Laser Coring for Independent Skin Lifting Vectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin tightening treatments are invasive, painful, time-consuming, and often produce inconsistent results, with limitations on applicability to different skin types and areas of the face and neck.
Innovation Solution
A laser treatment device that emits optical energy at a wavelength between 2,700 nm and 3,500 nm, using a controller to deliver laser pulses in a pattern with overlapping locations, achieving a thermal injury percentage between 5% and 50% to form holes in human tissue, thereby tightening the skin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical facelift is performed to achieve permanent skin tightening, then skin tightening effect is improved, but invasiveness and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical surgical cutting and tissue repositioning with laser-based optical energy delivery. The laser system uses controlled thermal energy to create microthermal zones that stimulate collagen contraction and remodeling, achieving skin tightening without physical incisions or mechanical tissue manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs specific laser parameters including wavelength (1064 nm or 1550 nm), fluence (1-10 J/cm²), and pulse duration (1-100 ms) to control the depth and extent of thermal injury. By adjusting these parameters, the system creates controlled microthermal zones in the dermis that stimulate collagen remodeling while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues, thereby reducing invasiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If radio frequency or ultrasound bulk heating is applied to encourage collagen production, then non-invasiveness is improved, but treatment time and consistency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the treatment area into multiple discrete zones by delivering laser energy through a scanning pattern that creates spatially separated microthermal zones. The laser beam is moved across the treatment area in a controlled manner, treating different regions sequentially with precise energy deposition at each location, which accelerates the overall treatment process while maintaining consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pulsed laser delivery with specific pulse durations (1-100 ms) and repetition rates to create periodic thermal stimulation. This periodic energy delivery allows controlled heating cycles that promote collagen remodeling while providing cooling intervals between pulses to prevent excessive thermal damage, thereby reducing total treatment time and improving result consistency.
3Reliability
If mechanical micro-coring is performed to remove skin columns, then skin tightening is achieved, but pain and bleeding increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical punching and coring instruments with laser ablation. Instead of physically removing skin columns with mechanical force, the laser system uses optical energy to vaporize and remove tissue through controlled ablation, creating similar micro-channels without mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates bleeding associated with mechanical cutting and reduces pain through precise energy control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes laser-induced phase transitions of tissue water from liquid to vapor during the ablation process. The laser energy rapidly heats water molecules within the target tissue, causing vaporization and ejection of tissue material. This phase change mechanism enables clean tissue removal without mechanical cutting, thereby minimizing bleeding and trauma to surrounding vessels.
4Reliability
If CO2 pulsed laser treatment is applied for skin tightening, then skin tightening effect is improved, but pain and risk of side effects worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs specific laser parameters including wavelength (1064 nm or 1550 nm, compared to traditional CO2 at 10600 nm), fluence (1-10 J/cm²), and pulse duration (1-100 ms) to control the depth and extent of thermal injury. By adjusting these parameters, the system creates controlled microthermal zones in the dermis that stimulate collagen remodeling while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues, thereby reducing invasiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The laser treatment provides faster, more consistent, and longer-lasting skin tightening results with reduced pain, downtime, and bleeding, while being safe for all skin types and applicable to nearly all areas of the face and neck.
Implementation Method 1
a laser source configured to emit optical energy at a laser wavelength between about 2,700 nm and about 3,500 nm... delivering a plurality of laser pulses to a plurality of locations forming a pattern within the target area... form a hole in the human tissue within the target area
Implementation Method 2
provide each of the plurality of pulses with a fluence above an ablation threshold fluence for the laser wavelength such that a thermal injury percentage for energy delivered by each pulse is between about 5% and about 50%
Data Source
AI summary
A laser treatment device includes a laser source configured to emit optical energy at a wavelength between about 2,700-3,500 nm, a laser applicator configured to deliver the optical energy to a target area of human tissue, and a controller configured to control the laser source and applicator to form a hole in the human tissue within the target area by delivering laser pulses to a plurality of locations forming a pattern within the target area. Each of the locations partially overlaps with at least one other of the locations. The controller is configured to provide each of the pulses with a fluence above an ablation threshold fluence for the laser wavelength such that a thermal injury percentage for energy delivered by each pulse is between about 5-50%. The thermal injury percentage is determined by dividing the ablation threshold fluence by the fluence of each pulse.