Skin Cooling Applicator Temperature Control for Hypopigmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skin freezing treatments for hypopigmentation are inconsistent and often result in adverse side effects such as hyperpigmentation due to variability in freezing conditions, leading to unpredictable outcomes and potential tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that control skin freezing by pre-cooling a cooling applicator to a pre-treatment temperature, then adjusting it to a treatment temperature below 0°C for a specific duration to freeze the skin, followed by a post-treatment thawing phase, using a thermoelectric cooler and sensors to manage temperature and contact with the skin, thereby minimizing supercooling and adverse effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cryoprobes are used for skin freezing, then freezing effect is achieved, but severe tissue damage and cellular damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the temperature profile during freezing treatment. Instead of using extreme low temperatures that cause severe damage, the system maintains the skin surface temperature within a controlled range (above -10°C) while achieving freezing of water in the skin through controlled phase transition. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between achieving freezing effect and avoiding tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through temperature sensors that continuously monitor the skin surface temperature during treatment. The control system adjusts the cooling power in real-time based on measured temperature, ensuring the skin remains in a controlled frozen state without excessive cooling. This feedback mechanism prevents severe tissue damage while maintaining effective freezing for hypopigmentation.
2Temperature
If skin is cooled to below freezing point, then ice formation occurs for hypopigmentation, but supercooling may occur and freezing may not happen during treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-cooling the skin surface to a temperature just below the freezing point before initiating the main freezing phase. This preparatory cooling ensures that the skin is ready for controlled ice formation without excessive supercooling. The system then maintains temperature within a specific range to promote reliable freezing during treatment, resolving the inconsistency issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of water in a controlled manner. By managing the transition from liquid water to ice in the skin tissue, the system achieves reliable freezing for hypopigmentation. The controlled phase transition occurs at predictable temperatures, ensuring consistent treatment outcomes without prolonged supercooling that would lead to unreliable results.
3Temperature
If treatment time is prolonged or colder temperatures are applied, then freezing effect is enhanced, but adverse side effects such as hyperpigmentation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes treatment parameters by limiting the skin surface temperature to remain above -10°C and controlling treatment duration. This parameter control achieves effective hypopigmentation through controlled freezing while avoiding the adverse side effect of hyperpigmentation that occurs with excessive cooling or prolonged treatment. The balanced parameter selection resolves the contradiction between treatment effectiveness and side effect prevention.
4Loss of time
If skin freezing is attempted without pre-cooling, then treatment time is reduced, but freezing consistency and predictability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a pre-cooling phase before the main freezing treatment. This pre-cooling step, though it adds some time to the overall treatment, ensures that the skin reaches the appropriate temperature for reliable and consistent freezing. The preliminary preparation prevents variability in freezing outcomes, resolving the contradiction between treatment time and freezing consistency.
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 enhances the consistency and predictability of skin freezing, reducing the risk of hyperpigmentation and improving the reliability of hypopigmentation treatments by controlling the freezing process and ensuring consistent ice formation within the skin.
Implementation Method 1
reliably freezing (water phase transition) the skin during treatment
Implementation Method 2
using a thermoelectric cooler and sensors to manage temperature
Implementation Method 3
A cooling applicator is placed against a skin surface and cooled to a treatment temperature below 0°C
Implementation Method 4
using a thermoelectric cooler and sensors to manage temperature and contact with the skin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to improved medical devices, systems, and methods, with exemplary embodiments providing improved cooling treatment probes and cooling treatment methods and systems. In some embodiments, freezing of the skin may be desirable to effect the hypopigmentation of the skin of the patient. Generally, embodiments may limit supercooling of the skin of the patient during a cooling treatment. Additionally, embodiments may limit adverse side effects such as hyperpigmentation. It has been found that the freezing behavior (frequency and time to freeze) can be modified by adjusting the thermal parameters of the cooling applicator. Accordingly, in some aspects of the invention, a method of treating the skin may be provided where the thermal parameters of the cooling applicator are adjusted during treatment.