Support system for treatment devices

Abstract

A support system for a handpiece is provided. The support system includes a boom assembly having a rigid anchor base and a flexible rod having a proximal end and a distal end, and a connecting assembly having a proximal end configured to connect to the distal end of the flexible rod and a distal end configured to connect to a handpiece. The flexible rod is pivotally attached to the anchor base at its proximal end, and the flexible rod has increasing flexibility from the distal end to the proximal end. The connecting assembly is configured to allow the handpiece to rotate with at least two degrees of freedom. The boom assembly is configured to support the connecting assembly and the handpiece so that the connecting assembly and the handpiece remain in a neutral position.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 458,560, filed on April 11, 2023, entitled “Support System for Treatment Device,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Laser-based therapeutic devices can be effective in treating a wide range of diseases. During a treatment procedure, the operator, such as a physician or beautician, moves the device over the affected tissue while it delivers a precise dose of energy to the tissue. Too much energy delivered to the affected tissue can cause potential harm to the patient, while too little energy delivered can result in an ineffective treatment. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment, the operator must carefully control the device, which may weigh several pounds or more, to deliver the precise dose of radiation during a treatment procedure that may last 30 minutes or longer. During a treatment procedure, the operator may become fatigued, which can have harmful effects on the patient. Furthermore, the operator may have multiple consecutive procedures in a single day, which can exacerbate problems related to operator fatigue and lead to inappropriate or harmful irradiation of the patient from the device.

[0003] To address fatigue issues, specific support systems and armatures have been developed to relieve the burden on the operator. However, these systems typically utilize articulated arms with one or more manually adjustable joints from which the therapeutic device is freely suspended. Such systems still require the therapeutic operator to fully support the weight of the therapeutic device and associated cables in order to control the finer movements of the therapeutic device during the treatment procedure. Therefore, improved support systems to assist the therapeutic operator during the treatment procedure are still needed. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0004] A support system for the handpiece is provided.

[0005] In one embodiment, a support system for a handpiece is provided, the support system including a boom assembly having a rigid anchor base and a flexible rod having a proximal end and a distal end, and a connecting assembly having a proximal end configured to connect to the distal end of the flexible rod and a distal end configured to connect to a handpiece. The flexible rod may be pivotally attached to the anchor base at its proximal end. The flexible rod may have increasing flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end, and the connecting assembly is configured to allow the handpiece to rotate with at least two degrees of freedom. The boom assembly may be configured to support the connecting assembly and the handpiece so that the connecting assembly and the handpiece remain in a neutral position.

[0006] The support system may be modified in many ways. For example, the support system may include a handpiece coupled to a connecting assembly. In one embodiment, the handpiece may be a laser treatment device for medical and / or cosmetic procedures. For example, the connecting assembly and handpiece may be operable with minimal force within an envelope surrounding a neutral position. For example, the connecting assembly may be configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom. Each degree of freedom may be substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom. For example, a flexible rod may have a consistent taper from its proximal end to its distal end, and the flexibility of the rod may increase proportionally to a constant taper from the proximal end to the distal end. The flexible rod may also be hollow. For example, an operable lift coupled to an anchor base may be configured to extend upward and retract downward. Furthermore, the operable lift may be extendable between approximately 18 and 30 inches. Furthermore, the operable lift may include a pivot extension, which may be configured to support a rigid anchor base at an angle to the pivot extension. In one embodiment, the rigid anchor base may be configured to slide relative to the pivot extension when the operable lift is extended and retracted, and the angle may be configured to move between approximately 120 and 180 degrees.

[0007] In another embodiment, a support system for a handpiece is provided, the system including a cart with an extendable lift movable between an extended and retracted position, a boom assembly coupled to the extendable lift, and a connecting assembly coupled to the distal end of a flexible rod. The boom assembly may include a rigid anchor base and a flexible rod, the proximal end of which is coupled to the proximal end of the rigid anchor portion. The connecting assembly may be configured to couple with the handpiece so that the handpiece can rotate with at least two degrees of freedom relative to the connecting assembly.

