Chilled mist-based cooling apparatus
AssigneeDDC Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBenjamin DONSKOY, Dmitry DONSKOY, Petr GNATYUK, Horacio Jose Valdes GUANTI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved apparatus for tissue cooling during laser-based procedures is provided, which utilizes a combination of chilled pressurized air and atomized water to rapidly lower tissue surface temperatures. The apparatus includes a continuous-operating delivery system for chilled pressurized air and a volume-controlled device for water, allowing the air-to-water ratio to be precisely adjusted to prevent excessive moisture accumulation on the tissue. The water-air mixture formed within a chilled mixing chamber is discharged through a single-outlet nozzle as a fine mist spray, which is directed at the laser-irradiated tissue to enhance cooling efficiency.
Claims17
An apparatus for cooling a tissue during laser-based procedures, comprising:
- a gas compressor configured to supply pressurized air and connected to a mixing chamber,
- a fluid reservoir containing a liquid coolant and connected to the mixing chamber via a volume controlling device, the volume controlling device being configured to regulate a flow rate of the liquid coolant from the fluid reservoir,
- the mixing chamber configured to form a liquid-air mixture by mixing the pressurized air from the gas compressor with the liquid coolant from the fluid reservoir,
- a chilled chamber connected to the mixing chamber and comprising a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) and a heat sink, the chilled chamber being configured to chill the liquid-air mixture,
- a single delivery tube connected to the chilled chamber and extending to a nozzle,
- the nozzle comprising a single outlet configured to emit a spray of the chilled liquid-air mixture directly onto the tissue.
A method for cooling a tissue during laser irradiation, comprising:
- supplying pressurized air to a mixing chamber,
- delivering a controlled amount of a liquid coolant to the mixing chamber, thereby forming a liquid-air mixture,
- chilling the liquid-air mixture in a chilled chamber to a temperature within a specified range,
- ejecting, through a nozzle having a single outlet, the chilled liquid-air mixture as a conical spray onto the tissue,
- wherein the conical spray covers an area of the tissue approximately equivalent to a maximum spot size of a laser beam on the tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.