
• 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 2018/20554 Arrangements for particular intensity distribution, e.g. tophat
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/049 against light, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

A hand-held device for providing laser-based dermatological treatments includes a laser beam source supported in a device body, an automated scanning system, and control electronics. The automated scanning system is configured to receive an input beam generated by the laser beam source and scan the input beam to provide a series of output beams for delivery to the skin via an application end of the device to form a pattern of treatment spots on the skin. The application end is configured for movement across the skin during a treatment session. The control electronics control the laser beam source and/or the automated scanning system to deliver the scanned output beams to the skin at a radiation intensity sufficient to provide an effective dermatological treatment, and wherein the scanned output beams delivered from the application end of the device meet the Class 1M or better eye safety classification per the IEC 60825-1.

Claims

1. A self-contained, hand-held device for providing laser-based dermatological treatments, the device comprising:

a device body configured to be handheld by a user;

a laser beam source supported in the device body;

an automated scanning system configured to receive an input beam generated by the laser beam source and scan the received input beam to provide a series of automatically scanned output beams for delivery to the skin to form a pattern of treatment spots on the skin;

an application end arranged for delivery of the automatically scanned output beams to the skin, and configured to be manually moved across the skin during a treatment session; and

electronics configured to control at least one of the laser beam source and the automated scanning system to deliver the automatically scanned output beams to the skin at a delivered radiation intensity at the skin sufficient to provide an effective dermatological treatment;

wherein the automatically scanned output beams delivered from the application end of the device meet the Class 1M or better eye safety classification per the IEC 60825-1.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the automated scanning system includes a rotating multi-sector scanning element includes a plurality of scanning sectors configured to receive the input beam and provide a sequential array of automatically scanned output beams, each output beam corresponding to one of the scanning sectors;

wherein the array of output beams provided by the rotating scanning element are angularly offset from each other.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the automated scanning system includes a rotating multi-sector scanning element includes a plurality of scanning sectors configured to receive the input beam and provide a sequential array of automatically scanned output beams, each output beam corresponding to one of the scanning sectors;

wherein the array of output beams provided by the rotating scanning element are translationally offset from each other.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the delivered radiation intensity at a treatment location on the skin is at least 1 J/cm2.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the delivered radiation intensity at a treatment location on the skin is at least 5 J/cm2.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the delivered radiation intensity at a treatment location on the skin is at least 10 J/cm2.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at the skin surface each output beam is divergent in at least one direction.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein at the skin surface each output beam is divergent by an angle of at least 50 mrad in at least one direction.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein at the skin surface each output beam is divergent by an angle of at least 75 mrad in at least one direction.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising an optic downstream of the automated scanning system, the optic providing a divergence of the beam at the skin surface by an angle of at least 50 mrad in at least one direction.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an optic downstream of the automated scanning system, the optic providing a divergence of the beam at the skin surface by an angle of at least 75 mrad in at least one direction.

12. The device of claim 1, comprising no optics downstream of the automated scanning system.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the automatically scanned output beams form a pattern of treatment spots that are spaced apart from each on the skin, to provide a fractional treatment.

14. A self-contained, hand-held device for providing laser-based dermatological treatments, the device comprising:

a device body configured to be handheld by a user;

a laser beam source supported in the device body;

an automated scanning system configured to receive an input beam generated by the laser beam source and scan the received input beam to provide a series of automatically scanned output beams for delivery to the skin to form a pattern of treatment spots on the skin;

an application end arranged for delivery of the automatically scanned output beams to the skin, and configured to be manually moved across the skin during a treatment session; and

electronics configured to control at least one of the laser beam source and the automated scanning system to deliver the automatically scanned output beams to the skin at a delivered radiation intensity at the skin sufficient to provide an effective dermatological treatment;

wherein the automatically scanned output beams delivered from the application end of the device meets the Class 1M or better eye safety classification per the IEC 60825-1, or exceeds the relevant Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) or Accessible Emission Limit (AEL) as defined in IEC 60825-1 by less than 100%.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the automatically scanned output beams delivered from the application end of the device exceeds the relevant Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) or Accessible Emission Limit (AEL) as defined in IEC 60825-1 by less than 50%.

16. The device of claim 14, comprising no optics downstream of the automated scanning system.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the delivered radiation intensity at a treatment location on the skin is at least 1 J/cm2.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the delivered radiation intensity at a treatment location on the skin is at least 5 J/cm2.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the delivered radiation intensity at a treatment location on the skin is at least 10 J/cm2.

20. A device for providing a dermatological treatment, the device comprising:

a device body;

a radiation source configured to generate radiation for delivery to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment;

an eye sensor configured to detect a cornea, comprising;

an eye sensor light source configured to emit light toward a target surface;

an eye sensor detector configured to detect reflected light from the target surface and generate reflectance signals; and

electronics configured to identify a possible cornea presence based on the reflectance signals from the detector;

wherein the eye sensor light source is arranged to provide light to the target surface at a non-normal angle of incidence with respect to the target surface; and

electronics configured to control at least one operational parameter of the device in response to the identification of a possible cornea presence.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the eye sensor light source is arranged to provide light to the target surface at an angle of incidence of between 5 and 40 degrees with respect to the target surface.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the electronics configured to identify a possible cornea presence based on signals from the detector comprise electronics configured to:

compare an amplitude of the reflectance signals from the detector with a threshold amplitude; and

identify a possible cornea presence if the amplitude of the reflectance signals is below the threshold amplitude.