Removal of stratum corneum by means of light

• US 6,569,157 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1998
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Shain, Eric B., Pope, Mark R., Pezzaniti, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/080,432
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 606/9-12, 606/13
• US Class Current: 606/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• 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 2017/00765 Decreasing the barrier function of skin tissue by radiated energy, e.g. using ultrasound, using laser for skin perforation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00636 Sensing and controlling the application of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15136 by use of radiation, e.g. laser

Abstract

The invention involves a method for focusing light comprising the steps of: projecting at least one pulse of light onto the surface of the skin of a patient; collecting at least a portion of the light that is reflected from the skin of the patient; projecting the collected, reflected light onto a detector; and adjusting the projection of the pulsed light onto the surface of the skin of the patient in such a manner that the signal projected onto the detector is optimized. When the light pulse is properly focused, e.g., when it is characterized by the best focus, it can be used to provide energy to form an opening in the skin of the patient. When more than one pulse of light is required to form an opening in the skin of the patient, aligning the light prior to each pulse will improve the efficiency of formation of the opening. In general, the method for aligning and focussing is the same as the method for focusing, with the difference being that aligning further includes steps for moving the spot of light formed by the light so that it strikes the surface of the skin at or near the position on the surface of the skin of the patient at which the previous spot of light struck the skin.

Claims

1. A method for forming an opening in the surface of the skin of a patient comprising the steps of:

(1) projecting at least one pulse of light, driven at a level of energy that is not sufficient to form an opening in the skin of the patient, onto the surface of the skin of the patient;

(2) collecting at least a portion of the light that is reflected from the skin of the patient;

(3) projecting the collected, reflected light onto a detector to provide a signal;

(4) adjusting the projection of the pulsed light onto the surface of the skin of the patient in such a manner that the signal projected onto the detector is optimized;

(5) projecting at least one pulse of light onto the surface of the skin of the patient, wherein said pulse of light is driven at a level of energy that is sufficient to form an opening in the skin of the patient, whereby formation of an opening in the skin occurs, said at least one pulse of light in step (1) and said at least one pulse of light in step (5) being provided by the same source of light.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is provided by a laser.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reflected light is collected by a lens.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector is a bulls-eye detector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector is an array detector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is optimized when the best focus has been attained.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is optimized when the best focus and the best alignment have been attained.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is optimized when the best alignment has been attained.

9. A method for forming an opening in the surface of the skin of a patient comprising the steps of:

(1) causing a pulsed beam of light, driven at a level of energy that is insufficient to form an opening in the skin of the patient, to pass through a lens to project a spot on the surface of the skin of the patient;

(2) causing light that is reflected from the surface of the skin to pass through a lens to project a spot on a target on a detector to provide a signal;

(3) moving the lens that projected a spot on the surface of the skin of a patient in such a direction that the quantity of the light reflected from the surface of the skin of the patient and projected on the target on the surface of the detector provides a signal that indicates the best alignment; and

(4) causing a pulsed beam of light, driven at a level of energy at which an opening in the skin can be formed, to pass through a lens to project a spot on the surface of the skin of the patient, whereby formation of an opening in the skin occurs, said pulsed beam of light in step (1) and said pulsed beam of light in step (4) being provided by the same source of light.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the light is provided by a laser.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the reflected light is collected by a lens.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the detector is a bulls-eye detector.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the detector is an array detector.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal is optimized when the best alignment has been attained.

15. A method for forming an opening in the surface of the skin of a patient comprising the steps of:

(1) causing a pulsed beam of light, driven at a level of energy that is insufficient to form an opening in the skin of the patient, to pass through a lens to project a spot on the surface of the skin of the patient;

(2) causing light that is reflected from the surface of the skin to pass through a lens to project a spot on a target on a detector to provide a signal;

(3) moving the lens that projected a spot on the surface of the skin of a patient in such a direction that the quantity of the light reflected from the surface of the skin of the patient and projected on the target on the surface of the detector provides a signal that indicates the best focus; and

(4) causing a pulsed beam of light, driven at a level of energy at which an opening in the skin can be formed, to pass through a lens to project a spot on the surface of the skin of the patient, whereby formation of an opening in the skin occurs, said pulsed beam of light in step (1) and said pulsed beam of light in step (4) being provided by the same source of light.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the light is provided by a laser.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the reflected light is collected by a lens.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the detector is a bulls-eye detector.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the detector is an array detector.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the signal is optimized when the best focus has been attained.

21. A method for forming an opening in the surface of the skin of a patient comprising the steps of:

(1) causing a pulsed beam of light, driven at a level of energy that is insufficient to form an opening in the skin of the patient, to pass through a lens to project a spot on the surface of the skin of a patient;

(2) causing light that is reflected from the surface of the skin of the patient to pass through a lens to project a spot on a target on the surface of a detector to provide a signal;

(3) moving the lens that projected the spot on the surface of the skin of the patient in such a direction that the quantity of the light reflected from the surface of the skin of the patient and projected on the target on the surface of the detector provides a signal that indicates the best alignment;

(4) moving the lens that projected the spot on the surface of the skin of the patient axially in such a direction that the quantity of the light reflected from the surface of the skin of the patient and projected on the target on the detector provides a signal that indicates the best focus; and

(5) causing a pulsed beam of light, driven at a level of energy that is sufficient to form an opening in the skin of the patient, to pass through a lens to project a spot on the surface of the skin of the patient, whereby formation of an opening in the skin occurs, said pulsed beam of light in step (1) and said pulsed beam of light in step (5) being provided by the same source of light.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the light is provided by a laser.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the reflected light is collected by a lens.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the detector is a bulls-eye detector.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the detector is an array detector.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the signal is optimized when the best focus and the best alignment have been attained.