Phototreatment device for use with coolants and topical substances

• US 7,942,916 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• 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: Yaroslavsky, Ilya, Burke, James III, Lopez, Robert R., Zenzie, Henry, Erofeev, Andrei V., Gaal, Christopher, Altshuler, Gregory B.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US11/607,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/4, 606/5, 606 9- 26, 607 88- 90
• 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 method of operating a phototreatment device comprising:

applying a marker to a region of tissue;

detecting the marker; and

enabling a function of the phototreatment device when the marker is detected; and

disabling said function when said marker is not detected.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling said function until said marker is detected.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the marker is one of an absorptive marker, a fluorescent marker, an electric marker, and a magnetic marker.

4. The method of claim 1, 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.

5. A container for use with a photocosmetic device, comprising:

at least one compartment defining an interior cavity and configured to contain a substance for use with the photocosmetic device;

an opening in fluid communication with the interior cavity of said compartment and configured to be coupled to a phototreatment device; and

a detection mechanism configured to be coupled to a corresponding detection mechanism of the photocosmetic device.

6. The container of claim 5, wherein the compartment is fluidly coupled to a head of a phototreatment device.

7. The container of claim 5, wherein the compartment is fluidly coupled to a heat dissipating element in a phototreatment device.

8. The container of claim 5, wherein the compartment is in fluid communication with a tissue.

9. The container of claim 5, wherein the detection mechanism is one of a mechanical mechanism, an optical mechanism, a magnetic mechanism, an electronic mechanism, and a piezoelectronic mechanism.

10. The container of claim 5, wherein the detection mechanism indicates an aspect of the container.

11. The container of claim 5, wherein the detection mechanism indicates an aspect of the substance.

12. The container of claim 5, wherein the container is detachable from the photocosmetic device.

13. The container of claim 5, wherein the container is configured to be refillable.

14. The container of claim 5, wherein the container is configured to be reusable.

15. The container of claim 5, wherein the container is configured to be removable.