Contact detecting method and apparatus for an optical radiation handpiece
First Claim
1. In a system for utilizing optical radiation applied through a handpiece in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin to perform a dermatological treatment on the patient,apparatus for assuring good contact between the handpiece and the patient'"'"'s skin when said radiation is applied, said apparatus including:
- a detector for picking up at least selected light at a skin-contacting surface of said handpiece; and
a control which enables application of said radiation only when light detected by said detector is within a selected range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided in a system for utilizing optical radiation which is applied to a handpiece in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin to perform a dermatological treatment on the patient to protect the patient by assuring that radiation is applied only when there is good contact between the handpiece and the patient'"'"'s skin. Good contact is detected by detecting light at a skin contacting surface of the handpiece and enabling the application of radiation only if the detected light is within a selected range. The apparatus assures that the source is not normally enabled and is enabled only when it is safe to apply radiation, and in particular when there is good contact between the handpiece and the patient'"'"'s skin.
283 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a system for utilizing optical radiation applied through a handpiece in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin to perform a dermatological treatment on the patient,
apparatus for assuring good contact between the handpiece and the patient'"'"'s skin when said radiation is applied, said apparatus including: -
a detector for picking up at least selected light at a skin-contacting surface of said handpiece; and
a control which enables application of said radiation only when light detected by said detector is within a selected range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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- 12. In a system for utilizing optical radiation applied through a handpiece in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin to perform a dermatological treatment on the patient, a method for assuring good contact between the handpiece and the patient'"'"'s skin before said radiation is applied, said method including enabling application of said radiation only when selected light intensity detected in said handpiece is within a selected range.
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17. In a system for utilizing optical radiation from a source applied through a handpiece in contact with a patient'"'"'s skin to perform a dermatological treatment on the patient, apparatus for protecting the patient including:
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a mechanism utilizing at least selected light in said handpiece for assuring that radiation from said source is not normally applied through said handpiece;
a mechanism for detecting good contact between the handpiece and the patient'"'"'s skin; and
a mechanism operative in response to said detecting mechanism for enabling application of radiation from said source through said handpiece.
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Specification