Dermatological Laser Handpiece with Contact Cooling and Temperature Sensing

Solution Overview

Problem

Current laser-based dermatological treatment systems lack precise control over skin temperature, leading to inadequate thermal damage to target structures and excessive damage to non-target tissues, particularly when treating deeper skin structures like sebaceous glands, due to limitations in pulse duration and cooling mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A handpiece system that combines a laser source with a contact cooling unit and temperature sensing capabilities, allowing for real-time temperature monitoring and feedback to ensure accurate temperature control of the target skin area during laser treatment, thereby minimizing damage to non-target structures and enhancing treatment efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If laser pulse duration is extended to achieve thermal damage to deeper structures, then treatment efficacy for deeper skin structures is improved, but thermal damage to non-target superficial tissues increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidthermal damage to non-target tissues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies cooling to the skin surface before laser pulse delivery to establish a protective thermal barrier. This preliminary cooling action allows subsequent laser heating to reach deeper structures without causing excessive damage to superficial tissues, as the precooled surface acts as a heat sink that delays and moderates thermal propagation to the epidermis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic alternation between cooling phases and heating phases. During the cooling phase, the skin surface is cooled below baseline temperature. During the heating phase, laser energy is delivered to heat deeper structures. This periodic cycle allows thermal damage to be selectively delivered to target structures at different depths at different times, resolving the contradiction between achieving deep structure damage and protecting superficial tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If laser power is increased to achieve thermal damage to target structures, then treatment efficacy is improved, but patient discomfort and damage to non-target tissues increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidpatient discomfort and non-target tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies cooling to the skin surface before laser pulse delivery to establish a protective thermal barrier. This preliminary cooling action allows subsequent laser heating to reach deeper structures without causing excessive damage to superficial tissues, as the precooled surface acts as a heat sink that delays and moderates thermal propagation to the epidermis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters including laser power, pulse duration, and cooling intensity based on real-time temperature feedback from the target structure. By changing these parameters adaptively rather than using fixed high power settings, the system achieves effective thermal damage to target structures while minimizing patient discomfort and non-target tissue damage through optimized energy delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple pulses are applied to achieve adequate thermal damage, then treatment efficacy is improved, but cumulative thermal damage to non-target tissues increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidcumulative thermal damage to non-target tissues

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic alternation between cooling phases and heating phases. During the cooling phase, the skin surface is cooled below baseline temperature. During the heating phase, laser energy is delivered to heat deeper structures. This periodic cycle allows thermal damage to be selectively delivered to target structures at different depths at different times, resolving the contradiction between achieving deep structure damage and protecting superficial tissues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs real-time temperature sensing of the target structure to provide feedback control. Temperature measurements from the target structure inform adjustments to subsequent pulse delivery parameters, allowing the system to achieve adequate cumulative thermal damage to target structures while preventing excessive cumulative damage to non-target tissues through adaptive parameter modification based on actual thermal response

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 system provides improved precision in achieving thermal damage to target structures while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues, reducing patient discomfort, and optimizing treatment outcomes for various dermatological conditions.

Implementation Method 1

Lasers are frequently used as an EMR source to treat a range of conditions... The principle of selective photothermolysis, which involves thermally damaging a target tissue to promote a healing response

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotothermolysis: Heating

Implementation Method 2

Many dermatological EMR systems use a laser to photo-thermally damage a target tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhoto-thermal damage: Heating

Implementation Method 3

Some embodiments of the present invention achieve this by using a handpiece capable of cooling the skin surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction cooling: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

measuring the actual skin temperature to dynamically control the temperature during a treatment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS20220212026A1Dermatological laser systems and methods with pressure sensing handpiece

Publication Date: 2022.07.07 CUTERA

AI summary

Dermatological systems and methods for providing a therapeutic laser treatment using a handpiece providing contact cooling of the skin and contact sensing to ensure proper contact between therapeutic laser and the contact cooling element and skin of the patient.