Support system for treatment device

Description

1 / 27 Support system for treatment device. Cross-reference to related requests.

[001] This application claims the benefit of a U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 458,560, filed April 11, 2023, entitled Treatment Device Support System. The entire contents thereof are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND

[002] Laser-based treatment devices can be effective in treating numerous diseases. During treatment procedures, an operator, such as a doctor or esthetician, moves these treatment devices over the affected tissue while the device irradiates the affected tissue with a precise dose of energy. Excess energy applied to the affected tissue can cause potential harm to the patient, while insufficient energy applied to the affected tissue can result in ineffective treatment. To maximize treatment effectiveness, the operator must carefully control the treatment device, which can weigh several kilograms or more, to administer the correct radiation dose throughout the procedure, which can last thirty minutes or more. During a treatment procedure, the operator may become tired, which can negatively affect the patient.Furthermore, a treatment operator may perform several successive procedures in a single day, which can exacerbate problems associated with operator fatigue, resulting in inadequate or even harmful irradiation for the patient with the treatment devices.

[003] To combat the problem of fatigue, certain support systems and frames have been developed to relieve the operator's load. However, these systems typically use an articulated arm with one or more manually adjustable joints, of which Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 11 / 59 2 / 27 The treatment device is freely suspended. These systems still require the treatment operator to fully support the weight of the treatment device and associated cables in order to control more precise movements of the treatment device during a treatment procedure. Thus, there remains a need to improve support systems to assist the operator during treatment procedures. SUMMARY

[004] Support systems are provided for handpieces.

[005] In one embodiment, a support system for a handpiece is provided, including an arm assembly with a rigid anchoring base and a flexible rod with proximal and distal ends, and a connecting assembly with a proximal end configured to couple to the distal end of the flexible rod and a distal end configured to couple to the handpiece. The flexible rod may be articulated at its proximal end to the anchoring base. The flexible rod may have increasing flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end, the connecting assembly being configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in at least two degrees of freedom. The boom assembly may be configured to support the connecting assembly and the handpiece, such that the connecting assembly and the handpiece are in a neutral position.

[006] The support system can vary in several ways. For example, the support system may include a handpiece attached to the connection assembly. In some aspects, the handpiece may be a laser treatment device for medical and / or cosmetic procedures. For example, the connection assembly and handpiece may be maneuvered with minimal effort within an enclosure that encloses the neutral position. For example, the connection assembly Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 12 / 59 3 / 27 can be configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom. Each of the degrees of freedom can be substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom. For example, the flexible rod may have a consistent taper from its proximal end to its distal end, and the rod's flexibility may increase proportionally with the constant taper from the proximal end to the distal end. The flexible rod may also be hollow. For example, a drive-through elevator coupled to the anchor base, which can be configured to extend upwards and retract downwards. Furthermore, the drive-through elevator may be extendable between approximately 18 and 30 inches. Additionally, the drive-through elevator may include a fulcrum extension configured to support the rigid anchor base at an angle relative to it.In some respects, the rigid mounting base can be configured to slide relative to the fulcrum extension when the actuated elevator is extended and retracted, so that the angle is configured to move between approximately 120 degrees and 180 degrees.

[007] In another embodiment, a support system for a handpiece is provided, including a carriage with a movable extendable elevator between an extended and a retracted position, a boom assembly coupled to the extendable elevator, and a connection assembly coupled to a distal end of the flexible rod. The boom assembly may include a rigid fixation base and a flexible rod coupled to a proximal end of the rigid fixation part at its proximal end. The connection assembly may be configured to couple to the handpiece so that the handpiece can rotate in at least two degrees of freedom relative to it.

[008] The support system can vary in several ways. For example, the boom assembly and the connecting assembly can be con Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 13 / 59 4 / 27 figured to support the handpiece in a neutral position, and the handpiece can be maneuvered with minimal effort in an enclosure around the neutral position. In some variations, the force required to move the handpiece when it is inside the enclosure may be less than or equal to about 0.5 lb. For example, the connection assembly may be configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom, and each of the degrees of freedom may be substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom. For example, the support system may include a plurality of transport lines running through the boom assembly. The respective first ends of the plurality of transport lines may be arranged on the carriage, and the respective second ends may be configured to connect to the handpiece. In addition, the plurality of transport lines may include at least one fluid line.In some variations, at least one fluid line may include a first fluid line configured to carry a first fluid and a second fluid line configured to carry a second fluid different from the first fluid. In some aspects, the first fluid is a dehumidified gas and the second fluid is a refrigerant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[009] The specifics of the disclosure will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, together with the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a support system, according to one embodiment; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the support system from Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of a boom assembly usable with the support system of Figure 1; Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 14 / 59 5 / 27 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the support system of Figure 1, with a lifting system in the extended position; Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the upper part of the support system in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a connection assembly that supports a handpiece usable with the support system of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the support system of Figure 1 with a defined minimum stress enclosure;1 with a defined minimum stress enclosure; Figure 8 is a side view of the support system of Figure 1 in the coupled position; Figure 9 is a side view of the support system of Figure 1 in an deployed coupled position; and Figure 10 is a side view of the support system of Figure 1 in the deployed and extended coupled position.

[0010] It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, therefore, should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. The systems, devices and methods specifically described in this document and illustrated in the attached drawings are examples of non-limiting embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Some embodiments will now be described by way of example, in order to provide a general understanding of the principles of structure, function, manufacture and use of the devices and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Experts in the field will understand that the devices and methods specifically described Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 15 / 59 6 / 27 The features in this document and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting examples of embodiments, and the scope of this disclosure is defined exclusively by the claims. The features illustrated or described in relation to an example embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0012] Treatment methods for various conditions, such as for medical and / or cosmetic purposes, may be performed using the systems described herein. It is understood that, although such methods may be conducted by a physician, non-medical professionals, such as beauticians and other properly trained professionals, may use the systems described herein to treat various conditions, with or without the supervision of a physician.

[0013] Furthermore, in the present disclosure, the similarly named components of the embodiments generally have similar characteristics and, therefore, within a specific embodiment, each characteristic of each similarly named component is not necessarily described in detail. Moreover, insofar as linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, devices, and methods. A person skilled in the art will recognize that it is easy to determine an equivalent to these linear and circular dimensions for any geometric shape.The sizes and shapes of systems and devices, as well as their components, may depend, at least, on the anatomy of the individual in whom the systems and devices will be used, the size and shape of the components with which the systems and devices will be used, and the methods and procedures in which the systems and devices will be used. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 16 / 59 7 out of 27 positive cases will be used.

[0014] Several diseases and conditions can be treated using precise doses of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) deposited into the affected tissue by a laser treatment device. In these treatment procedures, an operator, such as a physician or esthetician, must move a heavy treatment device (also known as a handpiece) over the affected tissue in order to adequately dose the tissue throughout a procedure, which may last thirty minutes or more. The weight of the handpiece and the precise movements required during the prolonged treatment procedure (or in multiple successive procedures with more than one patient) can cause operator fatigue, which may result in a loss of effectiveness of the treatment procedure. Support systems for laser-based treatment devices and associated methods that address these needs are described in this document.Support systems can support the handpiece in a region close to the patient and in such a way as to provide precise motor control of the handpiece by the operator, while the support systems relieve the weight of the handpiece from the operator. Laser treatment devices and handpieces compatible with support systems may vary, and example devices and handpieces are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0138261, entitled "Feedback Sensing for a Treatment Device," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0015] These devices may be applicable to a wide variety of medical and / or cosmetic procedures. Reference to a specific type of procedure is merely illustrative and should not be interpreted as a limitation to general disclosure. Several medical and / or cosmetic procedures involve handling Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 17 / 59 8 / 27 prolonged and precise control on the part of the operator responsible for the treatment, and fatigue can be detrimental in such procedures, regardless of the type of tissue or disease being treated, the specific operator, etc. The devices and methods described here can therefore be widely applicable to provide greater endurance and control to operators in general.

[0016] In general, the support systems described herein include a boom assembly coupled to an anchoring base. The boom assembly may take various forms and generally may comprise a stable, articulated part coupled to a flexible part, and the flexible part may support a guide assembly, such as a cardan system, to ultimately support the handpiece during a treatment procedure, simultaneously allowing rotation of the handpiece around one, two, or three degrees of freedom so as not to limit its maneuverability during a procedure and ultimately not to limit the quality of a procedure.

[0017] The mounting base can provide support for the lance assembly, as the handpiece is supported by the lance assembly and maneuvered during a treatment procedure. Handpiece operation requires various connections, cables, and lines, and the mounting base can also provide a location to store the system components needed to operate the device during the treatment procedure, such as a power supply, a cooling assembly (e.g., cooling lines) for handpieces that cool the tissue being treated, a Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, p. 18 / 59 9 / 27 am the tissue to be treated, a source of REM and much more. The anchor base may also include an actuator that can raise or lower the boom assembly, which can provide the treatment operator with more flexibility during a treatment procedure.

[0018] When the support systems are not in use, they can be placed in a coupled position, in which the handpiece is placed inside a recess located on the boom assembly to minimize the space occupied by the support systems. When necessary, the handpiece can be uncoupled and manipulated by an operator as required for a given procedure.

[0019] With reference now to Figure 1, a support system for use with laser treatment devices and handpieces is shown, according to some embodiments. The support system 10, shown in an uncoupled position, may generally include an anchoring base 100, a lance assembly 200 coupled to it, and a connection assembly 300 configured to support a handpiece, such as the handpiece 400. Together, the anchoring base 100, the lance assembly 200, and the connection assembly 300 can support the handpiece 400 during a procedure to minimize and / or eliminate operator fatigue during treatment, as described above. As shown, the support system 10 is placed in an uncoupled position, in which the handpiece 400 is uncoupled from everything except the connection assembly 300, to which it is always mounted.This uncoupled position, as shown above, contrasts with the coupled position of support system 10, in which the handpiece is fixed within a recess (not shown). The coupled position will be described in greater detail below, and the base (not shown) will be described with reference to the coupled position.

[0020] The anchor base 100 can take various forms, including the form of a cabinet with an anchoring structure. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 19 / 59 10 / 27 substantially hollow 102 with one or more doors 104 located thereon that provide access to the interior of the anchoring base 100. The anchoring base 100 may be supported by various mechanisms, including selectively lockable wheels 106 (e.g., casters), which allow the anchoring base to remain fixed or be moved as needed. The anchoring base 100 may also include one or more handles 108 to facilitate its movement, and one or more handles 108 may be located on the anchoring base 100 in positions that allow the treatment operator to adjust the position of the anchoring base 100 while remaining seated, such as during a procedure.

[0021] The anchoring base 100 may also include a display 110 that can transmit various information related to the treatment procedure and other information. The display 110 can be mounted or attached to the anchoring base 100 so that it can be adjusted as needed for greater convenience. A base for the handpiece 112 may be located on the anchoring base 100, which can be used to store the handpiece 400 when not in use. As seen in Figure 1, for example, when the handpiece 400 is in the ready position, it is some distance from the anchoring base 100, which is not always desirable. Instead of resting in an external position, the handpiece 400 can be placed inside the base 112 to reduce the total area occupied by the support system 10. The mounting base 100 can also include various inputs 114 located on it, such as a key drive, locking mechanism, controls, etc.One of these inputs could be a foot pedal 116, which can be activated by the treatment operator to turn the handpiece on or off as needed during a treatment procedure.

[0022] As briefly explained above, the base of an Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 20 / 59 11 / 27 The anchor base 100 can house one or more systems necessary for the treatment procedure, including an REM source (not shown), a cooler 118, a power supply 120, an air drying system (not shown), and various electronic components to control the handpiece 400. The anchor base 100 also includes a lifting system 210, which is part of the boom assembly 200 and will be described below. These systems can be seen in the cross-section of the anchor base 100 shown in Figure 2. One or more systems may be housed inside the anchor base 100, accessible through one or more doors 104, and various connectors 122, such as cables and tubes, may run through the boom assembly 200 and connect to the handpiece 400. As mentioned above, the handpiece may include an optical window that includes a coolant that passes through it.The coolant can pass through connectors 122 to be cooled by the cooling assembly in order to cool the tissue being treated in the treatment procedure. Connectors 122 may include cables to transmit power from the power supply 120 to the handpiece 400 and tubes that carry the cooled coolant to the optical window. In some variations, connectors 122 may also include tubes that carry dehumidified air. During the treatment operation, condensation may occur on the cooled optical window, which may interrupt the transmission of the treatment beam through it. Introducing gas and / or dehumidified air into the cooled optical window through connectors 122 can prevent condensation from forming. Connectors 122 may run through the lance assembly 200 to electrically and fluidly connect the handpiece 400 to the systems located on the clamping base 100, as will be described in more detail below.In some respects, the 122 connectors can be designed to facilitate quick release of the 400 handpiece, such as when it is ne. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 21 / 59 12 / 27 It is necessary to perform maintenance on the 400 handpiece, or if multiple 400 handpieces are used with the 100 support system.

[0023] The support system 10 may also include a boom assembly 200, which can be coupled to the fixing base 100 and can support the handpiece 400 during a treatment operation. The boom assembly can generally be articulated by a treatment operator, simultaneously supporting at least most of the weight of the handpiece 400. The boom assembly 200 can be seen in Figure 3 isolated from the fixing base 100, while remaining coupled to both the connection assembly 300 and the handpiece 400. Generally, the boom assembly 200 may include a lifting system 210, a rigid support base 220, and a flexible rod 230.

[0024] The lifting system 210 may be located primarily within the fixing base 100 and may extend and retract as needed in order to raise and lower the handpiece 400 to a more preferable position for the treatment procedure. The lifting system 210 may be a mechanical system, such as a rail system and the like. In other variations, the lifting system 210 may also be pneumatic or hydraulic. When the lifting system 210 is fully retracted, the top of the lifting system 210 may be essentially flush with the top of the fixing base, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, for example. When it is desired to extend the lifting system 210, the treatment operator or another person may extend the lifting system 210 through one or more entrances 114, by a distance D (shown in Figure 4) up to a maximum limit.In this range, the 210 lift system can provide up to 18-30 inches of additional height or more, and in some variations, around 20 inches of height or more. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, p. 22 / 59 13 / 27

[0025] The rigid support base 220 can be coupled to the lifting system 210 in an articulated and / or sliding manner, so that the rigid support base 220 can be moved relative to the lifting system 210 and the anchoring base 100, as desired. For example, a proximal end of the rigid support base 220 can be coupled to an internal lifting mechanism (not shown) in the lifting system 210, so that the rigid support base 220 can be extended or retracted to rotate with the lifting system 210 and / or relative to the lifting system 210, and provide a range of angles about which the lifting system can be rotated. For example, the rigid support base 220 can be maneuvered in a range at angle α (seen in Figures 3 and 8-10) between approximately 5 degrees and 50 degrees relative to the vertical.In some variations, the angle α can be between 0 degrees relative to the vertical and 90 degrees relative to the vertical, and the rigid support base 220 can be deliberately placed at any value within the entire range of possibilities.

[0026] To assist in the extension, retraction, and rotation of the rigid support base 220, a spring-loaded guide 222, seen, for example, in Figure 5, may be located on the upper part of the lifting system 210. The spring-loaded guide 222 may be spring-loaded or otherwise mechanically pressed toward the rigid support base 220. As the rigid support base 220 is extended and retracted relative to the lifting system 210, the spring-loaded guide 222 may flex and rotate to compensate for the increased load upon it, acting as a fulcrum for the rigid support base 220. Furthermore, to facilitate the movement of the rigid support base 220 relative to it, the spring-loaded guide 222 may have one or more rollers 224 that may roll freely to minimize frictional contact between the spring-loaded guide 222 and the rigid support base 220. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 23 / 59 14 / 27

[0027] The spear assembly 200 may also include the flexible rod 230, which may be a flexible element attached to the rigid support base 220. The proximal end of the flexible rod 230 may be coupled closer to the proximal end of the rigid support base 220, so that when the flexible rod 230 is flexed under the weight of the handpiece 400, the rigid support base 220 may absorb part of that load to stabilize the handpiece 400 and the spear assembly 200 itself. Essentially, the flexible rod 230 may function similarly to a fishing rod under load. When the handpiece 400 is attached to the flexible rod 230 and in the uncoupled position, the flexible rod 230 flexes to a certain extent under the weight of the handpiece 400 and the angle α at which the rigid support base 220 is placed, depending on the properties of the flexible rod 230. Finally, the handpiece 400 will reach an equilibrium or neutral position, in which it will rest.Modifying the properties of the flexible rod 230 so that it is made of a different material, has a different geometry and bending properties, etc., can alter the location of this neutral position, and manipulating the angle ae and / or the distance D can also affect the exact location of this neutral position relative to the rest of the support system 10. For example, if the flexible rod 230 becomes more rigid and the handpiece remains the same, the handpiece 400 would not bend the rod to the same extent. This can result in a neutral position that is relatively higher and / or further from the anchor base 100.

[0028] In general, the 400 handpiece can weigh about 2 pounds, with a variation of plus or minus 0.25 pounds. The 230 flexible rod can be designed and sized based on the total weight of the 400 handpiece in order to ensure that the neutral position is in a practical location relative to the rest of the system so that the operator can effectively utilize the support system 10. Specifically, in some Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 24 / 59 15 / 27 but embodiments, the flexible rod 230 may be substantially hollow and may have a consistent taper from its proximal end to its distal end. The flexibility of the rod may increase proportionally with the constant taper of the flexible rod 230, so that the distal end is substantially more malleable and flexible than the proximal end. The flexible rod 230, in some variations, may even be a fishing rod without the eyelets and other components used for fishing. The similarities between the flexible rod 230 and fishing rods may be so great that the flexible rod 230 may be described in terms of fishing rods, inclusive. For example, the 230 flexible rod may have a length of about seven feet, with a variation of plus or minus one foot, and a diameter at the distal end (also called the end diameter) between about 0.5 and 0.55 inches, or in some cases, about 0.527 inches. A property known as action can describe how a fishing rod flexes under a given load, and this action can be described in terms that include slow, medium, and fast, with slow action equating to a greater degree of flexion under a given load and fast action equating to a lesser degree of flexion under the same given load. One could say that the 230 flexible rod has a medium-fast action. The 230 flexible rod can be made from a number of materials. To achieve consistent performance with a given 400 handpiece, the exact dimensions of the 230 flexible rod may vary slightly due to the different properties of the materials.The materials may include fiberglass, bamboo, poplar, carbon fiber, curved sheet metal, graphite, or other materials, including various woods, metals, plastics, composites, etc., which exhibit similar performance.

[0029] As mentioned above, connectors 122 may. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 25 / 59 16 / 27 transmit energy and one or more fluids to the handpiece 400 that are necessary for the treatment procedure and its proper functioning. The connectors 122 can take various forms, such as cables and / or tubes, which can run through the boom assembly 200 via the lifting system 210, through the rigid support base 220 and along the flexible rod 230. The connectors 122 can be coupled to the flexible rod 230 in various ways. For example, the flexible rod and the connectors 122 can be contained within a sleeve 232, which can extend the entire length of the flexible rod 230 between the rigid support base 220 and the connection assembly 300.

[0030] The connecting assembly 300 can be seen in all figures, for example, in Figure 6, and functions to connect the handpiece 400 to the boom assembly 200 in a way that allows flexibility in the mobility of the handpiece 400. The connecting assembly 300 can have various forms and, as illustrated in the figures, the connecting assembly 300 can take the form of a cardan joint that allows the handpiece 400 to rotate in at least one, at least two, or even three degrees of freedom, while the handpiece 400 remains coupled to the boom assembly 200. The connecting assembly 300 can be designed to accommodate the size and weight of the handpiece 400 in order to ensure that the handpiece 400 is maneuverable with minimal effort. For example, as seen in Figure 6, the connection assembly 300 includes three axes of rotation Rx, Ry, Rz around which the handpiece 400 can rotate in respective degrees of freedom.Each of the rotation axes Rx, Ry, Rz can pass through the center of mass of the handpiece 400 to rotate the handpiece 400 around the rotation axes Rx, Ry, Rz as smoothly as possible, and each of the rotation axes Rx, Ry, Rz can be substantially orthogonal to each other. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 26 / 59 17 / 27

[0031] Overall, the support system 10 can be designed to accommodate a specific handpiece 400 in order to minimize the effort required to maneuver the handpiece 400. Ultimately, the handpiece 400 will be supported in a neutral position, and a treatment operator can freely move the handpiece 400 within an enclosure 410 around the neutral position with minimal effort, as well as freely move the neutral position and the enclosure 410 as needed. The enclosure 410 can be seen in Figure 7. Within the enclosure 410, the handpiece 400 can be maneuvered with a force of 0.5 lbF or less, despite weighing between approximately 1.75 lb and 2.25 lb.

[0032] As described herein, the ways in which the support system 10 can be adjusted include: movement of the anchor base 100 on the wheels 106; extension and retraction of the lifting system 210; rotation of the lifting system 210; extension, retraction and pivoting of the rigid support base 210; bending of the flexible rod 230; and rotation of the handpiece 400 relative to the connecting assembly 300. To break down these adjustments: 1) the movement of the anchor base 100 on the wheels 106 and the extension and retraction of the lifting system 210 are adjustments that contribute to the movement of the housing 410; 2) the rotation of the lifting system 210 and the bending of the flexible rod 230 are adjustments that contribute to the movement of the handpiece 400 within the housing 410; and 3) the rotation of the handpiece relative to the connection assembly 300 is an adjustment that contributes to the orientation of the handpiece 400 in the housing 410.

[0033] For adjustments in group 1, the mounting base 100 can be moved on the wheels 106 as needed, and the lifting system 210 can be extended and retracted within a range of approximately 20 inches. For adjustments in group 2, the lifting system 210 can be rotated in a yaw direction within a range of approximately 60 degrees (±30 degrees relative to a Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 27 / 59 18 / 27 centered position, represented by arrow 0 in Figure 7) while the distance between the lifting system 210 and the handpiece 400 is approximately 46 inches, and the flexible rod 230 can be moved up or down by approximately 3 inches, moved toward the mounting base by approximately 7 inches, and away from the mounting base 100 by approximately 5 inches. These movements represent example ranges that define the housing 410 for a given configuration, but specific values ​​may vary beyond these numbers. Furthermore, when the lifting system 210 is positioned at either end of its angular position (i.e., ± 30 degrees relative to the center position), the flexible rod 230 can be moved so that the handpiece extends approximately 24 inches beyond the maximum angular position, while the force required to move the handpiece remains at or less than approximately 0.5 lbF.

[0034] In other variations, the 210 lift system can rotate more than just a 60-degree range, and P can be a full 360-degree range at about ±180 degrees from center.

[0035] As shown above, the support system 10 can be placed in a coupled position, so that the handpiece 400 is fixed close to the boom assembly. As illustrated in Figures 8-10, the handpiece is placed inside a base 450 when the support system 10 is in the coupled position. As shown, the support system 10 can transition between a coupled position (Figure 8), a deployed coupled position (Figure 9), and a coupled and extended position (Figure 10), while the handpiece 400 remains secure in the base 450. In the coupled position of Figure 8, the lifting system 210 is fully retracted inside the fixing base 100, so that the height of the support system 10 is minimized. The rigid support base 220 is also positioned in Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 28 / 59 19 / 27 nothing in such a way as to remain as vertical as possible, so that angle α is minimized (e.g., equal to 0 degrees from vertical, 5 degrees from vertical, etc., depending on its reach). In the coupled deployed position of Figure 9, the lifting system 210 is fully retracted within the anchor base 100, so that the height of the support system 10 is again minimized. The rigid support base 220 is positioned so as to remain as horizontal as possible, in order to maximize angle α (e.g., equal to 50 degrees from vertical, 90 degrees from vertical, etc., depending on its reach). In the coupled and extended position, the lifting system 210 is fully extended out of the anchor base 100, so that the distance D is maximized (e.g., equal to 18+ inches, 20+ inches, 30+ inches, etc., depending on its reach). The rigid support base 220 is repositioned so that it is as horizontal as possible.Although these three coupled variations are represented, any combination of positions in any of the various ranges described here is also possible.

[0036] The subject described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuits, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structural means disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or combinations thereof. The subject described herein may be implemented as one or more computer program products, as one or more computer programs tangibly embodied in an information carrier (e.g., in a machine-readable storage device) or embodied in a propagated signal, for execution or to control the operation of a data processing apparatus (e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers). A computer program (also known as a program, software, application, or software code) may be... Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 29 / 59 20 / 27 written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file. A program may be stored in a portion of a file that contains other programs or data, in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in several coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or code snippets). A computer program may be deployed to run on one computer or multiple computers at a site, or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0037] The processes and logical flows described in this specification, including the steps of the method of the subject described in this document, may be executed by one or more programmable processors running one or more computer programs to perform functions of the object described herein, operating with input data and generating output. The processes and logical flows may also be implemented, and the apparatus of the subject described herein may be implemented, for example, by an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific microprocessor).

[0038] Processors suitable for running a computer program include, by way of example, general-purpose and special-purpose microprocessors and any one or more processors of any type of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from read-only memory or random-access memory or both. The essential elements Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, p. 30 / 59 21 / 27 The main components of a computer are a processor to execute instructions and one or more memory devices to store instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operationally coupled to receive or transfer data, or both, one or more mass storage devices to store data, for example, magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Suitable information carriers for incorporating instructions and data from computer programs include all forms of non-volatile memory, including, for example, semiconductor memory devices (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices); magnetic disks (e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks); magneto-optical disks; and optical disks (e.g., CDs and DVDs). The processor and memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated into, special-purpose logic circuits.

[0039] To provide interaction with a user, the subject described herein may be implemented on a computer with a display device, for example, a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, to display information to the user, and a keyboard and pointing device (for example, a mouse or a trackball) through which the user can provide information to the computer. Other types of devices may also be used to provide user interaction. For example, the feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback (for example, visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback), and user input may be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0040] The techniques described here can be implemented using one or more modules. As used in this document, the Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, p. 31 / 59 22 / 27 The term module refers to computer software, firmware, hardware, and / or various combinations thereof. At a minimum, however, modules should not be interpreted as software that is not implemented in hardware, firmware, or recorded on a non-transient, processor-readable, writable storage medium (i.e., modules are not software themselves). In fact, a module should always be interpreted as including at least some physical, non-transient hardware, such as a part of a processor or computer. Two different modules may share the same physical hardware (for example, two different modules may use the same processor and network interface). The modules described here may be combined, integrated, separated, and / or duplicated to support various applications.Furthermore, a function described here as being executed in a specific module may be executed in one or more other modules and / or by one or more other devices, instead of or in addition to the function performed in the specific module. Additionally, modules may be implemented in multiple devices and / or other components that are local or remote from each other. Furthermore, modules may be moved from one device and added to another device and / or may be included in both devices.

[0041] The subject described herein may be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component (e.g., a data server), a middleware component (software that connects two different and separate applications) (e.g., an application server), or a front-end component (e.g., a client computer with a graphical user interface or a web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject described herein), or any combination of these back-end, middleware, and front-end components. The system components may be interconnected. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 32 / 59 23 / 27 by any form or means of digital data communication, for example, a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), for example, the Internet.

[0042] Approximate language, as used throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that may permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it relates. Approximately, substantially, or about may include numbers that fall within a 1% range or, in some embodiments, within a 5% range of a number, or, in some embodiments, within a 10% range of a number in either direction (greater or less than the number), unless otherwise indicated or evident from the context (except where such a number inadmissibly exceeds 100% of a possible value). Thus, a value modified by one or more terms such as about, approximately, or substantially should not be limited to the exact value specified. In at least some cases, approximate language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value.Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and / or interchanged; such ranges are identified and include all subranges contained therein, unless the context or language indicates otherwise.

[0043] The articles "a" and "an," as used in this specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated otherwise, shall be understood as including plural referents. Claims or descriptions that include or include one or more elements of a group are considered satisfied if one, more than one, or all of the elements of the group are present, used, or Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, p. 33 / 59 24 / 27 are otherwise relevant to a particular product or process, unless otherwise indicated or evident from the context. Disclosure includes embodiments in which exactly one element of the group is present, used, or otherwise relevant to a particular product or process. Disclosure also includes embodiments in which more than one or all elements of the group are present, used, or otherwise relevant to a particular product or process. Furthermore, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments provide all variations, combinations, and permutations in which one or more limitations, elements, clauses, descriptive terms, etc.Unless otherwise indicated or unless it is evident to a person skilled in the technical field that this would give rise to a contradiction or inconsistency, any embodiment of one or more of the listed embodiments is introduced into another dependent claim of the same base claim (or, as relevant, any other claim). It is contemplated that all embodiments described herein are applicable to all different aspects of the disclosed embodiments, where appropriate. It is also contemplated that any embodiment or aspect may be freely combined with one or more other embodiments or aspects, where appropriate. When elements are presented as lists, for example, in the Markush group or similar format, it should be understood that each subgroup of the elements is also disclosed and that any element may be removed from the group.It should be understood that, in general, when the disclosed realizations, or aspects of the disclosed realizations, are referred to as comprising specific elements, characteristics, etc., certain realizations of the disclosure or aspects of the disclosure consist, or consist essentially, of those elements, characteristics, etc. For the sake of simplicity, these realizations have not, in all cases, been... Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, p. 34 / 59 25 / 27 specifically described in detail in this document. It should also be understood that any embodiment or aspect of the disclosure may be explicitly excluded from the claims, regardless of whether the specific exclusion is mentioned in the specification. For example, any one or more active agents, additives, ingredients, optional agents, types of organisms, disorders, subjects or combinations thereof may be excluded.

[0044] When ranges are indicated in this document, disclosure embodiments include embodiments in which both endpoints are included, embodiments in which both endpoints are excluded, and embodiments in which one endpoint is included and the other is excluded. It should be assumed that both endpoints are included unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, it should be understood that, unless otherwise indicated or unless evident from the context and the understanding of a person skilled in the art, values ​​expressed as ranges may assume any specific value or subrange within the ranges indicated in different disclosure embodiments, down to one-tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.It is also understood that, when a series of numerical values ​​is indicated in this document, the disclosure includes embodiments that relate analogously to any intermediate value or range defined by any two values ​​in the series, and that the lower value may be considered a minimum and the higher value may be considered a maximum. The numerical values, as used in this document, include values ​​expressed as percentages.

[0045] Although some variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible.

[0046] In the descriptions above and in the claims, phrases such as Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, p. 35 / 59 26 / 27 'At least one of' or 'one or more of' may occur followed by a conjunctive list of elements or features. The term 'and / or' may also occur in a list of two or more elements or features. Unless otherwise implied or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it is used, such a phrase is intended to mean any of the listed elements or features individually or any of the stated elements or features in combination with any of the other stated elements or features. For example, the sentences 'at least one of A and B'; 'one or more of A and B'; and 'A and / or B' are intended to mean A alone, B alone, or A and B together. A similar interpretation is also intended for lists that include three or more items. For example, the sentences 'at least one of A, B, and C'; 'one or more of A, B, and C'; and 'A, B, and / or C' each mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A and B and C together.Furthermore, the use of the term "based on" above and in the claims is intended to mean "based at least in part on," so that an unstated feature or element is also permitted.

[0047] The subject described in this document can be incorporated into systems, devices, methods, and / or articles, depending on the desired configuration. The implementations set forth in the preceding description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject described herein. Instead, they are merely examples consistent with aspects related to the subject described. While some variations have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, other features and / or variations beyond those described herein may be provided. For example, the implementations described above may be directed towards various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed features and / or combinations and subcombinations of various other features. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 36 / 59 27 / 27 characteristics disclosed above. Furthermore, the logical flow represented in the attached figures and / or described in this document does not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve the desired results. Other implementations may be within the scope of the following claims. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 37 / 59

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. A support system for a handpiece, characterized in that it comprises: a boom assembly with a rigid fixing base and a flexible rod with proximal and distal ends, the flexible rod being articulated at its proximal end to the fixing base, the flexibility of the flexible rod increasing from the proximal end to the distal end; and a connecting assembly with a proximal end configured to couple to the distal end of the flexible rod and a distal end configured to couple to the handpiece, the connecting assembly being configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in at least two degrees of freedom; wherein the boom assembly is configured to support the connecting assembly and the handpiece, such that the connecting assembly and the handpiece rest in a neutral position.

2. Support system according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a handpiece coupled to the connection assembly.

3. Support system according to claim 2, characterized in that the handpiece comprises a laser treatment device for medical and / or cosmetic procedures.

4. Support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection assembly and the handpiece are maneuverable with minimal effort within an enclosure that encloses the neutral position.

5. Support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting assembly is configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom, each of the degrees of freedom being substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom.

6. Support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible rod has a consistent taper from its proximal end to its distal end, and in that the flexibility of the rod increases proportionally with the constant taper from the proximal end to its distal end.

7. Support system according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible rod is hollow.

8. Support system, according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an actuatable elevator coupled to the fixing base, the actuatable elevator being configured to extend in an upward direction and retract in a downward direction.

9. Support system according to claim 8, characterized in that the actuated elevator is extendable between approximately 18 and 30 inches.

10. Support system according to claim 8, characterized in that the actuated elevator includes a fulcrum extension configured to support the rigid anchor base at an angle relative to it.

11. Support system according to claim 10 characterized in that the rigid fixing base is configured to slide relative to the fulcrum extension when the actuated elevator is extended and retracted, such that the angle is configured to move between approximately 120 degrees and 180 degrees.

12. Support System for a handpiece, characterized in that it comprises: a carriage that includes a movable extendable elevator between an extended position and a retracted position; a boom assembly coupled to the extendable elevator, the boom assembly including a rigid anchoring base, a flexible rod coupled to a proximal end of the rigid anchoring part at its proximal end; and a connection assembly coupled to a distal end of the flexible rod, the connection assembly configured to couple to the handpiece so that the handpiece can rotate in at least two degrees of freedom relative to it.

13. Support system according to claim 12, characterized in that the boom assembly and the connecting assembly are configured to support the handpiece in a neutral position, and in that the handpiece is maneuverable with minimal effort within an enclosure that surrounds the neutral position.

14. Support system according to claim 13, characterized in that the force required to move the handpiece when it is inside the housing is less than or equal to approximately 0.5 lbF.

15. Support system according to claim 12 characterized in that the connecting assembly is configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom, each of the degrees of freedom being substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom.

16. Support system according to claim 12 further comprising a plurality of transport lines running along the entire boom, characterized in that the respective first ends of the plurality of transport lines are arranged on the carriage and the respective second ends are configured to connect to the handpiece.

17. Support system according to claim 16, Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, page 40 / 59 4 / 4 characterized in that the plurality of transport lines comprises at least one fluid line.

18. Support system according to claim 17, characterized in that at least one fluid line comprises a first fluid line configured to carry a first fluid and a second fluid line configured to carry a second fluid different from the first fluid.

19. Support system according to claim 18, characterized in that the first fluid is a dehumidified gas and the second fluid is a refrigerant. Petition 870250088595, dated 09 / 30 / 2025, pp. 41 / 59

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