Non-Ablative Mucosa Laser Using Pulsed Thermal Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laser treatments for mucosa tissue are inefficient and invasive, with limitations in non-ablative thermal treatments due to high laser power leading to tissue damage and the need for fluence below the ablation threshold, restricting the effectiveness in treating conditions like urinary incontinence, vaginal relaxation, and snoring.
Innovation Solution
A laser system with a wavelength range of 1.9 μm to 11.0 μm, generating single pulses with durations from 1.0 μs to 1.0 sec, and fluence of 0.2 J/cm² to 2.5 J/cm², specifically using erbium-doped lasers to achieve thermal tightening and rejuvenation of mucosa and adjacent tissues without causing damage, allowing for minimally invasive treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high laser power is used for non-ablative thermal treatment, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but tissue damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pulsed laser action with specific pulse durations (1.0 μs to 1.0 sec) to deliver thermal energy in controlled intervals. This periodic action allows the tissue to recover between pulses while accumulating sufficient thermal effect for treatment effectiveness, avoiding continuous high-power damage. The pulse duration is specifically optimized to achieve non-ablative thermal tightening without exceeding the ablation threshold.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the laser parameters by using a specific wavelength range (1.9 μm to 11.0 μm) and controlling fluence (0.2 J/cm² to 2.5 J/cm²) to optimize thermal penetration and absorption. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective thermal treatment of mucosa tissue while staying below the ablation threshold, resolving the contradiction between treatment effectiveness and tissue damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If fluence is kept below ablation threshold for non-ablative treatment, then tissue damage is avoided, but treatment effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pulsed laser action where multiple pulses can be applied to accumulate sufficient thermal effect. Even though each pulse operates below the ablation threshold, the cumulative effect of multiple pulses achieves the necessary thermal tightening for effective treatment of conditions like urinary incontinence and vaginal relaxation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies laser energy in a controlled sequence of pulses that progressively builds thermal effect in the tissue. This preliminary action approach allows the tissue to undergo thermal remodeling without reaching ablation thresholds, achieving effective non-ablative treatment through accumulated thermal stress rather than single-high-power exposure.
3Productivity
If traditional surgical or injection treatments are used, then treatment effectiveness is achieved, but invasiveness and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical surgical interventions and injection procedures with a laser-based thermal treatment system. The laser delivers thermal energy non-contactly through the mucosa, achieving the same therapeutic effect (tightening and rejuvenation) without mechanical trauma, tissue removal, or foreign material insertion, thereby eliminating the need for operating theaters and reducing recovery time.
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 effectively reduces the need for surgery or injections, provides high success rates, minimizes risks, and offers immediate results with reduced recovery time and costs, improving patient outcomes for conditions such as urinary incontinence, vaginal relaxation, and snoring.
Implementation Method 1
A laser system with a wavelength range of 1.9 μm to 11.0 μm, generating single pulses with durations from 1.0 μs to 1.0 sec, and fluence of 0.2 J/cm² to 2.5 J/cm², specifically using erbium-doped lasers to achieve thermal tightening and rejuvenation of mucosa and adjacent tissues without causing damage
Implementation Method 2
The laser source generates the laser beam in single pulses with a pulse duration in a range from 1.0 μs (microseconds), inclusive, to 1.0 sec (seconds), inclusive, and that a fluence of the laser beam on a target area of the mucosa tissue is in a range from 0.2 J/cm2, inclusive, to 2.5 J/cm2, inclusive
Data Source
AI summary
A laser system has a laser source for generating a laser beam, a control unit, and a hand piece for manually guiding the laser beam onto a target area. A wavelength (λ) of the laser beam is in a range from above 1.9 μm to 11.0 μm inclusive. The laser system is adapted for a thermal, non ablative treatment of mucosa tissue by the laser beam such, that the laser source generates the laser beam in single pulses with a pulse duration (tp) in a range from 1.0 μs, inclusive, to 1.0 sec, inclusive, and that a fluence of each of the single pulses on the target area of the mucosa tissue is in a range from 0.2 J/cm2, inclusive, to 2.5 J/cm2, inclusive, and preferably in a range from 1.40 J/cm2, inclusive, to 1.95 J/cm2, inclusive.