[0008] The support system may be modified in many ways. For example, the boom assembly and connecting assembly may be configured to support the handpiece in a neutral position, and the handpiece may be operable with minimal force within an envelope surrounding the neutral position. In one modification, the force required to move the handpiece when it is within the envelope may be about 0.5 lbF or less. For example, the connecting assembly may be configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom, each of which may be substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom. For example, the support system may include a plurality of conveyor lines extending along the boom assembly. The first end of each of the plurality of conveyor lines may be located in a cart, and the second end of each may be configured to connect to the handpiece. Furthermore, the plurality of conveyor lines may include at least one fluid line. In one modification, at least one fluid line may include a first fluid line configured to convey a first fluid and a second fluid line configured to convey a second fluid different from the first fluid. In one embodiment, the first fluid is a dehumidifying gas, and the second fluid is a coolant.

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be better understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A perspective view of a support system according to one embodiment is shown. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the support system. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows a side view of the boom assembly that can be used with the support system. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the support system having a lift system in the extended position. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of the upper part of the support system. [Figure 6]Figure 1 is a perspective view of the connecting assembly that supports the handpiece, which can be used with the support system. [Figure 7] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the support system having a defined minimum force envelope. [Figure 8] This is a side view of the support system shown in Figure 1 at the docking position. [Figure 9] This is a side view of the support system in the deployed docking position shown in Figure 1.

[0011] [Figure 10] This is a side view of the support system in Figure 1 in the deployed and extended docking position.

[0012] Please note that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are intended to show only typical embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein and should not be considered to limit the scope of this disclosure. The systems, apparatus, and methods described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] To provide an overall understanding of the structure, function, manufacture, and principles of use of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein, certain exemplary embodiments are described below. One or more examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the apparatus and methods specifically described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of this disclosure is defined solely by the claims. Features shown or described in relation to one exemplary embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and changes are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0014] Methods for treating various lesions, such as those for medical and / or cosmetic purposes, may be carried out using the systems described herein. While such methods may be carried out by physicians, it is understood that non-physicians, such as estheticians and other appropriately trained personnel, may also treat various lesions using the systems described herein, either under the supervision or without the supervision of a physician.

[0015] Furthermore, in this disclosure, similarly named components generally have similar characteristics, and therefore, within a particular embodiment, each characteristic of each similarly named component is not necessarily fully detailed. Moreover, to the extent that linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, apparatus, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that may be used in combination with such systems, apparatus, and methods. Those skilled in the art will recognize that equivalents to such linear and circular dimensions can be readily determined for any geometric shape. The size and shape of the systems and apparatus, and their components, may depend at least on the anatomical structure of the object in which the systems and apparatus are used, the size and shape of the components in which the systems and apparatus are used together, and the methods and procedures in which the systems and apparatus are used.

[0016] Various diseases and illnesses can be treated using the precise dosage of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that is directed at the affected tissue by a laser treatment device. In these treatment procedures, a treatment operator, such as a physician or cosmetologist, must move a heavy treatment device (also called a handpiece) over the affected tissue in order to properly irradiate the tissue during a procedure that can last for 30 minutes or more. The weight of the handpiece and the fine movements required over the long duration of the treatment procedure (or in multiple consecutive procedures involving multiple patients) can cause operator fatigue, which can lead to a loss of effectiveness of the treatment procedure. A support system for a laser-based treatment device, and related methods, that address these needs are described herein. The support system can support the handpiece in an area near the patient, and can support the handpiece in a manner that removes the load of the handpiece from the operator while providing the operator with fine movement control of the handpiece. The laser treatment device and handpiece compatible with the support system may vary, and exemplary devices and handpieces are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021 / 0138261, entitled "Feedback Detection for a Treatment Device", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0017] Such devices can be applicable to a wide variety of medical and / or cosmetic procedures. References to specific types of procedures are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the overall disclosure. Various medical and / or cosmetic procedures involve long periods of precise handling by the treatment operator, and fatigue can be detrimental in such procedures regardless of the type of tissue or disease being treated, the particular operator, etc. Thus, the devices and methods described herein can generally be widely applicable to provide increased endurance and control to the operator.

[0018] Generally, the support systems described herein include a boom assembly coupled to an anchor base. The boom assembly can take various forms and generally may include an articulated and stable portion coupled to a flexible portion, which can support an orientation assembly such as a gimbal system to ultimately support the handpiece during a treatment procedure and allow rotation of the handpiece in one, two, or three degrees of freedom so as not to limit its operability during the procedure and ultimately not to limit the quality of the procedure.

