Apparatus and method including a handpiece for synchronizing the pulsing of a light source

• US 6,171,302 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lumenis Limited (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Laser Industries Ltd. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Abraham, Martin, Rozenberg, Ytzhak, Talpalriu, Gerard, Zobel, Izhak, Hay, Nissim
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/040,721
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 606/2, 606/9, 606/13, 606/16, 606/17, 607/89, 607/100, 337/32, 337/34, 337/06, 73/17.9, 73/18.1
• US Class Current: 606/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0047 Upper parts of the skin, e.g. skin peeling or treatment of wrinkles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue

Abstract

The present application discloses an apparatus and a method for synchronizing the activation of a light source with the position of a hand piece on a surface and for providing a substantially homogenous exposure of a surface to light irradiation. The apparatus includes a light source, a handpiece for delivering light pulses to the irradiated surface, and a beam delivery system for delivering light from the light source to the handpiece. The handpiece, which is moved along the surface by an operator, includes a sensor for sensing the distance traversed by the handpiece on the surface. The sensor sends signals to a signal processing unit which calculates the distance traversed by the handpiece on the surface and controls the activation of the light source either by automatically activating the light source or by providing the operator with a signal indicating that the light source should be pulsed. The handpiece can also include a device for cooling the irradiated surface and for marking the irradiated part of the surface with a visible marker. The handpiece may be constructed to be movable along a surface in a predetermined orientation relative to the handpiece. Alternatively, the handpiece may be freely movable along the surface in any desired orientation. The light source can be a pulsed laser, a continuous wave laser or a non-coherent light source.

Claims

1. A system for providing a substantially homogenous exposure of a surface to light, the system comprising:

a light delivery handpiece having two ends;

a light source connected to a first end of said light delivery handpiece;

a sensor assembly attached to a second end of said light delivery handpiece for sensing the distance moved by said second end along said surface; and

a signal processing unit connected to said sensor assembly and said light source for decoding the output of said sensor assembly and for activating said light source when said second end moves a predetermined distance along said surface.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined distance is determined by the size and energy distribution profile of the spot of light produced by said light source on said surface.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said signal processing unit also provides a stop signal to an operator when said second end has moved a predetermined distance measured on said surface.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein said signal processing unit activates said light source when said second end has moved said predetermined distance along said surface, only when manually activated by said operator, and wherein said stop signal is selected from the group consisting of an audible signal, a visible signal and a combination thereof.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said surface is the surface of tissue.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said light source is a pulsed laser.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said light source is a continuous wave laser.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said pulsed light source is an incoherent light source.

9. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a marking device for marking said surface with a visible marker indicating the part of said surface which has been exposed to light.

10. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a device for cooling said surface.

11. A system according to claim 1 and also comprising a beam delivery system connecting said first end of said light delivery handpiece to said light source.

12. A system according to claim 1 wherein said beam delivery system is selected from an articulated arm, an optical fiber, an optical fiber bundle and a hollow waveguide.

13. A handpiece comprising:

a hollow member having a first end and a second end; and

a sensor assembly attached to said first end of said hollow member for sensing the movement of said handpiece along a surface and for providing signals representing said sensed movement,

wherein said sensor assembly is activated by a rotatable member, rotatable by moving said handpiece along said surface and

wherein said second end of said hollow member is connectable to a light source.

14. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said hollow member also comprises at least one optical element for directing light from said light source to said surface.

15. A handpiece according to claim 14 wherein said at least one optical element is selected from an optical fiber, an optical fiber bundle, a hollow waveguide, a lens and any combination thereof.

16. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said rotatable member is rotatably attached to said first end of said hollow member, said rotatable member being made of a material which is substantially transparent to light emitted from said light source, said rotatable member being positioned at said first end such that the light emitted from said light source passes through said rotatable member prior to striking said surface.

17. A handpiece according to claim 16 wherein said transparent rotatable member is hollow, enabling a cooling fluid to be circulated therewithin for cooling said surface while said rotatable member is being in contact therewith.

18. A handpiece according to claim 13 and also comprising a marking device for marking said surface while said handpiece is being moved therealong.

19. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said second end of said hollow member is connectable to said light source through a scanner.

20. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said handpiece is stertilizable.

21. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said rotatable member is disposable.

22. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said rotatable member is sterilizable.

23. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said rotatable member is a spherical rotatable member, said spherical rotatable member being rotatable in any selected direction along said surface, whereby said handpiece is movable in said selected direction along said surface and said sensor provides signals representing said sensed movement in said selected direction.

24. A handpiece according to claim 23 wherein said handpiece can be oriented in any selected orientation relative to the direction of its movement along said surface while the longitudinal axis of said handpiece is being held substantially perpendicular to said surface.

25. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said surface is the surface of tissue.

26. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said light source is a pulsed laser.

27. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said light source is a continuous wave laser.

28. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said pulsed light source is an incoherent light source.

29. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein said hollow member further comprises a visible mark for indicating the orientation required for moving said handpiece along said surface.

30. A handpiece according to claim 13 wherein the said hollow member is shaped to have a distinctly visible polarity for indicating the orientation required for moving said handpiece along said surface.

31. A handpiece comprising:

a hollow member having a first end and a second end; and

a sensor assembly attached to said first end of said hollow member for sensing the movement of said handpiece along a surface and for providing signals representing said movement;

a marking device for marking said surface while said handpiece is being moved therealong, and

wherein said second end of said hollow member is connectable to a light source.

32. A handpiece comprising:

a hollow member having a first end and a second end; and

a sensor assembly attached to said first end of said hollow member for sensing the movement of said handpiece along a surface and for providing signals representing said sensed movement,

wherein said second end of said hollow member is connectable to a light source through a scanner.

33. A handpiece comprising;

a hollow member having a first end and a second end; and

a sensor assembly attached to said first end of said hollow member for sensing the movement of said handpiece along a surface and for providing signals representing said sensed movement,

wherein said handpiece is sterilizable; and

wherein said second end of said hollow member is connectable to a light source.

34. A handpiece comprising:

a hollow member having a first end and a second end;

a sensor assembly attached to said first end of said hollow member for sensing the movement of said handpiece along a surface and for providing signals representing said sensed movement; and

a visible mark for indicating the orientation required for moving said handpiece along said surface,

wherein said visible mark is attached to said sensor assembly; and

wherein said second end of said hollow member is connectable to a light source.

35. A handpiece comprising:

a hollow member having a first end and a second end; and

a sensor assembly attached to said first end of said hollow member for sensing the movement of said handpiece along a surface and for providing signals representing said sensed movement,

wherein said hollow member is shaped to have a distinctly visible polarity for indicating the orientation required for moving said handpiece along said surface; and

wherein said second end of said hollow member is connectable to a light source.