Cooling laser handpiece with refillable coolant reservoir
AssigneeLaser Aesthetics, Inc.
InventorJonathan M. Baumgardner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser handpiece apparatus for use in therapeutic procedures employing selective cooling, the apparatus for use in conjunction with a controllable laser source, the apparatus including laser delivery device for controllably delivering a predetermined amount of laser energy to a preselected surface area, a reservoir having a predetermined volume, cryogen liquid contained in the reservoir, and a valve for controllably delivering a portion of the cryogen liquid to the preselected surface area.
Claims16
A laser handpiece apparatus for use in therapeutic and other procedures employing selective cooling, the apparatus for use in conjunction with a controllable laser source, the apparatus comprising:
- laser delivery means for controllably delivering a predetermined amount of laser energy to a preselected surface area;
- removable reservoir means integral with the laser delivery means having contained therein a predetermined volume of cryogenic liquid;
- valve means for controllably delivering a portion of the cryogen liquid to the preselected surface area;
- and
- releasable attachment means for securely and releasably coupling the reservoir directly to the valve means.
A method of performing a therapeutic procedure involving delivery of laser energy to preselected surface areas, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a laser handpiece apparatus, the apparatus comprising laser delivery means, removable reservoir means integral with the laser delivery means having a predetermined volume of cryogenic liquid contained therein, valve means for controllably delivering a portion of the cryogen liquid, and releasable attachment means for securely and releasably coupling the reservoir directly to the valve means;
- (b) controllably delivering a predetermined amount of cryogen liquid to the preselected surface areas;
- (c) controllably delivering a predetermined amount of laser energy to the preselected surface areas;
- (d) interrupting delivery of laser energy when the cryogen liquid reservoir means is empty;
- (e) releasing attachment means and removing entry cryogen liquid reservoir means;
- and
- (f) replacing the empty cryogen liquid reservoir means with a full one for continued delivery of both cryogen liquid and laser energy from the handpiece, as desired.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.