[0019] The anchor base can provide support for the boom assembly when the handpiece is supported by the boom assembly and operated during a treatment procedure. The operation of the handpiece requires various connections, cables, and lines, and the anchor base can also provide a place to house the components of the system necessary to operate the device during the treatment procedure, such as a power source, a chiller assembly (e.g., cooling lines) for the handpiece to cool the tissue being treated, an EMR source, etc. The anchor base may also include an actuator that can raise or lower the boom assembly, which can provide more flexibility to the treatment operator during the treatment procedure.

[0020] When the support systems are not in use, they may be placed in a docking position set within a dock where the handpiece is located on the boom assembly to minimize the overall footprint of the support systems. When needed, the handpiece can be removed from the dock and operated by the operator as required for a given procedure.

[0021] Referring next to Figure 1, a support system 10 for use with a laser treatment device and handpiece according to one embodiment is shown. The support system 10, shown in the detached position, may generally include an anchor base 100, a boom assembly 200 coupled thereto, and a connecting assembly 300 configured to support a handpiece such as a handpiece 400. The anchor base 100, boom assembly 200, and connecting assembly 300 together can support the handpiece 400 during the procedure to minimize and / or eliminate operator fatigue, as described above. As shown, the support system 10 is located in the detached position, not coupled to anything other than the connecting assembly 300 to which the handpiece 400 is always attached. As introduced above, this detached position exists in contrast to the docking position of the support system 10, where the handpiece is fixed in a dock (not shown). The docking position will be described in more detail below, and the dock (not shown) will be described in reference to the docking position.

[0022] The anchor base 100 can take various forms, including a cabinet having a substantially hollow anchor frame 102 on which one or more doors 104 providing access to the interior of the anchor base 100 are located. The anchor base 100 may be supported by various mechanisms, including selectively lockable wheels 106 (e.g., casters), which can allow the anchor base to remain fixed or moved as needed. The anchor base 100 may also include one or more handles 108 for facilitating its movement, and one or more handles 108 may be positioned on the anchor base 100 in a location that allows a therapist to adjust the position of the anchor base 100 while seated during a procedure, etc.

[0023] The anchor base 100 may also include a display 110 that can relay various information related to treatment procedures and other information. The display 110 may be attached to or otherwise coupled to the anchor base 100 so that it can be adjusted for convenience as needed. A handpiece dock 112 may be located on the anchor base 100 and may be used to house the handpiece 400 when it is not in use. For example, as shown in Figure 1, when the handpiece 400 is in the ready position, it remains at a certain distance from the anchor base 100, which may not always be desirable. Instead of remaining in an external position, the handpiece 400 may be located inside the dock 112 to reduce the overall footprint of the support system 10. The anchor base 100 may also include various input units 114 located on it, such as a key start, a lockout mechanism, a control unit, etc. One such input unit may be a foot pedal 116, which may be operated by the treatment operator to turn the handpiece on or off as needed during a treatment procedure.

[0024] As briefly described above, the anchor base 100 can house one or more systems necessary for a treatment procedure, including an EMR source (not shown), a chiller 118, a power supply 120, an air drying system (not shown), and various electronic devices for controlling the handpiece 400. Also included within the anchor base 100 is the lift system 210, which is part of the boom assembly 200 and is described below. These systems can be seen in the cross-sectional view 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 extend along the boom assembly 200 and connect to the handpiece 400. As mentioned above, the handpiece may include an optical window through which a coolant flows. The coolant may flow through the connector 122 to be cooled by the chilling assembly in order to cool the tissue being treated in the treatment procedure. The connector 122 may include a cable for transmitting power from the power supply 120 to the handpiece 400 and a tube for transporting cooled coolant to the optical window. In one modification, the connector 122 may also include a tube for transporting dehumidified air. During treatment, condensation may form on the cooled optical window, which may obstruct the transmission of the treatment beam through the optical window. Introducing dehumidified gas and / or air to the cooled optical window via the connector 122 can prevent condensation buildup. The connector 122 may extend along the boom assembly 200 to electrically and fluidly couple the handpiece 400 to a system located within the anchor base 100, as will be described in more detail below. In one embodiment, the connector 122 may be designed to facilitate quick release of the handpiece 400 when the handpiece 400 needs servicing or when various handpieces 400 are used with the support system 100.

