Apparatus for applying electromagnetic energy by prism beam steering

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus and related method for applying electromagnetic energy. The apparatus includes a light source configured to supply a beam of electromagnetic energy, a collimator configured to receive the beam from the light source, a first optical element, and a second optical element having an optical access. The first optical element is positioned between the collimator and the second optical element. The first optical element is configured to correct a deviation of the beam with respect to the optical axis of the second optical element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the treatment of tissue by electromagnetic energy, and more specifically, to devices and related methods for applying electromagnetic energy.

[0002] Electromagnetic energy, particularly laser energy, can be used as an adaptable tool in medicine to achieve desirable results in treated tissue. For example, lasers and other forms of electromagnetic energy can be used in the treatment of common skin diseases. Also, forms of electromagnetic energy can be used to improve appearance by regenerating the skin surface, remodeling different layers of the skin to reduce wrinkles, and / or tightening the skin.

[0003] Generally, skin surface regeneration is a process of damaging the uppermost layer of the skin to promote the development of new, youthful skin and stimulate the production and growth of new skin. For example, a laser can be used to form a treatment zone that includes damaged skin and can act to rejuvenate the skin tissue during healing. Generally, lasers used for skin surface regeneration operate at wavelengths absorbed by one of the natural chromophores in the skin (such as water). When water is the main chromophore, water in cells and tissues absorbs light energy and converts it into thermal energy.

[0004] There is a need for improved devices and related methods for applying electromagnetic energy.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one embodiment of the invention, the device includes a light source (source: supply source) configured to supply a beam of electromagnetic energy, a collimator configured to receive the beam from the light source, a first optical element having an optical axis, and a second optical element. The first optical element is positioned between the collimator and the second optical element. The first optical element is configured to correct the deviation of the beam with respect to the optical axis of the second optical element.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method includes directing a beam of electromagnetic energy through a collimator towards a first optical element, and rotating a first prism of the first optical element relative to a second prism of the first optical element to correct a deviation of the beam with respect to the optical axis of a second optical element downstream of the first optical element.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and, together with the general description of the present invention above and the detailed description of the embodiments below, serve to explain the embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like features in various figures.

Figure 1

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Unless otherwise specified, all technical terms and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. All patents and publications referred to in this specification are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 10 is configured to apply electromagnetic energy such as laser energy to a tissue such as skin tissue. For example, the electromagnetic energy applied by the apparatus 10 is laser energy used for performing skin treatment on a target portion of the skin tissue. More specifically, it can be used for performing ablation or non-ablation partial skin surface regeneration treatment on only a part of the skin tissue of the target portion. In the partial skin surface regeneration treatment, thousands of fine treatment zones including damaged skin cells in the target portion are generated, and untreated regions without damage are generated around the treatment zones, resulting in a rapid healing reaction and the generation of new tissue.

[0010] The apparatus 10 may include a handpiece 12. The handpiece 12 may include a housing and may be configured and dimensioned to be manually grasped and operated against a surface such as the surface of a target portion of the skin tissue. The electromagnetic energy source (supply source) 14 may be disposed in a console 15 remote from the handpiece 12 and may be connected to the handpiece 12 by an optical fiber 16. The electromagnetic energy source 14 may include one or more lasers, and each laser is configured to output a beam 20 including electromagnetic radiation (i.e., coherent light) of a given wavelength. For example, the electromagnetic energy source 14 may include an erbium laser, a carbon dioxide laser, and / or a thulium laser. As a specific example, the electromagnetic energy source 14 may include an erbium laser configured to output light having a wavelength of about 1550 nanometers and a thulium laser configured to output light having a wavelength of about 1927 nanometers. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic energy source 14 may be a fiber-coupled laser diode that directly couples light generated by a laser diode to the optical fiber 16.

[0011] The electromagnetic energy source 14 generates a beam 20 of electromagnetic energy, which is transmitted from the electromagnetic energy source 14 to the handpiece 12 via the optical fiber 16. The collimator 18 may be coupled to the end of the optical fiber 16 or may be disposed inside the handpiece 12. The collimator 18 may be configured to collimate the beam 20 of electromagnetic energy received from the electromagnetic energy source 14. In this regard, the collimator 18 can reduce the divergence of the beam by further aligning the rays of the beam 20 in a specific direction (e.g., making the rays more parallel) and / or by reducing the spatial cross-sectional area of the beam 20. In one embodiment, the collimator 18 is a component of a fiber-coupled laser diode and can terminate the optical fiber 16.

