Enhancing the emission spectrum of light-based dermatologic treatment devices

#The disclosed technology relates generally to dermatologic treatments and more specifically to techniques for enhancing the performance of optical radiation systems used in such dermatologic treatments.

#Electromagnetic energy has been used in a wide range of medical applications for many years. In the field of dermatology, lasers, flashlamps/intense pulsed light systems (IPL), and other sources of electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the optical radiation wavebands, have been used for permanently and temporarily removing hair, promoting hair regrowth, coagulating blood vessels visible through a patient's skin, treating lesions, removing port-wine stains, removing tattoos, rejuvenating skin, and the like. Optical radiation systems applied to such dermatologic treatments are normally operated by trained professionals who select the preferred energy level, wavelength(s), and other optical radiation parameters that are optimal for a particular treatment, given a patient's skin type and other factors, so as to effectuate the desired treatment while mitigating damage to nontarget tissue.

#The ability to safely and efficiently service multiple patients of varying skin types and/or perform multiple types of dermatologic treatments comes at a significant cost, with many clinical systems in existence today exhibiting a price exceeding $50,000. Industry participants in this highly competitive market are constantly trying to balance the flexibility, efficacy, and safety of such systems with cost-reduction goals. Recent attempts to commercialize single-purpose dermatologic systems (e.g., for hair growth management and removal, hair regrowth, or skin rejuvenation) for the home-use, mass market have experienced limited success, with such relatively low-cost systems either still being too expensive for many consumers or exhibiting poor efficacy. Accordingly, continuing research and development is necessary to develop cost-effective, safe, and effective dermatologic treatment systems regardless of market segment.

#The foregoing discussion will be understood more readily from the following detailed description of the disclosed technology, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1 provides a high-level block diagram of an illustrative dermatologic treatment device operated in accordance with the disclosed technology;

#FIG. 2 provides an illustrative methodology for operating the dermatologic treatment device of FIG. 1;

#Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated embodiments can be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of certain embodiments, and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components, modules, elements, and/or aspects of the illustrations can be otherwise combined, interconnected, sequenced, separated, interchanged, positioned, and/or rearranged without materially departing from the disclosed systems or methods. Additionally, the shapes and sizes of components are also exemplary and unless otherwise specified, can be altered without materially affecting or limiting the disclosed technology.

#For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “subsystem” refers to a set of hardware and/or software elements that perform a desired functionality. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the functionality described for a particular subsystem can be incorporated into one or more other subsystems and that the subsystems themselves can be otherwise combined, separated, and/or organized without adversely affecting the operation of the disclosed technology and thus are intended merely for illustrative purposes. The term, “substantially” can be broadly construed to indicate a precise relationship, condition, arrangement, orientation, and/or other characteristic, as well as, deviations thereof as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to the extent that such deviations do not materially affect the disclosed methods and systems. Further, the terms “light” and “optical radiation” are used interchangeably and references to “wavelengths” pertain to optical radiation exhibiting wavelengths of the type described in that context. The terms “device” and “system” are also used interchangeably.

#The suitability of treating medical/aesthetic problems with optical radiation has been investigated for several decades and spans a broad range of treatment scenarios. Indeed many laser and flashlamp-based systems have been commercialized and designed for operation by experienced health care professionals in the performance of both medical procedures (e.g., laser surgery, diagnosis and treatment of cancers, etc.) and cosmetic dermatologic treatment procedures (e.g., hair removal, hair regrowth, skin rejuvenation, tattoo removal, treatment of port-wine stains, etc.). The plethora of special and general-purpose devices that have been developed and commercialized by several industry participants coupled with stagnant market growth provide strong indicia that the clinical light-treatment market is substantially saturated and has matured.