[0025] The support system 10 may also include a boom assembly 200 that can be coupled to the anchor base 100 and support the handpiece 400 during treatment. The boom assembly may be articulated by the treatment operator while simultaneously supporting at least a large portion of the weight of the handpiece 400. The boom assembly 200 is shown in Figure 3 separated from the anchor base 100, but is still coupled to both the connecting assembly 300 and the handpiece 400. Generally, the boom assembly 200 may include a lift system 210, a rigid support base 220, and a flexible rod 230.

[0026] The lift system 210 may be located almost entirely within the anchor base 100 and may extend and retract as needed to raise and lower the handpiece 400 to a more preferred position for treatment procedures. The lift system 210 may be a mechanical system, such as a rail system. In other modifications, the lift system 210 may be pneumatic or hydraulic. When the lift system 210 is fully retracted, the top of the lift system 210 may be substantially flush with the top of the anchor base, for example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. When extension of the lift system 210 is desired, the treatment operator or another person may extend the lift system 210 over a distance D (shown in Figure 4) up to an upper limit via one or more inputs 114. Over this range, the lift system 210 can provide an additional height of up to 18 to 30 inches or more, and in some modifications, it can provide a height of about 20 inches or more.

[0027] The rigid support base 220 may be coupled to the lift system 210 in a pivotal and / or sliding manner so that the rigid support base 220 can be moved relative to the lift system 210 and anchor base 100 as desired. For example, the proximal end of the rigid support base 220 may be coupled to an internal lift mechanism (not shown) within the lift system 210 so that the rigid support base 220 can be extended or retracted so that it can pivot with and / or relative to the lift system 210, providing a range of angles in which the lift system can pivot. For example, the rigid support base 220 may be operated over a range of angles α (shown in Figures 3 and 8-10) between approximately 5 and 50 degrees relative to the vertical. In one modification, the angle α may be between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the vertical, and the rigid support base 220 may be intentionally positioned at any value within the full range of possibilities.

[0028] To assist in the extension, contraction, and pivoting of the rigid support base 220, a spring-loaded guide 222, for example, as shown in Figure 5, may be positioned on top of the lift system 210. The spring-loaded guide 222 may be spring-biased or otherwise mechanically biased toward the rigid support base 220. As the rigid support base 220 extends and contracts relative to the lift system 210, the spring-loaded guide 222 may deflect and pivot to compensate for the increased load on itself, 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 feature one or more rollers 224 that can rotate freely to minimize frictional contact between the spring-loaded guide 222 and the rigid support base 220.

[0029] The boom assembly 200 may also include a flexible rod 230, which may be a flexible element fixed to a 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 the rigid support base 220 can bear some of its load to stabilize the handpiece 400 and the boom assembly 200 itself when the flexible rod 230 bends under the weight of the handpiece 400. Essentially, the flexible rod 230 may behave like a fishing rod under load. When the handpiece 400 is attached to the flexible rod 230 and detached from the dock, the flexible rod 230 will bend to some extent under the weight of the handpiece 400 and the angle α in which the rigid support base 220 is positioned, depending on the properties of the flexible rod 230. Eventually, the handpiece 400 will reach and remain in an equilibrium or neutral position. Modifying the properties of the flexible rod 230 so that it is made of a different material and has different geometric shapes and deflection characteristics, etc., can change the position of this neutral position, and manipulating the angle α and / or distance D can also affect the precise position of this neutral position relative to the rest of the support system 10. For example, if the flexible rod 230 is made more rigid and the handpiece remains the same, the handpiece 400 will not bend the rod to the same extent. This may result in a neutral position that is relatively higher and / or further from the anchor base 100.

