Phototreatment device for use with coolants

• US 7,942,915 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Palomar Medical Technologies Incorporated (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gaal, Christopher, Altshuler, Gregory B., Yaroslavsky, Ilya, Burke, James III, Lopez, Robert R., Zenzie, Henry, Erofeev, Andrei V.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/598,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20070067006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 250/458.1, 250/464.1, 250/464.2, 606/9, 606/13, 607 88- 91
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• 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 2018/00011 with fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00904 Automatic detection of target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0057 Photodynamic therapy with a photosensitizer, i.e. agent able to produce reactive oxygen species upon exposure to light or radiation, e.g. UV or visible light; photocleavage of nucleic acids with an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for phototreatment in which replaceable containers comprising one or more adjuvant (consumable or re-useable) substances are employed. The adjuvant substance can be, for example, a topical substance or a coolant. Systems are disclosed for using a topical substance to detect contact of a phototreatment device with a tissue, detect speed of a phototreatment device over the tissue, detect regions of tissue that have been treated by a phototreatment device and/or to provide other benefits to the tissue such as improved skin tone and texture, tanning, etc. Safety systems are also disclosed that ensure that a proper consumable substance and/or container is connected to a phototreatment device and/or directed to a proper target. Additionally, cooling systems and methods that utilize phase change materials for extracting heat from a light generating device are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a topical substance for application to a region of a tissue, the topical substance has at least one parameter, wherein detection of a value of the parameter associated with the topical substance enables operation of a phototreatment device,

wherein operation of the phototreatment device is disabled until said value of the parameter is detected.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the topical substance comprises an eye irritant.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein operation of the phototreatment device is disabled when the value of the parameter is not detected.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection of said value of the parameter activates a radiation source of the phototreatment device so as to enable operation of the device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein detection of said value of the parameter indicates whether the topical substance is on tissue.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said topical substance can be detected using optical, magnetic, electrical, or acoustic detection techniques.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said topical substance is characterized by an optical absorption spectrum substantially different from that of the skin.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said topical substance has an absorption spectrum outside a working spectrum of the phototreatment device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the topical substance comprises a lotion.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the topical substance comprises a gel.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the topical substance comprises a cream.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the topical substance comprises at least one of water, alcohols, oils, powders, aerosols, granular particles, waxes, and films.

3. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a marker for application to a region of a tissue, wherein detection of the marker enables operation of a function of a phototreatment device when detected by the device,

wherein the function of the phototreatment device is disabled when the marker is not detected.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the function of the phototreatment device is disabled until the marker is detected.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the marker is one of an absorptive marker, a fluorescent marker, an electric marker, an acoustic marker and a magnetic marker.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the marker comprises at least one of Food Blue, Toluidine Blue, Brilliant Green, Indigo Carmine, Fast Green, Erioglaucine, Methylene Blue, and Indocyanine Green;

carbon particles;

china ink;

Cu ions, Fe ions, Au ions, Ag ions, and Zn ions, Eosin Y;

D&

C Orange Nos. 5, 10, and 11;

D&

C Red Nos. 21, 22, 27, and 28;

Zinc sulfide, ALOE-STAT®

CONDUCTIVE SKIN LOTION, LECTRON 2 CONDUCTIVITY GEL, ELECTRO-MIST ELECTROLYTE SPRAY, 3M CONDUCTIVE ELECTRODE GEL, FeO, CrO2, and magnetite.

18. The system of claim 3, wherein the marker is within a topical substance.

7. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a marker for application to a region of a tissue, wherein detection of the marker enables operation of a function of a phototreatment device when detected by the device,

wherein the marker comprises an eye irritant.

19. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a marker for application to a region of a tissue, wherein detection of the marker enables operation of a function of a phototreatment device when detected by the device,

wherein the marker is within a topical substance and the topical substance comprises a lotion.

20. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a marker for application to a region of a tissue, wherein detection of the marker enables operation of a function of a phototreatment device when detected by the device,

wherein the marker is within a topical substance and the topical substance comprises a gel.

21. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a marker for application to a region of a tissue, wherein detection of the marker enables operation of a function of a phototreatment device when detected by the device,

wherein the marker is within a topical substance and the topical substance comprises a cream.

22. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a marker for application to a region of a tissue, wherein detection of the marker enables operation of a function of a phototreatment device when detected by the device,

wherein the marker is within a topical substance and the topical substance comprises at least one of water, alcohols, oils, powders, aerosols, granular particles, waxes, and films.

23. A system for operating a phototreatment device, the system comprising:

a marker for application to a region of a tissue, wherein detection of the marker enables operation of a function of a phototreatment device when detected by the device,

wherein the marker is within a topical substance and the topical substance comprises an eye irritant.