[0012] The beam 20 is emitted from the collimator 18 into the free space within the handpiece 12 with reduced beam divergence and is directed towards the optical element 26 (i.e., the first optical element 26) in the optical path. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical element 26 may include a prism 28 and a prism 30 positioned adjacent to each other. The beam 20 emerging from the optical element 26 is composed of a lens and is directed towards the optical element 24 (i.e., the second optical element 24) positioned downstream in the optical path from the optical element 26.

[0013] The beam 20 emerging from the second optical element 24 is reflected by the mirror 32 towards a scanner wheel 34, also known as a Broome wheel. The scanner wheel 34, which has a rotation axis and is driven by a motor 35 to rotate about the rotation axis, has a reflecting element 33 disposed around it. The reflecting element 33 is configured to deflect the beam 20 towards a set of lens elements 36, and the lens elements 36 focus the beam 20 through an output window 38 towards the tissue surface to be treated by electromagnetic energy. Due to the operation of the scanner wheel 34, beamlets are generated from the beam 20, and the beamlets are output to the lens elements 36 in a pattern that may be a divided pattern represented by a plurality of "dots" on the tissue surface that occur when the beamlets contact the tissue surface. In some embodiments, the beamlets included in the beam 20 are projected from the device 10 along with a pattern, and using that pattern, a fine treatment zone can be generated only on a portion of the target skin tissue.

[0014] The handpiece 12 can be grasped by an expert and moved relative to a tissue surface such as the skin surface to provide skin treatment. During skin treatment, a treatment tip can be attached to the device 10 and can include a set of rollers, for example, to facilitate movement relative to the tissue surface that receives electromagnetic energy.

[0015] The user can access the controller 40 via a user interface to control the operation of the motor 35 that rotates the scanner wheel 34 and select appropriate operating parameters for the electromagnetic energy source 14. For example, the controller 40 can be used to control operating parameters of the electromagnetic energy source 14 such as the wavelength, pulse energy, pulse shape, pulse repetition rate, and pulse duration of the beam 20 transmitted to the handpiece 12 by the optical fiber 16.

[0016] As best shown in FIG. 2, the prism 28 can be positioned and held within the sleeve 46, and the prism 30 can be positioned and held within the sleeve 48. In one embodiment, the prism 28 can be held non-rotatably within the sleeve 46, and the prism 30 can be held non-rotatably within the sleeve 48. For example, the prisms 28, 30 can be fixed to the sleeves 46, 48 with an adhesive. In another embodiment, the prisms 28, 30 can be fixed within the sleeves 46, 48 without an adhesive. In one embodiment, the prisms 28, 30 may be composed of an optically transparent material such as fused silica, and the sleeves 46, 48 may be composed of a metal such as brass. Since the sleeves 46, 48 are open-ended, the conical optical axes and optical paths centered on the optical axes of the prisms 28, 30 are not blocked.

[0017] The sleeves 46, 48 holding the prisms 28, 30 and the collimator 18 can be positioned and held inside a set of clamps 41, 42, 43. The clamps 41, 42, 43 are clamped by tightening a set of fasteners 44 and unclamped by loosening the fasteners 44. The positions of the prisms 28, 30 and the collimator 18 relative to the clamps 41, 42, 43 and the positions of the prisms 28, 30 and the collimator 18 relative to each other are fixed in the clamped state. When the clamps 41, 42, 43 are in the unclamped state, the sleeves 46, 48 can rotate relative to each other, thereby making it possible to change the relative rotational direction of the prisms 28, 30.

[0018] The sleeves 46, 48 are positioned adjacent to each other inside the clamps 41, 42, 43, and the prisms 28, 30 are also positioned adjacent to each other. The sleeves 46, 48 can rotate relative to each other to change the relative orientation of the prisms 28, 30, and then the rotational orientation within the clamps 41, 42, 43 can be fixed by tightening the fastener 44 to clamp the clamps 41, 42, 43. The slot 45 is disposed around the sleeve 46, and the slot 47 is disposed around the sleeve 48. The sleeve 46 can rotate within the unclamped clamps 41, 42, 43 by engaging the tip of a tool with one of the accessible slots 45, and the sleeve 48 can rotate independently within the unclamped clamps 41, 42, 43 by engaging the tip of a tool with one of the accessible slots 47.

[0019] The optical element 26 is configured to provide a prismatic beam that compensates for the misalignment between the beam 20 exiting the collimator 18 and the optical axis of one or more lenses within the second optical element 24. In one embodiment, the prisms 28, 30 may be cylindrical prisms such as Risley prisms that can be used to steer the beam 20 by changing the direction of the light rays by refraction. By rotating the prisms 28, 30 relative to each other, steering is provided to correct for the angular misalignment of the beam 20 between the collimator 18 and the second optical element 24 downstream of the optical element 26. For example, the beam 20 is steered by the prisms 28, 30 and aligned with the optical axis of the second optical element 24 and one or more lenses therein. The prisms 28, 30 are fixed at the correct angular position after correction of the angular misalignment.