[0030] Generally, the handpiece 400 may weigh about 2 lbs, with an error of about 0.25 lbs. The flexible rod 230 may be designed and dimensionally determined based on the total weight of the handpiece 400 to ensure that the neutral position is in a practical position relative to the rest of the system for the operator to effectively utilize the support system 10. Specifically, in one embodiment, 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 in proportion to the constant taper of the flexible rod 230, resulting in the distal end being substantially more flexible and pliable than the proximal end. In one modification, the flexible rod 230 may even be a fishing rod, excluding the eyelets and other components used for fishing. The similarity between the flexible rod 230 and a fishing rod may be such that the flexible rod 230 can be described in terms of fishing rod terminology. For example, the flexible rod 230 may have a length of about 7 feet, with an error of about 1 foot, and a distal end diameter (also called butt diameter) between about 0.5 and 0.55 inches, or in some cases about 0.527 inches. A characteristic known as "action" can describe how a fishing rod bends under a given load, and this action can be described in terms including slow, medium, and fast, where slow action corresponds to a greater bend under a given load, and fast action corresponds to a smaller bend under the same given load. The flexible rod 230 may be said to have a medium-fast action. The flexible rod 230 may be made from a number of materials. To obtain consistent performance with a given handpiece 400, the exact dimensions of the flexible rod 230 may vary slightly as a result of the different properties of the materials. The material may include other materials that provide similar performance, such as fiberglass, bamboo, poplar, carbon fiber, bent sheet metal, graphite, or various types of wood, metals, plastics, and composite materials.

[0031] As described above, the connector 122 can transmit the energy and one or more fluids necessary for the treatment procedure and its proper operation to the handpiece 400. The connector 122 can take various forms such as cables and / or tubes that can extend along the boom assembly 200 through the lift system 210, through the rigid support base 220, and along the flexible rod 230. The connector 122 may be coupled to the flexible rod 230 in a number of ways. For example, the flexible rod and the connector 122 may be housed within a sheath 232 that may extend along the entire length of the flexible rod 230 between the rigid support base 220 and the connection assembly 300.

[0032] The connection assembly 300 can be seen throughout the drawings, such as in FIG. 6 for example, and it operates to couple the handpiece 400 to the boom assembly 200 in a manner that allows flexibility in the movement of the handpiece 400. The connection assembly 300 can have various forms, and as shown in the drawings, the connection assembly 300 can take the form of a gimbal assembly that allows rotation of the handpiece 400 in at least one, at least two, or three degrees of freedom while the handpiece 400 remains coupled to the boom assembly 200. The connection assembly 300 may be designed to fit the size and weight of the handpiece 400 in order to ensure that the handpiece 400 can be operated with minimal force. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the connection assembly 300 includes three axes of rotation R x 、R y 、R z about which the handpiece 400 can rotate in each degree of freedom. Each of the axes of rotation R x 、R y 、R z may pass through the center of mass of the handpiece 400 in order to make the rotation of the handpiece around the axes of rotation R x 、R y 、R z as smooth as possible, and each of the axes of rotation R x 、R y 、R z may be substantially orthogonal to each other.

[0033] Overall, the support system 10 may be designed to fit a specific handpiece 400 in order to minimize the force required to operate the handpiece 400. Ultimately, the handpiece 400 is supported in a neutral position, and the therapist can move the handpiece 400 freely within the envelope 410 around the neutral position with minimal force, and can also move the neutral position and the envelope 410 freely as needed. The envelope 410 can be seen in Figure 7. Within the envelope 410, the handpiece 400 can be operated with a force of 0.5 lbF or less, despite its actual weight of approximately 1.75 lbs to 2.25 lbs.

[0034] As described herein, methods for adjusting the support system 10 include moving the anchor base 100 on the wheel 106, extending and contracting the lift system 210, rotating the lift system 210, extending, contracting, and pivoting the rigid support base 210, deflecting the flexible rod 230, and rotating the handpiece 400 relative to the connecting assembly 300. Dividing these adjustments, 1) the movement of the anchor base 100 on the wheel 106 and the extension and contraction of the lift system 210 are adjustments that contribute to the movement of the envelope 410; 2) the rotation of the lift system 210 and the deflection of the flexible rod 230 are adjustments that contribute to the movement of the handpiece 400 within the envelope 410; and 3) the rotation of the handpiece relative to the connecting assembly 300 is an adjustment that contributes to the orientation of the handpiece 400 within the envelope 410.

