Method and apparatus for laser-assisted hair transplantation
First Claim
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1. A laser treatment method for the preparation of plural recipient sites for implanting hair-bearing tissue on skin of a human, said method comprising the successive steps ofirradiating a selected treatment site of alopecic scalp tissue with erbium pulsed coherent light having a wavelength substantially in the range of 2.5-3.5 μ
- m, said light having an energy fluence substantially in a range of 1-200 J/cm2, a pulsewidth substantially in a range of 100-2000 microseconds, at a non-orthogonal angle incident to said treatment site and a spot area incident on said treatment site substantially in a range of 10-3 to 10-1 cm2,controlling exposure duration at said treatment site to produce a controlled ablation depth of 1-5 mm at said treatment site,directing said light, with a distance gauge for non-orthogonal administration of energy, to produce a plurality of recipient sites in said alopecic scalp tissue, whereby slit-shaped recipient sites are produced which are suitable for receiving transplanted grafts, wherein each of said slit-shaped sites is angled in a direction corresponding to a local prevalent direction of hair growth, andfurther directing said light to produce said recipient sites in an irregular grid pattern wherein said slits have adjacent positions which are linearly offset.
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Abstract
A laser treatment method and apparatus is provided which facilitates the grafting of hairs on the skin of a living human. The methodology involves a carefully designed treatment protocol utilizing a modified optical apparatus. The apparatus is a modified erbium-based laser system, designed for optimal therapeutic selectivity.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A laser treatment method for the preparation of plural recipient sites for implanting hair-bearing tissue on skin of a human, said method comprising the successive steps of
irradiating a selected treatment site of alopecic scalp tissue with erbium pulsed coherent light having a wavelength substantially in the range of 2.5-3.5 μ - m, said light having an energy fluence substantially in a range of 1-200 J/cm2, a pulsewidth substantially in a range of 100-2000 microseconds, at a non-orthogonal angle incident to said treatment site and a spot area incident on said treatment site substantially in a range of 10-3 to 10-1 cm2,
controlling exposure duration at said treatment site to produce a controlled ablation depth of 1-5 mm at said treatment site, directing said light, with a distance gauge for non-orthogonal administration of energy, to produce a plurality of recipient sites in said alopecic scalp tissue, whereby slit-shaped recipient sites are produced which are suitable for receiving transplanted grafts, wherein each of said slit-shaped sites is angled in a direction corresponding to a local prevalent direction of hair growth, and further directing said light to produce said recipient sites in an irregular grid pattern wherein said slits have adjacent positions which are linearly offset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- m, said light having an energy fluence substantially in a range of 1-200 J/cm2, a pulsewidth substantially in a range of 100-2000 microseconds, at a non-orthogonal angle incident to said treatment site and a spot area incident on said treatment site substantially in a range of 10-3 to 10-1 cm2,
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5. A laser treatment method for ablation of human skin, said method comprising the successive steps of
irradiating a selected treatment site of alopecic scalp tissue with erbium pulsed coherent light having a wavelength substantially in the range of 2.5-3.5 μ - m, said light having an energy fluence substantially in a range of 1-200 J/cm2, a pulsewidth substantially in a range of 100-2000 microseconds, with a distance gauge for administration of energy at a non-orthogonal angle incident to said treatment site and a spot area incident on said treatment site substantially in a range of 10-3 to 10-1 cm2, and
irrigating said treatment site with a cooling fluid concurrently with said irradiating step. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
- m, said light having an energy fluence substantially in a range of 1-200 J/cm2, a pulsewidth substantially in a range of 100-2000 microseconds, with a distance gauge for administration of energy at a non-orthogonal angle incident to said treatment site and a spot area incident on said treatment site substantially in a range of 10-3 to 10-1 cm2, and
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9. A therapeutic treatment device for ablation of skin tissue comprising
a laser head having a controllable laser and a cooling unit for providing a cooling fluid at a dermal treatment site of irradiation by said laser an articulated delivery system connected to said laser head terminated in a handpiece containing a focusing optics element and a distance gauge, wherein said distance gauge includes a positioning element for aligning said handpiece for non-orthogonal administration of energy to said dermal treatment site.
Specification