Energy application with cooling

• US 6,402,739 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beam Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beam Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Neev, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FARAH, AHMED M
• Application Number:
  US09/449,888
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 606/2, 606/3, 606/7-9, 606/10, 606/12, 606/20, 606/22-25, 606/27, 607/88, 607/89, 607/96, 607/100, 607/101, 128/898
• 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 2018/00017 with gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00041 Heating, e.g. defrosting
• 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 2218/008 for smoke evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips

Abstract

A method for applying energy to biological tissue. An electromagnetic energy source is directed to apply the energy to a region of the tissue, so as to ablate a portion of the tissue in the region. Preferably, cooling of tissue in the region is initiated subsequent to the ablation.

Claims

1. A method for applying energy to biological tissue, comprising:

directing an electromagnetic energy source to apply the energy to a region of the tissue to ablate a portion of the tissue; and

applying a cooled surface to the tissue by applying a cooled oscillating member to the tissue, the member being in contact with the tissue during one phase of its oscillation and not in contact with the tissue during another phase of its oscillation.

2. A method for applying energy to biological tissue, comprising:

directing an electromagnetic energy source to apply energy to a region of the tissue to ablate a portion of the tissue;

initiating cooling of the tissue in the region subsequent to ablation; and

warming cooled tissue by directing the energy source to apply additional energy to the cooled tissue by enlarging a beam diameter of the energy source from a first diameter, used for ablating tissue, to a second diameter, used for warming tissue.

3. Apparatus for applying energy to biological tissue, comprising:

an electromagnetic energy source for applying energy to a region of the tissue to ablate a portion of the tissue; and

a cooling unit having a cooled surface on an oscillating member in contact with the tissue during one phase of its oscillation and not in contact with the tissue during another phase of its oscillation.

4. Apparatus for applying energy to biological tissue, comprising:

an electromagnetic energy source for applying energy to a region of the tissue to ablate a portion of the tissue;

a cooling unit for cooling tissue in the region; and

a heating unit for heating tissue comprising a thermoelectric element through which current is driven in a first direction to heat the tissue and wherein the cooling unit drives current through the thermoelectric element in a second direction to cool the tissue.

5. Apparatus for applying energy to biological tissue, comprising:

an electromagnetic energy source to apply the energy to a region of the tissue to ablate a portion of the tissue;

a cooling unit to cool the tissue in the region subsequent to ablation; and

a heating unit to heat the tissue cooled by the cooling unit by actuating the energy source to apply additional energy by enlarging a beam diameter of the energy source from a first diameter used for ablating tissue to a second diameter used for heating tissue.