[0035] For adjustments in Group 1, the anchor base 100 may be moved on the wheel 106 as needed, and the lift system 210 may be extended and retracted over a range of approximately 20 inches. For adjustments in Group 2, the lift system 210 may be rotated in the yaw direction over a range of approximately 60 degrees (±30 degrees relative to the center position, indicated by arrow β in Figure 7) while the distance between the lift system 210 and the handpiece 400 is approximately 46 inches, and the flexible rod 230 may be moved approximately 3 inches up or down, approximately 7 inches towards the anchor base, and approximately 5 inches away from the anchor base 100. These movements represent exemplary ranges that define the envelope 410 for a given setting, but specific values ​​may potentially vary beyond these numbers. Furthermore, when the lift system 210 is at any of its angular position limits (i.e., ±30 degrees relative to the center position), the flexible rod 230 may be moved so that the handpiece extends approximately 24 inches beyond the maximum angular position, while the force required to move the handpiece remains approximately 0.5 lbF or less.

[0036] In other variations, the lift system 210 may rotate further than simply within a range of 60 degrees, and β may be within a full 360-degree range of approximately ±180 degrees from the center.

[0037] As described above, the support system 10 may be positioned in a docking position so that the handpiece 400 is fixed near the boom assembly. As shown in Figures 8-10, when the support system 10 is in the docking position, the handpiece is positioned within the dock 450. As shown, the support system 10 may transition between the docking position (Figure 8), the deployed docking position (Figure 9), and the deployed-extended docking position (Figure 10) while the handpiece 400 remains fixed within the dock 450. In the docking position of Figure 8, the lift system 210 is fully retracted into the anchor base 100 so that the height of the support system 10 is minimized. The rigid support base 220 is also positioned to be as vertical as possible so that the angle α is minimized (for example, 0 degrees from vertical, 5 degrees from vertical, etc., depending on its range). In the deployed docking position of Figure 9, the lift system 210 is fully retracted into the anchor base 100 so that the height of the support system 10 is again minimized. The rigid support base 220 is positioned as horizontal as possible so that the angle α is maximized (e.g., 50 degrees from vertical, 90 degrees from vertical, etc., depending on its range). In the deployed and extended docking position, the lift system 210 is fully extended from the anchor base 100 so that the distance D is maximized (e.g., 18 inches or more, 20 inches or more, 30 inches or more, etc., depending on its range). The rigid support base 220 is again positioned as horizontal as possible. While these three docking variations are shown, any combination of positions across any of the various ranges described herein is also possible.

[0038] The subject matter described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuits, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, structural means disclosed herein and their structural equivalents, or in combination thereof. The subject matter described herein may be implemented as one or more computer programs tangibly embodied in an information carrier (e.g., a machine-readable memory device) or embodied in propagating signals for execution by one or more computer program products, such as a data processing device (e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers), or for controlling the operation of a data processing device. A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, or code) may be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and may be deployed in any form, such 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 part of a file that holds other programs or data, in a single file dedicated to the program, or in a set of coordinated files (e.g., a file that stores one or more modules, subprograms, or parts of code). A computer program may be deployed to run on a single computer, on multiple computers at a single site, or on multiple computers distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0039] The processes and logic flows described herein include method steps of the subject matter described herein and may be executed by one or more programmable processors that execute one or more computer programs to perform the functions of the subject matter described herein by operating on input data and producing outputs. The processes and logic flows may also be executed by application-specific logic circuits, such as FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) or ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), and the devices of the subject matter described herein may be implemented as application-specific logic circuits.

[0040] Processors suitable for executing computer programs include, for example, both general-purpose and application-specific microprocessors, as well as any one or more processors in any type of digital computer. Generally, a processor receives instructions and data from read-only memory or random-access memory or both. Essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also includes one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks, or is operablely coupled for receiving data from or transferring data to them, or both. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data 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). Processors and memory may be complemented by or incorporated into application-specific logic circuits.

[0041] To provide user interaction, the subject matter described herein may be implemented on a computer having a display device for displaying information to the user, such as a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, and a keyboard and pointing device (e.g., mouse or trackball) on which the user can provide input 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 (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback), and the input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, voice, or tactile input.

[0042] The technologies described herein may be implemented using one or more modules. As used herein, the term “module” refers to computing software, firmware, hardware, and / or various combinations thereof. However, at the very least, a module should not be interpreted as hardware, firmware, or software not implemented on a non-temporary processor-readable recordable storage medium (i.e., a module is not software in itself). In fact, a “module” should always be interpreted as including at least some physical non-temporary hardware, such as a processor or part of a 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 herein may be combined, integrated, separated, and / or duplicated to support various applications. Furthermore, functions described herein as being performed by a particular module may be performed by one or more other modules and / or by one or more other devices instead of, or in addition to, functions performed by a particular module. In addition, modules may be implemented across multiple devices and / or other components, local or remote to each other. Furthermore, modules may be moved from one device to another and / or included in both devices.

