Vacuum assisted treatment of the skin

• US 7,740,651 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Original Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Inventors: Barak, Menashe, Mishali, Shlomi, Shavit, Raphi, Slatkine, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III; Henry M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/863,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090088823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 607/88, 607/89
• US Class Current: 607/89
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00752 Hair removal or transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00769 Tattoo removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/308 with suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1807 using light other than laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/96 Suction control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/04 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators

Abstract

An apparatus for treating skin includes a chamber defined by a surface and a rim extending from the surface. A source of vacuum is capable of removing air from inside the chamber so that air outside the chamber flows into the chamber. Impedance of the air flowing between the rim of the chamber positioned adjacent the skin surface causes the pressure inside the chamber to decrease relative to ambient. A pressure sensor can determine when the pressure inside the chamber decreases to a threshold value. A controller can receive a signal from the pressure sensor when the threshold value is reached, which causes the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber by the source of vacuum to be increased. The rim of the chamber forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the skin. The skin is drawn toward an inner surface of the chamber.

Claims

1. A method of treating skin, comprising:

removing air from inside a chamber positioned adjacent a surface of the skin in a target region prior to forming a substantially fluid tight seal between a rim of the chamber and skin surrounding the target region, impedance of air outside the chamber flowing into the chamber between the rim of the chamber and the skin surface causing the pressure inside the chamber to decrease relative to ambient;

sensing when the pressure inside the chamber decreases to a threshold value; and

increasing the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber upon sensing the threshold value so that (i) the rim of the chamber forms the substantially fluid tight seal with the skin surrounding the target region and (ii) the skin of the target region is drawn toward an inner surface of the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering electromagnetic radiation to treat the skin of the target region.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising drawing the skin into contact with the inner surface of the chamber.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising using a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the chamber to sense the pressure inside the chamber.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising positioning the chamber about 0.01 mm to about 3 mm from the surface of the skin before increasing the rate of removal of air.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before increasing the rate of removal of air, positioning the chamber in contact with the surface of the skin without creating a substantially fluid tight seal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the removing step comprises modulating the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber by periodically opening and closing a valve in fluid communication with the chamber.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the increasing step comprises increasing the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber by opening a valve in fluid communication with the chamber.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the chamber is capable of forming the substantially fluid tight seal between the rim of the chamber and soft skin.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising releasing the substantially fluid tight seal by decreasing the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber after a predetermined time interval following achieving the threshold value.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising releasing the substantially fluid tight seal by introducing air into the chamber after a predetermined time interval following achieving the threshold value.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising disposing a lubricant on a surface of the skin and using the lubricant to facilitate movement of the chamber to a second target region of the skin.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a treatment for at least one of hair removal, pigmented lesions, tattoo removal, lipid rich tissue, vascular lesions, acne, skin tightening, skin remodeling, and skin rejuvenation.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering an injection through a surface of the chamber into the skin to provide at least one of a vaccine, collagen, insulin, and botox.

15. The method of claim 2 further comprising disposing an index matching layer on an outer surface of the chamber to facilitate delivery of the electromagnetic radiation.

23. The method of claim 7 wherein the increasing step further comprises increasing the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber by opening a second valve in fluid communication with the chamber.

16. An apparatus for treating skin, comprising:

a chamber defined by a surface and a rim extending from the surface;

a first valve in fluid communication with the chamber;

a second valve in fluid communication with the chamber;

a source of vacuum in fluid communication with the chamber through the first valve and the second valve, the source of vacuum configured to remove air from inside the chamber through the first valve so that air outside the chamber flows into the chamber, impedance of the air flowing between the rim of the chamber positioned adjacent the skin surface causing the pressure inside the chamber to decrease relative to ambient;

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the chamber, the pressure sensor determining when the pressure inside the chamber decreases to a threshold value; and

a controller in electrical communication with the first valve, the second valve, and the pressure sensor, the controller receiving a signal from the pressure sensor when the threshold value is reached, the controller opening the second valve causing the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber through the second valve by the source of vacuum to be increased, so that (i) the rim of the chamber forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the skin and (ii) the skin is drawn toward an inner surface of the chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an energy source to provide treatment radiation, the energy source in electrical communication with the controller, which triggers the energy source to deliver treatment radiation upon decreasing the pressure inside the chamber to a second threshold value.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the surface of the chamber is a transparent window, and the treatment radiation is delivered through the transparent window to the target region of skin.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the surface of the chamber is a translucent window that causes at least a portion of the treatment radiation to be diffused as the treatment radiation is delivered to the target region of skin.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein side walls of the chamber facilitates spacing of the chamber surface from a target region of skin.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an injector to provide an injection below the surface of the skin of at least one of a vaccine, collagen, insulin, and botox.

24. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first valve is adapted to periodically open and close before the threshold value is reached to modulate the rate of removal of air inside the chamber.

22. An apparatus for treating skin, comprising:

first means for removing air from inside a chamber positioned adjacent a surface of the skin in a target region so that air outside the chamber flows into the chamber, impedance of the air flowing between a rim of the chamber and the skin surface causing the pressure inside the chamber to decrease relative to ambient;

means for sensing when the pressure inside the chamber decreases to a threshold value;

means for controlling the rate of removal of air from inside the chamber upon receiving a signal from the means for sensing that pressure inside the chamber decreased to the threshold value; and

second means for removing air from inside the chamber, the means for controlling opening the second means for removing air upon receiving the signal from the means for sensing such that the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber increases and (i) the rim of the chamber forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the skin and (ii) the skin is drawn toward an inner surface of the chamber.