Laser Dosimetry via Skin Surface Temperature Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current photo-thermal targeted treatments face challenges in determining the correct dosimetry to effectively damage specific chromophores while avoiding thermal damage to the surrounding dermis and epidermis, leading to potential pain and tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that measure skin surface temperature to estimate and define a safe operating range for laser parameters, ensuring effective targeting of chromophores without causing thermal damage, by administering initial laser pulses below the damage threshold, measuring skin surface temperature, and adjusting parameters to maintain a safe range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If thermal energy is increased to effectively damage chromophores, then treatment efficacy is improved, but thermal damage to surrounding dermis and epidermis increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidthermal damage to dermis and epidermis

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cooling of the epidermis before photo-thermal treatment to create a protective thermal buffer. This pre-cooling action establishes a safety margin that allows subsequent heating to reach chromophore-damaging temperatures without causing epidermal damage, directly resolving the contradiction between treatment efficacy and tissue safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements real-time temperature monitoring during photo-thermal treatment and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust laser parameters. By continuously measuring temperature and modifying treatment intensity accordingly, the system maintains chromophore damage effectiveness while preventing excessive heating of surrounding tissues, thus resolving the efficacy-safety contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pre-cooling protocol is added to prevent epidermis damage, then safety is improved, but treatment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveepidermis damageVSAvoidtreatment protocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system combines the pre-cooling protocol and photo-thermal treatment protocol into a single integrated treatment session using the same laser device. By merging these previously separate protocols, the system achieves epidermal protection through cooling while avoiding the complexity of requiring separate equipment and multiple treatment sessions, thus resolving the safety-complexity contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If separate pre-cooling and preheating protocols are used, then tissue protection is improved, but equipment complexity and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damageVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The laser device is configured to perform multiple functions within a single treatment session: it can deliver cooling pulses to protect the epidermis, administer photo-thermal treatment to damage chromophores, and provide preheating to facilitate subsequent treatment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment and simplifies operational procedures while maintaining tissue protection, directly resolving the contradiction between tissue safety and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This approach allows for customized treatment protocols that minimize epidermis and dermis damage while effectively targeting chromophores, enhancing treatment safety and comfort by predicting and adjusting skin surface temperatures in real-time.

Implementation Method 1

Chromophores embedded in a medium such as the dermis, can be thermally damaged by heating the chromophore with a targeted light source, such as a laser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotothermal conversion: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

measuring a skin surface temperature at the treatment location

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation measurement: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS12004807B2Determination process and predictive closed-loop control of dosimetry using measurement of skin surface temperature and associated methods

Publication Date: 2024.06.11 ACCURE ACNE LLC

AI summary

A method of treating a patient with a therapeutic laser pulse includes applying a cooling mechanism to a first skin area, cooling a target skin area within the first the skin area from a first surface temperature to a second temperature through application of the cooling mechanism prior to application of the therapeutic laser pulse, initiating application of the therapeutic laser pulse at a first timepoint, while continuing to apply the cooling mechanism, determining a surface temperature of the target skin area a plurality of times during application of the therapeutic laser pulse at a refresh rate of 25 Hz to 400 Hz, and terminating the application of the therapeutic laser pulse at a second timepoint, based on the surface temperature determinations. Each of the plurality of surface temperature determinations occurs during a single therapeutic laser pulse duration from the first time point to the second timepoint.