[0020] As used herein, "correct angular alignment" means that the angular alignment of prisms 28, 30 is performed such that the beam 20 steered by the prisms 28, 30 substantially coincides with the optical axis of the second optical element 24. In contrast, when the prisms 28, 30 are not in correct angular alignment, the beam 20 does not substantially coincide with the optical axis of the second optical element 24, and an angular deviation occurs. In one embodiment, the beam 20 can be disposed at or substantially at the center of the optical axis of the second optical element 24.

[0021] For example, if an angular deviation recurs during use of the apparatus 10, it can be corrected by loosening the fastener 44 to unclamp the clamps 41, 42, 43 so that the sleeves 46, 48 can rotate freely, and then executing an updated alignment routine that includes relative rotation of the prisms 28, 30.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 4, the prism 28 has a surface 50, a surface 52 opposite the surface 50, and a surface 51 connecting the surfaces 50, 52. The surfaces 50, 52 are disk-shaped bottoms (bases) of a cylinder, have a circular cross-section, the surface 51 is cylindrical, and the surfaces 50, 52 can be polished and planar. The prism 30 has a surface 54, a surface 56 opposite the surface 54, and a surface 55 connecting the surfaces 54, 56. The surfaces 54, 56 are disk-shaped bottoms (bases) of a cylinder, have a circular cross-section, the surface 55 is cylindrical, and the surfaces 54, 56 can be polished and planar. The surface 50 of the prism 28 can be positioned adjacent to the surface 54 of the prism 30, and the surface 52 of the prism 28 can be positioned adjacent to the collimator 18 (FIG. 1). The surface 50 of the prism 28 and the surface 54 of the prism 30 may be disposed in parallel planes. In some embodiments, the surfaces 50 and 54 may be positioned in contact with each other.

[0023] The surface 51 of the prism 28 can be adhesively bonded to the cylindrical inner surface of the sleeve 46 (FIG. 2), and the surface 55 of the prism 30 can be adhesively bonded to the cylindrical inner surface of the sleeve 48 (FIG. 2). An anti-reflection coating may be applied to the surfaces 50, 52 of the prism 28 and the surfaces 54, 56 of the prism 30.

[0024] The surface 52 of the prism 28 is inclined at a shallow wedge angle 01 with respect to the surface 50 of the prism 28, and this angle is exaggerated in FIG. 4 for the sake of explanation. The surface 56 of the prism 30 is inclined at a shallow wedge angle 02 with respect to the surface 54 of the prism 30, and this angle is also exaggerated in FIG. 4 for the sake of explanation. In one embodiment, the wedge angles of the surfaces 52, 56 may be greater than 0 degrees and at most about 3 degrees. In one embodiment, the wedge angles of the surfaces 52, 56 may be about 0.5 degrees. In one embodiment, the wedge angle of the surface 52 may be equal to the wedge angle of the surface 56.

[0025] The prism 28 has a rotation axis 60, and the prism 30 also has a rotation axis 62, and the rotation axis 62 may be aligned parallel to the rotation axis 60. In one embodiment, the rotation axis 60 may coincide with the optical axis of the prism 28, and the rotation axis 62 may coincide with the optical axis of the prism 30. When one or both of the prisms 28, 30 are rotated, the direction of the beam 20 changes. For example, the beam 20 is laterally displaced by a distance D from the rotation axis 60, and a positional shift may occur when the beam reaches the surface 52 of the prism 28 from the collimator 18. The prism 28 laterally deflects the displaced beam 20 in a direction toward the rotation axis 60, and the beam 20 emerging from the surface 50 of the prism 28 then encounters the surface 54 of the prism 30. When the prisms 28, 30 are aligned in the rotational direction to compensate for the offset D, the prism 30 redirects the beam 20 so that it exits the surface 56 in a direction parallel or substantially parallel to the rotation axis 62, and the rotation axis 62 may be aligned with the optical axis of the second optical element 24 and one or more of the lenses therein (FIG. 1).

