Selective Laser Focusing for Chromophore-Specific Tissue Plasma
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for affecting biological tissue with optical energy often result in non-selective plasma formation, causing excessive damage to non-targeted tissue and undesirable side effects.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize highly-convergent electromagnetic radiation, such as laser systems, to selectively generate thermionic plasma in pigmented regions of biological tissue by focusing optical energy with specific wavelengths and parameters, avoiding damage to surrounding tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If high-intensity optical energy is applied to biological tissue, then plasma formation and tissue ablation are achieved, but non-selective damage to surrounding unpigmented tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the optical energy absorption property location-dependent through chromophore presence. Pigmented regions containing chromophores (melanin, hemoglobin, tattoo ink) selectively absorb optical energy at specific wavelengths, converting it to thermal energy and forming plasma, while unpigmented regions without chromophores remain unaffected. This spatially varying absorption coefficient enables selective treatment of target tissue while preserving surrounding healthy tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by selecting specific optical wavelengths that correspond to absorption peaks of target chromophores. By tuning the wavelength parameter of the optical energy source to match chromophore absorption characteristics, the system achieves selective energy deposition in pigmented regions. Additionally, controlling pulse duration and intensity parameters enables plasma formation threshold to be exceeded only in chromophore-containing regions, maintaining selectivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If optical energy wavelength is selected to match chromophore absorption, then selective energy absorption by pigmented regions is improved, but energy penetration depth and treatment effectiveness vary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by developing an optical treatment system that can effectively target multiple different chromophore types (melanin, hemoglobin, tattoo ink) using the same fundamental mechanism of selective optical absorption. The system maintains versatility across different tissue types and pigmentation conditions by selecting appropriate wavelengths for each chromophore and adjusting energy parameters, enabling broad applicability while preserving selective targeting capability.
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 method achieves selective plasma formation in chromophore-containing regions, minimizing thermal damage to unpigmented tissue and improving skin appearance by targeting and disrupting pigmented structures without harming the overlying tissue.
Implementation Method 1
The primary mechanism of interest for affecting tissue is absorption. Energy absorbed by tissue components can produce several effects. For example, energy absorption can lead to generation/enhancement of vibrational modes of molecules and local heating effects.
Implementation Method 2
A method and apparatus that utilize highly-convergent electromagnetic radiation, such as laser systems, to selectively generate thermionic plasma in pigmented regions of biological tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary treatment system can be provided which can include a laser system configured to emit at least one laser beam, and an optical system configured to focus the laser beam(s) to a focal region at a selected distance from a surface of a tissue. The focal region can be configured to illuminate at least a portion of a target. The optical system can cause an irradiation energy transferred to the focal region of the laser beam(s) to (i) generate a plasma in a first region of the tissue adjacent to the target, and (ii) avoid a generation of a plasma in a second region of the tissue. The optical system has a numerical aperture that is in the range of about 0.5 to about 0.9. An exemplary method can also be provided to control such treatment system.