Methods and devices for non-ablative laser treatment of dermatologic conditions
AssigneeCutera, Inc.
InventorsMichael Levernier, Greg Spooner, David A. Gollnick, Dean A. MacFarland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention comprises a system and method for non-ablative laser treatment of dermatologic conditions. A laser energy is transmitted to an underlying target element in the skin. The target element is heated to a temperature of at least forty degrees Celsius. In some embodiments, a pulsed, near infrared, high peak power laser energy is used. The systems and methods of the present invention may be used to treat acne, smooth wrinkles, remove hair, treat leg veins, treat facial veins, improve skin texture, decrease pore sizes, reduce rosacea, reduce “blush/diffuse redness, reduce striae, reduce scarring, or the like.
Claims23
A method of improving the appearance of an area of the skin using light from a Nd:YAG laser, said light being delivered through a handpiece, said method comprising the steps of:
- generating a series of laser pulses from the laser, said laser pulses having a pulse width of between 100 microseconds to one millisecond and a peak power of at least 10 kilowatts and a repetition rate in a range of between approximately 2 Hz and 12 Hz;
- spacing the handpiece from the surface of the skin;
- and
- delivering at least 400 laser pulses to the area of skin to be treated from the handpiece with a spot size on the tissue between 3 mm and 10 mm and with a fluence between 8 J/cm2 and 20 J/cm2 on the surface of the skin, the application of said laser pulses resulting in an improvement in the appearance of the skin without ablating the skin.
A method of improving the appearance of an area of the skin using light from a Nd:YAG laser comprising the steps of:
- generating a series of laser pulses from the laser, said laser pulses having a pulse width of between 100 microseconds to one millisecond and a peak power of at least 10 kilowatts;
- and
- delivering at least 400 laser pulses to the area of skin to be treated, the application of said laser pulses resulting in an improvement in the appearance of the skin without ablating the skin.
A laser treatment system comprising:
- a flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG laser;
- a power supply for energizing the flashlamp to cause the laser to generate laser output;
- a treatment handpiece;
- an optical fiber for delivering the laser output to the handpiece;
- and
- a controller for delivering signals to the power supply to cause the laser to generate a series of laser pulses, said laser pulses having a pulse width of between 100 microseconds to one millisecond and a peak power of at least 10 kilowatts and a repetition rate in a range of between approximately 2 Hz and 12 Hz, said laser pulses being delivered to tissue through the handpiece for treatment of the skin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.