Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling thermally induced tissue treatment
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlled fractional tissue treatment, the apparatus comprising:
- an electromagnetic source that generates electromagnetic energy for creating a fractional treatment;
a manually movable handpiece that delivers the electromagnetic energy to a target region of human skin;
a dosage evaluation sensor that measures a skin response to the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy at the target region of human skin; and
a controller operably connected to the dosage evaluation sensor, the controller configured to automatically adjust in real-time at least one operational parameter of the apparatus in response to the measurements of the dosage evaluation sensor and while delivering the electromagnetic energy to the target region of human skin, and said automatic adjustment controlling the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for thermal treatment of tissue by irradiating the skin with electromagnetic energy is disclosed. Sources of electromagnetic energy include radio frequency (RF) generators, lasers, and flashlamps. The apparatus includes either a positional sensor or a dosage evaluation sensor, or both types of sensors. These sensors provide feedback to a controller. The controller may control the electromagnetic source parameters, the electromagnetic source activation, and/or the sensor measurement parameters. An additional scanning delivery unit may be operably coupled to the controller or to the sensors to provide a controlled distribution of electromagnetic energy to the target region of the skin. The use of positional measurement sensors and dosage evaluation sensors permits the controller to automatically determine the proper electromagnetic source parameters including, for example, pulse timing and pulse frequency.
164 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlled fractional tissue treatment, the apparatus comprising:
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an electromagnetic source that generates electromagnetic energy for creating a fractional treatment; a manually movable handpiece that delivers the electromagnetic energy to a target region of human skin; a dosage evaluation sensor that measures a skin response to the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy at the target region of human skin; and a controller operably connected to the dosage evaluation sensor, the controller configured to automatically adjust in real-time at least one operational parameter of the apparatus in response to the measurements of the dosage evaluation sensor and while delivering the electromagnetic energy to the target region of human skin, and said automatic adjustment controlling the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlled fractional tissue treatment, the method comprising:
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directing electromagnetic energy via a handpiece toward a target region of human skin for creating a fractional treatment; manually moving the handpiece across the target region; while directing electromagnetic energy toward the target region of human skin, sensing a skin response to the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy at the target region of human skin; and automatically adjusting in real-time at least one operational parameter of the electromagnetic energy in response to the sensed skin response, said automatic adjustment controlling the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy.
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20. An apparatus for controlled fractional tissue treatment, the apparatus comprising:
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source means for generating electromagnetic energy skin so as to create a fractional treatment; manually movable handpiece means for delivering the electromagnetic energy to a target region of human; sensor means for measuring a skin response to the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy at the target region of human skin while the handpiece is manually moved relative to the target region and the electromagnetic energy is delivered to the target region of human skin; and control means operably connected to the sensor means, said control means for automatically adjusting in real-time at least one operational parameter of the apparatus in response to the measurements of the sensor means and while delivering the electromagnetic energy to the target region of human skin, said automatic adjustment controlling the fractional treatment created by the electromagnetic energy.
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Specification