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

A method of treating a patient with a therapeutic laser pulse, the method comprising:

• a. applying a cooling mechanism to a first skin area of the patient;
• b. initiating the application of the therapeutic laser pulse to a target skin area within the first skin area at a first timepoint while continuing to apply the cooling mechanism at the first skin area;
• c. determining a surface temperature of the target skin area a plurality of times during the application of the therapeutic laser pulse based on infrared energy radiated from the target skin area, at a refresh rate of 25 Hz to 400 Hz;
• d. terminating the application of the therapeutic laser pulse to the target skin area at a second timepoint when at least one of the plurality of surface temperature determinations indicates that the target skin area has reached a third surface temperature, wherein each of the plurality of surface temperature determinations occurs during a single therapeutic laser pulse having a pulse duration comprising a period from the first timepoint to the second timepoint;
• and
• e. performing at least one cooling action selected from
• (1) cooling the target skin area from a first surface temperature to a second surface temperature using the cooling mechanism prior to initiating the application of the therapeutic laser pulse to the target skin area, and
• (2) cooling the target skin area from the third surface temperature to a fourth surface temperature using the cooling mechanism after terminating the application of the therapeutic laser pulse to the target skin area.