[0043] The subject matter described herein may be implemented in a computing system including backend components (e.g., data servers), middleware components (e.g., application servers), or frontend components (e.g., client computers having a graphical user interface or web browser that allows a user to interact with an implementation of the subject matter described herein), or any combination of such backend, middleware, and frontend components. The components of the system may be interconnected by digital data communications of any form or medium, such as communication networks. Examples of communication networks include local area networks ("LANs") and wide area networks ("WANs"), such as the Internet.

[0044] The approximate language used throughout this specification and the claims may be applied to modify any quantitative expression that may change acceptablely without altering the underlying function of the expression in question. Unless otherwise stated or evident from the context (except where such a number unacceptably exceeds 100% of the possible value), “approximately,” “substantially,” or “about” may include numbers that are within 1 percent, or in some embodiments within 5 percent of the number, or in some embodiments within 10 percent in either direction (greater than or less than the number).

[0045] Therefore, values ​​modified by terms such as “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially,” or more than one, are not limited to the specified exact value. In at least some examples, the approximation language may correspond to the precision of the instrument used to measure the value. Throughout this specification and the claims, range limitations may be combined and / or interchangeable, and such ranges, unless identified and the context or language indicates otherwise, include all subranges contained therein.

[0046] The articles “a” and “an” used herein and in the claims should be understood to include multiple references unless explicitly indicated otherwise. Any claim or description containing “or” between one or more members of a group should be deemed satisfied unless otherwise indicated or otherwise evident from the context, if one, more, or all of the group members are present in, used in, or otherwise related to a given product or process. This disclosure includes embodiments in which exactly one member of a group is present in, used in, or otherwise related to a given product or process. This disclosure also includes embodiments in which more or all of the group members are present in, used in, or otherwise related to a given product or process. Furthermore, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments provide all variations, combinations, and permutations into which one or more limitations, elements, clauses, descriptive terms, etc., from one or more enumerated claims are introduced into other claims dependent on the same basic claim (or any other claim, where relevant), unless otherwise indicated or otherwise evident to a person skilled in the art. All embodiments described herein are intended to be applicable to all different aspects of the disclosed embodiments, where appropriate. Furthermore, any embodiment or aspect may, whenever appropriate, be freely combined with one or more other such embodiments or aspects. Where elements are presented in a list, e.g., a Markush group or similar format, each subgroup of the elements is also disclosed, and it is understood that any element may be removed from a group. Generally, where a disclosed embodiment or aspect of a disclosed embodiment is referred to as including a particular element, feature, etc., it should be understood that a particular embodiment or aspect of this disclosure consists of, or essentially consists of, such elements, features, etc. For simplicity, those embodiments are not specifically described herein in all cases. Furthermore, it should be understood that any embodiment or aspect of this disclosure may be expressly excluded from the claims, regardless of whether a particular exclusion is described in the specification.For example, any one or more activators, additives, ingredients, any drugs, types of organisms, disorders, subjects, or combinations thereof may be excluded.

[0047] Where a range is given herein, embodiments of the disclosure include embodiments in which an endpoint is included, embodiments in which both endpoints are excluded, and embodiments in which one endpoint is included and the other is excluded. Unless otherwise indicated, it should be assumed that both endpoints are included. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated or otherwise obvious from the context and the understanding of those skilled in the art, values ​​expressed as ranges are understood to take any particular value or subrange within the range described, up to one-tenth of the lower limit unit of the range, in different embodiments of the disclosure unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise. Also, where a set of numerical values ​​is described herein, it should be understood that the disclosure includes embodiments that analogously relate to any intervening value or range defined by any two values ​​in the set, where the minimum value may be taken as the minimum and the maximum value may be taken as the maximum. Numerical values ​​used herein include values ​​expressed as percentages.

[0048] Several variations are described in detail above, but other modifications or additions are possible.

