Photo-thermal targeted treatment system with integrated pre-conditioning, and automatic triggering of photo-thermal targeted treatment via measurement of skin surface temperature and associated methods

Abstract

A photo-thermal targeted treatment system for damaging a target embedded in a medium includes a controller and a photo-thermal treatment unit including a light source. The controller is configured for administering a treatment protocol using the light source at a preset power setting and a preset pulse timing setting. Also, a method for automatically initiating a treatment protocol using a photo-thermal targeted treatment system includes administering a cooling mechanism at a treatment location, monitoring a skin surface temperature at the treatment location and, when the skin surface temperature reaches a preset threshold, automatically initiating the photo-thermal treatment protocol. Further, a method for automatically terminating a treatment protocol using includes, during administration of the treatment protocol at a treatment area, monitoring a skin surface temperature at the treatment location, and when the skin surface temperature reaches a preset threshold, automatically terminating the treatment protocol.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to photo-thermal targeted treatment and, more specifically, systems and methods for photo-induced thermal treatment targeting specific chromophores, or targets containing specific chromophores, embedded in a medium.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Targets, such as chromophores and objects that contain chromophores, that are embedded in a medium can be thermally damaged by heating the target with a light source, such as a laser. For example, sebaceous glands that contain sebum that are embedded in the dermis can be thermally damaged by heating the sebum with a laser, until the sebum itself, or the sebaceous gland containing the sebum, is damaged. However, the application of enough thermal energy to damage the target can also be damaging to the surrounding dermis and the overlying epidermis, thus leading to epidermis and dermis damage as well as pain to the patient.[0003]Previous approaches to prevent epidermis and dermis damag...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]In a further embodiment, administering the series of light pulses includes applying the series of light pulses such that a temperature of the medium is less than a threshold for denaturation and damage of the medium, and the target is heated to a temperature greater than a damage threshold for the target. In an exemplary embodiment, administering the series of light pulses includes raising a temperature of the medium (e.g., epidermis) to less than 55° C., while heating the target to a temperature greater than 55° C.

Problems solved by technology

Targets, such as chromophores and objects that contain chromophores, that are embedded in a medium can be thermally damaged by heating the target with a light source, such as a laser.

For example, sebaceous glands that contain sebum that are embedded in the dermis can be thermally damaged by heating the sebum with a laser, until the sebum itself, or the sebaceous gland containing the sebum, is damaged.

However, the application of enough thermal energy to damage the target can also be damaging to the surrounding dermis and the overlying epidermis, thus leading to epidermis and dermis damage as well as pain to the patient.

1. Pre-cooling the epidermis, then applying the photo-thermal treatment; and

2. Pre-cool the epidermis, also pre-condition (i.e., preheat) the epidermis and dermis in a preheating protocol, then apply a photo-thermal treatment in a distinct treatment protocol. In certain instances, the preheating protocol and the treatment protocol are performed by the same laser, although the two protocols involve different laser settings and application protocols, thus leading to further complexity in the treatment protocol and equipment.

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