US5849029A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for controlling the thermal profile of the skin
Assignee: ESC Medical Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-12-26
•
Granted: 1998-12-15
•
Expires: 2015-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for cooling skin during irradiation treatment including thermally coupling a window to the skin and actively extracting heat from the window. The window may be transparent to therapeutic wavelengths transmitted to and through the window and to the skin below. An apparatus for therapeutic treatment of skin tissue is provided, including a source of electromagnetic radiation, a window transparent to the radiation coupled to the skin being treated to remove heat from the skin, coolant fluid coupled to the window to extract heat from the window, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the coolant to remove thermal energy from the coolant.
Inventors
- 👤 Shimon Eckhouse
- 👤 Eli Talmor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; A61B90/00; A61B90/06; A61B2090/064; A61B2090/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of cooling skin to protect the skin from thermal damage during irradiation treatment using therapeutic electromagnetic radiation including the steps of: thermally coupling a window to the skin; and extracting heat from said window, including the steps of thermally coupling a cooling fluid to said window in a first, second and third path defined along and thermally coupled to a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a third lateral edge, respectively, of said window to thereby couple coolant for at least three quarters of a periphery of said window; conducting heat from said first, second and third lateral edges of said window to said coolant fluid; and conducting said coolant fluid away from said window after said step of conducting heat from said window to said coolant fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of cooling skin to protect the skin from thermal damage during irradiation treatment using therapeutic electromagnetic radiation including the steps of: thermally coupling a window to the skin; and extracting heat from said window, including the steps of thermally coupling a cooling fluid to said window in a first, second and third path defined along and thermally coupled to a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a third lateral edge, respectively, of said window to thereby couple coolant for at least three quarters of a periphery of said window; conducting heat from said first, second and third lateral edges of said window to said coolant fluid; and conducting said coolant fluid away from said window after said step of conducting heat from said window to said coolant fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first, second and third paths define a central window portion having a solid radiation conducting path between an upper and lower portion thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second and third paths are defined by hollow elongate cooling channels coupled at their ends to provide a continuous flow path along said three lateral edges.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of cooling skin to protect the skin from thermal damage during irradiation treatment using therapeutic electromagnetic radiation including the steps of: thermally coupling a window to the skin: and extracting heat from said window, including the steps of thermally coupling a cooling fluid to said window in a first, second and third path defined along and thermally coupled to a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a third lateral edge, respectively, of said window to thereby couple coolant for at least three quarters of a periphery of said window wherein the first and second paths are defined by hollow elongate coolant channels coupled at their ends to provide a continuous flow path along each of said lateral edge; conducting heat from said first, second and third lateral edges of said window to said coolant fluid; and conducting said coolant fluid away from said window after said step of conducting heat from said window to said coolant fluid.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
161 words
A method of cooling skin to protect the skin from thermal damage during irradiation treatment using therapeutic electromagnetic radiation including the steps of: thermally coupling a window to the skin: and extracting heat from said window, including the steps of thermally coupling a cooling fluid to said window in a first, second and third path defined along and thermally coupled to a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge and a third lateral edge, respectively, of said window to thereby couple coolant for at least three quarters of a periphery of said window wherein the first and second paths are defined by hollow elongate coolant channels coupled at their ends to provide a continuous flow path along each of said lateral edge; conducting heat from said first, second and third lateral edges of said window to said coolant fluid; and conducting said coolant fluid away from said window after said step of conducting heat from said window to said coolant fluid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5057104A
Cited
US5282797A
Cited
US5486172A
Cited
US5330519A
Cited
US5330519B1
Cited
US5344418A
Cited
US5405368A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-12-14 | 2002-06-15 | 2002-12-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-14 | 2006-06-15 | 2006-12-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-06-15 | 2010-12-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |