Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling laser-induced tissue treatment
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlled tissue treatment comprising:
- a light emitter that emits at least one light beam;
a moveable handpiece adapted to deliver the at least one light beam to an area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones during movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue, wherein a tissue treatment depends upon one or more operational parameters of the at least one light beam, and the movement of the hand piece across the area of tissue is defined by a plurality of variable positional parameters such that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the tissue treatment;
a controller operably coupled to the handpiece for controlling the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter;
a detector configured to calculate the variations in at least one positional parameter;
wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust in real-time the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to cause at least one of a new non-zero treatment rate and a new treatment pattern;
wherein the one or more operational parameters for the light beam include a diameter at the tissue surface in a range less than about 500 micrometers, and a treatment density in a range between about 100 and about 2000 discrete treatment zones per square centimeter per handpiece pass over a given tissue area; and
further comprising a scanning mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust a scan parameter of the scanning mechanism to compensate for a change in the at least one positional parameter.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling light-induced tissue treatment. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the invention provides for improved, real-time control of the light beam operational parameters which enables greater safety, efficiency, uniformity and continuity of the treatment process.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlled tissue treatment comprising:
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a light emitter that emits at least one light beam; a moveable handpiece adapted to deliver the at least one light beam to an area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones during movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue, wherein a tissue treatment depends upon one or more operational parameters of the at least one light beam, and the movement of the hand piece across the area of tissue is defined by a plurality of variable positional parameters such that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the tissue treatment; a controller operably coupled to the handpiece for controlling the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter; a detector configured to calculate the variations in at least one positional parameter; wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust in real-time the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to cause at least one of a new non-zero treatment rate and a new treatment pattern; wherein the one or more operational parameters for the light beam include a diameter at the tissue surface in a range less than about 500 micrometers, and a treatment density in a range between about 100 and about 2000 discrete treatment zones per square centimeter per handpiece pass over a given tissue area; and further comprising a scanning mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust a scan parameter of the scanning mechanism to compensate for a change in the at least one positional parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for delivering a pre-selected dermatological tissue treatment comprising the steps of:
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applying a contrast-enhancing substance to an area of tissue to be treated, wherein the tissue comprises human skin; emitting at least one light beam from a handpiece towards the area of tissue to be treated, the light beam having at least one operational parameter affecting a dosage of a pre-selected tissue treatment; moving the handpiece across the area of tissue, wherein, during the moving, the handpiece receives the at least one light beam and delivers the at least one light beam to the area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones;
the movement of the handpiece is defined by at least one variable positional parameter; and
that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the dosage of the tissue treatment;measuring in real-time a variation in at least one positional parameter, wherein the measuring includes detecting the contrast-enhancing substance; and controllably adjusting in real-time the at least one operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to adjust a treatment rate in order to continue a pre-selected tissue treatment. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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19. A method for delivering a pre-selected tissue treatment comprising the steps of:
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applying a contrast-enhancing substance to an area of tissue to be treated; emitting at least one light beam from a handpiece towards the tissue to be treated, the light beam having at least one operational parameter affecting a dosage of a pre-selected tissue treatment; moving the handpiece across the area of tissue, wherein, during the moving, the handpiece receives the at least one light beam and delivers the at least one light beam to the area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones, the movement of the handpiece is defined by at least one variable positional parameter and that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the dosage of the tissue treatment; measuring in real-time a variation in at least one positional parameter, wherein the measuring includes detecting the contrast-enhancing substance; and controllably adjusting in real-time the at least one operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to adjust a treatment rate in order to continue a pre-selected tissue treatment, wherein the contrast-enhancing substance is applied to a target tissue treatment area, and the at least one operational parameters are controllably adjusted to cause the at least one light beam to be directed only to the target tissue treatment area.
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24. An apparatus for controlled tissue treatment comprising:
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a light emitter that emits at least one light beam; a moveable handpiece adapted to deliver the at least one light beam to an area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones during movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue, wherein a tissue treatment depends upon one or more operational parameters of the at least one light beam, and the movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue is defined by a plurality of variable positional parameters such that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the tissue treatment; a controller operably coupled to the handpiece for controlling the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter; a detector configured to calculate the variations in at least one positional parameter; wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust in real-time the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to cause at least one of a new non-zero treatment rate and a new treatment pattern; wherein the one or more operational parameters for the light beam include a diameter at the tissue surface in a range less than about 500 micrometers, and a treatment density in a range between about 100 and about 2000 discrete treatment zones per square centimeter per handpiece pass over a given tissue area; and wherein the detector is configured to detect a presence of a contrast-enhancing agent that is applied to the area of tissue to be treated. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification