Methods and apparatus for delivering low power optical treatments

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed that uses at least one low power optical radiation source in a suitable head which can be held over a treatment area for a substantial period of time or can be moved over the treatment area a number of times during each treatment. The apparatus, a hand held light emitting applicator (LEA) or light emitting skin applicator (LESA), can be in the form of a brush or roller adapted to be moved over the patient's skin surface as radiation is applied to the skin. The skin-contacting surface of the LEA or LESA can have protuberances such as projections or bristles that can massage the skin and deliver radiation. In addition, an apparatus which delivers optical radiation to a treatment area is disclosed that contains a retrofit housing adapted to be joined to a skin-contacting device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 702,104, filed Nov. 4, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 996,662, filed Nov. 29, 2001 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,904). The teachings of the aforementioned applications are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to methods and apparatus for utilizing optical radiation to treat various dermatology, cosmetic, health, and immune conditions, and more particularly to such methods and apparatus operating at power and energy levels so low that they are safe enough and inexpensive enough to be performed in both medical and non-medical settings, including spas, salons and the home.[0003]Optical radiation has been used for many years to treat a variety of dermatology and other medical conditions. Such treatments have generally involved utilizing a laser, flashlamp or other relati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention provides methods and apparatus for utilizing optical radiation to treat various conditions at power and energy levels that are safe and inexpensive. An apparatus is disclosed that uses at least one low power optical radiation source in a suitable head which can be held over a treatment area for a substantial period of time or can be moved over the treatment area a number of times during each treatment. The apparatus, a hand held light emitting applicator (LEA) or light emitting skin applicator (LESA), can be in the form of a brush or roller adapted to be moved over the patient's skin surface as radiation is applied to the skin. The skin-contacting surface of the LEA or LESA can have protuberances such as projections or bristles that can massage the skin and deliver radiation. In addition, an apparatus which delivers optical radiation to a treatment area is disclosed that contains a retrofit housing adapted to be joined to a skin-contacting device.

Problems solved by technology

The high-power optical radiation source(s) required for these treatments (a) are expensive and can also be bulky and expensive to mount; (b) generate significant heat which, if not dissipated, can damage the radiation source and cause other problems, thus requiring that bulky and expensive cooling techniques be employed, at least for the source; and (c) present safety hazards to both the patient and the operator, for example, to both a person's eyes and non-targeted areas of the patient's skin.

As a result, expensive safety features must frequently be added to the apparatus, and generally such apparatus must be FDA approved and operated only by medical personnel.

The high energy at the patient's skin surface also presents safety concerns and may limit the class of patients who can be treated; for example, it may often not be possible to treat very dark-skinned individuals.

The high energy may further increase the cost of the treatment apparatus by requiring cooling of tissue above and / or otherwise abutting a treatment area to protect such non-target tissue.

The high cost of the apparatus heretofore used for performing optical dermatology procedures, generally in the tens of thousands of dollars, and the requirement that such procedures be performed by medical personnel, has meant that such treatments are typically infrequent and available to only a limited number of relatively affluent patients.

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