[0026] A feature that is “connected” or “coupled” to another feature may be directly connected or coupled to the other feature or, alternatively, one or more intervening features may be present. If no intervening features are present, the feature may be “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to the other feature. If at least one intervening feature is present, the feature may be “indirectly connected” or “indirectly coupled” to the other feature. A feature “on” or “in contact with” another feature may be “on” or “in direct contact with” the other feature or, alternatively, one or more intervening features may be present. If no intervening features are present, the feature may be “on” or “in direct contact with” the other feature. If at least one intervening feature is present, the feature may be “on” or “in indirect contact with” the other feature. Different features may “overlap” when a feature extends over another feature and covers a portion thereof in either direct or indirect contact.

[0027] References in this document to terms modified by approximate language such as “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” etc. are not to be limited to the specified exact value. The approximate language may correspond to the precision of the instrument used to measure the value and, unless dependent on the precision of the instrument, may indicate a range of plus or minus 10% of the recited value.

[0028] The transitional terms "comprising," "consisting essentially of," and "consisting of" as used in the appended claims are defined in the claims in their original and amended forms with respect to additional claim elements or steps, if any, that are not recited and are excluded from the scope of the claims. The term "comprising" is intended to be inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional unrecited elements, methods, steps, or materials. The term "consisting of" excludes elements, steps, or materials other than those specified in the claim, and in the latter case, excludes impurities ordinarily associated with the specified materials. The term "consisting essentially of" limits the scope of the claim to those elements, steps, or materials specified and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the invention recited in the claims. All embodiments described in this specification that embrace the present invention may, in alternative embodiments, be more specifically defined by any of the transitional terms "comprising," "consisting essentially of," or "consisting of."

[0029] The present invention is illustrated by descriptions of various embodiments which are described in considerable detail, but the applicant does not intend to limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail or in any way. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate additional advantages and modifications. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described in a broader aspect. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a light source configured to supply a beam of electromagnetic energy; a collimator configured to receive the beam from the light source; a first optical element; a second optical element having an optical axis, the first optical element being positioned between the collimator and the second optical element and configured to correct a deviation of the beam with respect to the optical axis of the second optical element; the apparatus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first optical element comprises a first prism and a second prism positioned adjacent to the first prism.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first prism is a first cylinder having a first base, a second base opposite the first base, and a cylindrical surface connecting the first base to the second base, the first base of the first prism having a first wedge angle with respect to the second base of the first prism.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second prism is a second cylinder having a first base, a second base opposite the first base, and a cylindrical surface connecting the first base to the second base, the first base of the second prism having a second wedge angle with respect to the second base of the second prism.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first wedge angle is equal to the second wedge angle.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first wedge angle and the second wedge angle are greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to about 3 degrees.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first wedge angle and the second wedge angle are equal to 0.5 degrees.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second base of the first prism is disposed adjacent to the second base of the second prism.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the beam of electromagnetic energy is incident on the first base of the first prism.

10. a plurality of clamps having a clamped state and an unclamped state; a first sleeve configured to support the first prism, the first sleeve being positioned inside the clamp; ​ A second sleeve configured to support the second prism, the second sleeve being positioned inside the clamp, the apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising.

11. When the clamp is in the clamp release state, the first sleeve and the second sleeve are rotatable, and when the clamp is in the clamped state, the first sleeve and the second sleeve are fixed, the apparatus according to claim 10.

12. The first sleeve includes a plurality of slots, the plurality of slots being engageable by a tool for rotating the first sleeve and the first prism relative to the clamp when the clamp is in the clamp release state, the apparatus according to claim 10.

13. The first prism has an optical axis, and the first prism has a rotation axis that coincides with the optical axis, the apparatus according to claim 12.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of fasteners connecting different parts of the clamp, the fasteners being configured such that tightening establishes a clamped state and loosening establishes a clamp release state.

15. Further comprising a handpiece configured and dimensioned to be grasped by hand, The collimator, the first optical element, and the second optical element are positioned within the handpiece, the apparatus according to claim 1.

16. The light source is a laser, and the apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an optical fiber connecting the light source and the collimator.

17. The light source includes a laser diode, the apparatus according to claim 16.

18. The light source is a fiber-coupled laser diode terminated by the collimator, the apparatus according to claim 1.

19. Further comprising a scanner wheel configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, the scanner wheel having a plurality of reflective elements disposed along a perimeter, the plurality of reflective elements being configured to receive the beam from the second optical element and generate a plurality of beamlets from the beam output in a pattern from the scanner wheel, the apparatus according to claim 1.

20. A method, the method comprising: Directing a beam of electromagnetic energy through a collimator towards a first optical element; Rotating the first prism of the first optical element with respect to the second prism of the first optical element to correct the deviation of the beam with respect to the optical axis of the second optical element downstream of the first optical element, and the like.

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