Method and Apparatus for Skin Tightening with Femtosecond Laser Irradiation

• US 20180111001A1
• Filed: 10/16/2017
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LaserStim, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LaserStim, Inc.
• Inventors: Segel, Kim Robin, Adelglass, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US15/785,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20180111001A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00769 Tattoo removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00464 Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/202 Laser enclosed in a hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2065 Multiwave; Wavelength mixing, e.g. using four or more wavelengths pilot laser A61B2018/2025
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for stimulating skin tightening using a femtosecond diode laser irradiation system. The system comprises a femtosecond diode laser capable of generating laser light that has a wavelength of 300 nm-12,000 nm, a power level of 500 mw-1000 mw, and a pulse duration of less than 1 picosecond. A light-emitting device is coupled to the diode laser by means of flexible waveguide and is held over the skin. The device may be a handheld wand or an area pad comprising a plurality of light-emitting lenses on a surface of the pad. Laser setting controls are set to achieve a depth of photon absorption into the skin to reach the dermis and subcutaneous layer to stimulate fibroblasts to increase production of collagen and elastin fibers.

Claims

1. A method for stimulating skin tightening using a diode laser irradiation system, the method comprising:

selecting an area of skin;

placing a light-emitting device over the area of skin, wherein the light emitting device is coupled to a femtosecond diode laser and emits coherent light generated by the diode laser;

irradiating the area of skin with laser light from the femtosecond diode laser that has a wavelength of 300 nm-12,000 nm, a power level of 500 mw-1000 mw, and a pulse duration of less than 1 picosecond; and

operating the femtosecond diode laser, using laser setting controls of the system, to achieve a depth of photon absorption into the skin to reach the dermis and subcutaneous layer to stimulate fibroblasts to increase production of collagen and elastin fibers.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the laser light has a wavelength of 1000 nm-1150 nm.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the laser light has a wavelength of 1780 nm-10,000 nm.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is a handheld manipulable wand.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is an area pad comprising an internal waveguide coupled to a plurality of light-emitting lenses on a surface of the pad.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the area pad comprises a plurality of pads detachably coupled together.

7. A diode laser irradiation system for stimulating skin tightening, the system comprising:

a femtosecond diode laser capable of generating laser light that has a wavelength of 300 nm-12,000 nm, a power level of 500 mw-1000 mw, and a pulse duration of less than 1 picosecond;

a light-emitting device configured to be positioned over an area of skin, wherein the light-emitting device is coupled to the diode laser by a flexible waveguide and emits coherent light generated by the diode laser; and

laser setting controls for operating the diode laser to achieve a depth of photon absorption into the skin to reach the dermis and subcutaneous layer to stimulate fibroblasts to increase production of collagen and elastin fibers.

8. The diode laser irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the laser light has a wavelength of 1000 nm-1150 nm.

9. The diode laser irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the laser light has a wavelength of 1780 nm-10,000 nm.

10. The diode laser irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the light-emitting device is a handheld manipulable wand.

11. The diode laser irradiation system according to claim 7, wherein the light-emitting device is an area pad comprising an internal waveguide coupled to a plurality of light-emitting lenses on a surface of the pad.

12. The diode laser irradiation system according to claim 11, wherein the area pad comprises a plurality of pads detachably coupled together.