[0049] In the above description and claims, a list of conjunctions for elements or features may follow phrases such as “at least one” or “one or more.” The term “and / or” may also appear in lists of two or more elements or features. Unless implicitly or explicitly contradicted by the context in which it is used, such phrases are intended to mean any of the enumerated elements or features individually or in combination with any of the other enumerated elements or features. For example, the phrases “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,” respectively. A similar interpretation is intended for lists containing three or more items. For example, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, and / or C” are intended to mean “A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.” Furthermore, the use of the term "based on" in the above and in the claims is intended to mean "at least partially based on," and therefore any features or elements not described are also permitted.

[0050] The subject matter described herein may be embodied in systems, apparatus, methods, and / or articles, depending on the desired configuration. The implementations described herein do not represent all implementations that correspond to the subject matter described herein. Rather, they are merely examples that correspond to embodiments relating to the subject matter described herein. While several modifications have been described in detail above, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and / or variations may be provided in addition to those described herein. For example, the implementations described herein may be directed to various combinations and partial combinations of the disclosed features, as well as combinations and partial combinations of some of the further features disclosed above. Furthermore, the logic flows shown in the accompanying drawings and / or described herein do not necessarily require a specific order or sequential order to achieve the desired result. Other implementations may fall within the following claims.

Claims

1. A support system for a handpiece, A boom assembly having a rigid anchor base and a flexible rod having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the flexible rod is pivotally attached to the anchor base at the proximal end, and the flexible rod has increasing flexibility from the proximal end to the distal end, A connecting assembly having a proximal end configured to connect to the distal end of the flexible rod and a distal end configured to connect to the handpiece, wherein the connecting assembly is configured to allow the handpiece to rotate with at least two degrees of freedom, Equipped with, A support system in which the boom assembly is configured to support the connecting assembly and the handpiece so that the connecting assembly and the handpiece remain in a neutral position.

2. The support system according to claim 1, further comprising a handpiece coupled to the connection assembly.

3. The support system according to claim 2, wherein the handpiece includes a laser treatment device for medical and / or cosmetic procedures.

4. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting assembly and handpiece can be operated with minimal force within the envelope surrounding the neutral position.

5. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting assembly is configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom, each of which degrees of freedom is substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom.

6. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible rod has a consistent taper from the proximal end to the distal end, and the flexibility of the rod increases in proportion to the constant taper from the proximal end to the distal end.

7. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the flexible rod is hollow.

8. The support system according to claim 1, further comprising an operable lift coupled to the anchor base, wherein the operable lift is configured to extend upward and retract downward.

9. The support system according to claim 8, wherein the movable lift is extendable between approximately 18 and 30 inches.

10. The support system according to claim 8, wherein the operable lift includes a pivot extension, the pivot extension is configured to support the rigid anchor base at an angle to the pivot extension.

11. The support system according to claim 10, wherein the rigid anchor base is configured to slide relative to the fulcrum extension when the operable lift is extended and retracted, and the angle is configured to move between approximately 120 degrees and 180 degrees.

12. A support system for a handpiece, A cart including an extendable lift that can move between an extended position and a retracted position, A boom assembly coupled to the extendable lift, comprising a rigid anchor base and a flexible rod, the proximal end of which is coupled to the proximal end of the rigid anchor portion, A connecting assembly coupled to the distal end of the flexible rod, wherein the handpiece is coupled to the handpiece so that it can rotate with respect to the connecting assembly in at least two degrees of freedom, A support system equipped with [the necessary components].

13. The support system according to claim 12, wherein the boom assembly and the connecting assembly are configured to support the handpiece in a neutral position, and the handpiece can be operated with minimal force within an envelope surrounding the neutral position.

14. The support system according to claim 13, wherein the force required to move the handpiece when the handpiece is inside the envelope is about 0.5 lbF or less.

15. The support system according to claim 12, wherein the connecting assembly is configured to allow the handpiece to rotate in three degrees of freedom, each of which degrees of freedom is substantially orthogonal to the other degrees of freedom.

16. The support system according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of conveying lines extending along the boom assembly, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of conveying lines is located in the cart and the second end of each is connected to the handpiece.

17. The support system according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of transport lines include at least one fluid line.

18. The support system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one fluid line includes a first fluid line configured to transport a first fluid and a second fluid line configured to transport a second fluid different from the first fluid.

19. The support system according to claim 18, wherein the first fluid is a dehumidifying gas and the second fluid is a coolant.

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