US6514244B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic cooling of tissue for radiation treatment
Assignee: Candela Corp
•
Filing: 2001-01-18
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Granted: 2003-02-04
•
Expires: 2021-01-18
Abstract
Abstract The present invention features various methods and systems for performing radiation treatment of skin in connection with dynamic cooling of tissue, while minimizing or preventing occurrence of light flash during the treatment.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Pope
- 👤 Anthony J. Durkin
- 👤 James C. Hsia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B18/02; A61B18/0218; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00017; A61B2018/00023; A61B2018/00029; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for preventing a light flash during radiation treatment of skin having an epidermal tissue region adjacent a dermal tissue region, the method comprising: a) applying a cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region; b) directing a gas flow in a general direction of the epidermal tissue region subsequent to step a) to remove at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid; and c) irradiating the skin with a radiation beam to treat the dermal tissue region subsequent to removing at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for preventing a light flash during radiation treatment of skin having an epidermal tissue region adjacent a dermal tissue region, the method comprising: a) applying a cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region; b) directing a gas flow in a general direction of the epidermal tissue region subsequent to step a) to remove at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid; and c) irradiating the skin with a radiation beam to treat the dermal tissue region subsequent to removing at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises directing a non-reactive gas flow in the general direction of the epidermal tissue region.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein step b) comprises blowing air in the general direction of the epidermal tissue region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step c) comprises irradiating the skin for between about 5 milliseconds and 500 milliseconds after applying the cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step a) comprises applying a first pulse of cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region for a first time period and waiting a predetermined delay before applying a second pulse of cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region for a second time period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the delay period is in a range from about 10 milliseconds to about 500 milliseconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the first time period comprises from about 20 milliseconds to 100 milliseconds and the second time period comprises from about 5 milliseconds to 20 milliseconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises removing a cryogenic vapor formed through evaporation of the cryogenic liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises removing a plurality of contaminants over an outer surface of the epidermal tissue region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step b) comprises directing a gas flow at a rate of greater than about 10 liters per minute.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising pre-cooling the gas flow to a temperature below about 20° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cryogenic fluid comprises a fluorocarbon compound.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the fluorocarbon compound is selected from a group consisting of: tetrafluromethane; hexafluoroethane; octafluoropropane; chlorotrifluromethane; chloropentafluoroethane; dichlorodifluoromethane; 1,2-dichlorotetrafluoroethane; 1,1,1,2,3,3,3,-heptafluoropropane; pentafluoroethane; 2-chloro-1,1,1,2- tetrafluoroethane; trifluoromethane; 1,1,1,2,3,3,-hexafluoropropane; and 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1- trifluoroethane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step c) comprises irradiating with a laser light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising d) postcooling the epidermal tissue region by applying a cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region after the irradiation step.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for preventing light flash during radiation treatment of skin having an epidermal tissue region adjacent a dermal tissue region, the method comprising: a) applying a first pulse of cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region for a first time period; b) waiting a predetermined delay period before applying a second pulse of cryogenic liquid to the epidermal tissue region for a second time period, the delay period being sufficient to allow the first pulse of cryogenic fluid to cool the epidermal tissue region to reach a desired temperature; and c) irradiating the skin to treat the dermal tissue region during or immediately after application of the second pulse of cryogenic liquid.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for preventing light flash during radiation treatment of skin having an epidermal tissue region adjacent a dermal tissue region, the method comprising: a) applying a first pulse of cryogenic fluid to the epidermal tissue region for a first time period; b) waiting a predetermined delay period before applying a second pulse of cryogenic liquid to the epidermal tissue region for a second time period, the delay period being sufficient to allow the first pulse of cryogenic fluid to cool the epidermal tissue region to reach a desired temperature; and c) irradiating the skin to treat the dermal tissue region during or immediately after application of the second pulse of cryogenic liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 16 wherein step a) comprises spraying a cryogenic liquid to the epidermal tissue region for a time period in a range from about 10 milliseconds to 150 milliseconds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 wherein step b) comprises spraying a cryogenic liquid to the epidermal tissue region for a time period in a range from about 5 milliseconds to about 20 milliseconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the delay period is in a range from about 10 milliseconds to about 500 milliseconds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein step c) comprising irradiating the skin within 5 milliseconds of applying the second pulse of cryogenic liquid.
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