Instruments and techniques for high-velocity fluid abrasion of epidermal layers with skin cooling

A method of removal of epidermis with a hand-held body having a open end portion communicating with an interior chamber that carries a gas pressure source and at least one duct for jetting a gas into the interior chamber and sources for introducing a cooling fluid and abrasive crystals into the interior chamber, together with a negative pressurization means for aspirating skin detritus from the interior chamber, comprising the steps of:

• (a) placing the open end portion of the body over the skin of a patient;
• (b) actuating the negative pressurization means thereby drawing the skin against the open end portion;
• and
• (c) contemporaneous with, or at a selected time interval after step (b), actuating the gas pressure source to produce at least one high-velocity gaseous stream proximate to a surface of the skin interfaced with said open end portion;
• (d) contemporaneous with, or at a selected time interval after step (c), introducing coolant fluid and crystals into the at least one gaseous stream and against the skin interfaced with said open end portion, wherein the fluid cools the skin and the high-velocity gaseous streams and the crystals abrade and remove a surface layer of skin.

A dermal treatment system comprising:

• a delivery device comprising a skin-contacting surface defining a treatment region, a dermal treatment medium entrance port and an exhaust port, the entrance and exhaust ports opening into the treatment region;
• first and second flowable dermal treatment media sources selectively fluidly coupled to the entrance port so to provide dermal treatment media to the treatment region for contact and interaction with a patient's skin;
• at least one of the first and second media sources comprising a coolant fluid;
• at least one of the first and second media sources also comprising a fluid carrying flowable particles;
• and
• a vacuum system operably coupled to the exhaust port so to withdraw dermal treatment media and any removed dermal tissue from the treatment region.

A dermal treatment system comprising:

• a delivery device comprising a skin-contacting surface defining a treatment region, first and second dermal treatment media entrance ports and an exhaust port, the entrance ports and the exhaust port opening into the treatment region, the entrance ports being spaced apart from and at an angle to one another;
• a first flowable dermal treatment media source, comprising an abrasive coolant liquid, selectively fluidly coupled to the first entrance port so to provide coolant liquid containing solid abrasive particles to the treatment region for contact and interaction with a patient's skin;
• a second flowable dermal treatment media source, comprising a gas, selectively fluidly coupled to the second entrance port so to provide pressurized gas to the treatment region for contact and interaction with a patient's skin;
• and
• a vacuum system operably coupled to the exhaust port so to withdraw dermal treatment media and any removed dermal tissue from the treatment region.

A method for treating the skin surface of a patient comprising:

• placing a treatment device against a patient's skin creating a treatment region at a skin treatment site;
• directing a first dermal treatment medium, comprising a coolant fluid, through a first port and into the treatment region for contact with the skin treatment site;
• directing a second dermal treatment medium, comprising a pressurized gas, through a second port and into the treatment region for contact with the skin treatment site, at least one of the first and second dermal treatment media comprising a flowable abrasive;
• and
• vacuum exhausting dermal treatment media and any removed dermal tissue from the treatment region.

A method for treating the skin surface of a patient comprising:

• positioning a treatment device against a patient's skin creating a treatment region at a skin treatment site, the treatment device comprising first and second media entrance ports;
• directing a first flowable dermal treatment medium, comprising a pressurized abrasive coolant liquid, through the first entrance port and into the treatment region for contact with the skin treatment site;
• directing a second dermal treatment medium, comprising a pressurized gas, through the second entrance port and into the treatment region for contact with the skin treatment site, the directing steps being carried out along generally intersecting paths;
• and
• vacuum exhausting dermal treatment media and any removed dermal tissue from the treatment region.

A method for treating the skin surface of a patient, comprising:

• positioning an abrasive-carrying treatment device against a patient's skin creating a treatment region at a skin treatment site, the treatment device comprising a media entrance port, wherein a treatment medium is delivered under pressure through the media entrance port, and wherein the treatment medium comprises a cooling liquid;
• translating the treatment device over the skin treatment site whereby the abrasive and the cooling liquid removes and transports dermal tissue;
• and
• vacuum exhausting at least a portion of the treatment medium and removed dermal tissue from the treatment region.