US6610052B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser system and method for treatment of biologic targets
Assignee: Cynosure LLC
•
Filing: 2001-08-09
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Granted: 2003-08-26
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Expires: 2021-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A long pulse alexandrite laser for treating dermatological specimens is disclosed. The use of alexandrite allows operation in the near-infrared, specifically in a 50 nm range surrounding 755. Infrared in this range allows good penetration while still achieving an acceptable ratio of hemoglobin to melanin absorption. In operation, the laser generates pulses having a durations between 5 and 100 msec and fluences between 10 and 50 J/cm2. A light delivery system is provided that transmits the laser light output pulse to dermatological targets of a patient. The invention is also directed to a hair removal system. Here, it is desirable to use an index-matching application on the skin sections to be treated, and a visual indicator is thermo- or photo-responsive or otherwise responsive to the laser light pulse to generate a visible change. Also, the invention is directed to a combined sclerotherapy and light treatment method and kit for unwanted veins. Substantially increased success has been achieved by implementing a dwell time of between 12 hours and 6 months between the light-based therapy and the sclerotherapy. Finally, the invention relates to pulse periodic heating of biologic targets, including systems and methods for generating an effective light output pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses with a limited duty cycle and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of the targeted structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Horace W. Furumoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/203; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00172; A61B17/22; A61B2017/22082; A61B2017/22085; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00452; A61B2018/00476; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y20/00; H01S2301/00; H01S2301/08; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08072; H01S3/14; H01S3/16; H01S3/163; H01S3/1631; H01S3/1633
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for treating biologic tissue with laser light, comprising: generating a long effective laser light output pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and delivering the laser light to the tissue of a patient.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for treating biologic tissue with laser light, comprising: generating a long effective laser light output pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and delivering the laser light to the tissue of a patient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the effective pulse duration is approximately equal to the thermal relaxation time of the targeted structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the effective pulse duration is larger than 0.1 msec.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the effective pulse duration is larger than 0.5 msec.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the effective pulse duration is larger than 5 msec.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the effective pulse duration is larger than 50 msec.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the targeted structure comprises blood vessels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as described in claim 7 wherein the targeted blood vessels are larger than 30 microns in diameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the interpulse-delay between sub-pulses is greater than the thermal relaxation time of non-targeted structures within the treatment area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as described in claim 9 wherein the non-targeted structures include normal-sized blood-vessels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A laser system for treating biologic tissue of a patient, comprising: a laser light source for generating a long effective laser light output pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and a light delivery system that transmits the laser light output pulse to the tissue of the patient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
A laser system for treating biologic tissue of a patient, comprising: a laser light source for generating a long effective laser light output pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and a light delivery system that transmits the laser light output pulse to the tissue of the patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the laser light source is a dye laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the laser light source is a gas discharge laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the effective pulse duration is approximately equal to the thermal relaxation time of the targeted structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the targeted structure comprises blood vessels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the targeted blood vessels are larger than 30 microns in diameter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the interpulse-delay between sub-pulses is greater than the thermal relaxation time of non-targeted structures within the treatment area.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the non-targeted structures include normal-sized blood-vessels.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser system as described in claim 11 wherein the laser light source is a solid-state laser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser system as described in claim 19 wherein the laser is an alexandrite laser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser system as described in claim 19 wherein the laser is a ruby laser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser system as described in claim 19 wherein the laser is an Nd:YAG laser.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for treating biologic tissue with pulse light, comprising: generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and delivering the pulse light to the tissue of a patient.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for treating biologic tissue with pulse light, comprising: generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and delivering the pulse light to the tissue of a patient.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for treating biologic tissue, comprising: a pulse light source for generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and a light delivery system that transmits the pulse light to the tissue of a patient.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for treating biologic tissue, comprising: a pulse light source for generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a duty cycle that is less than 50% over a selected effective pulse duration and a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure; and a light delivery system that transmits the pulse light to the tissue of a patient.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for treating biologic tissue with pulse light, comprising: generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a fractional duty cycle over a selected effective pulse duration, a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure, and an interpulse-delay between successive sub-pulses that is greater than the thermal relaxation time of non-targeted structures within the treatment area; and delivering the output light to the tissue of a patient wherein the duty cycle of the sub-pulses is less than 50%.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
90 words
A method for treating biologic tissue with pulse light, comprising: generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a fractional duty cycle over a selected effective pulse duration, a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure, and an interpulse-delay between successive sub-pulses that is greater than the thermal relaxation time of non-targeted structures within the treatment area; and delivering the output light to the tissue of a patient wherein the duty cycle of the sub-pulses is less than 50%.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for treating biologic tissue, comprising: a pulse light source for generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a fractional duty cycle over a selected effective pulse duration, a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure, and an interpulse-delay between successive sub-pulses that is greater than the thermal relaxation time of non-targeted structures within the treatment area; and a light delivery system that transmits the pulse light to the tissue of the patient, wherein the duty cycle of the sub-pulses is less than 50%.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
97 words
A system for treating biologic tissue, comprising: a pulse light source for generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a fractional duty cycle over a selected effective pulse duration, a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure, and an interpulse-delay between successive sub-pulses that is greater than the thermal relaxation time of non-targeted structures within the treatment area; and a light delivery system that transmits the pulse light to the tissue of the patient, wherein the duty cycle of the sub-pulses is less than 50%.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-25 | 2007-02-24 | 2007-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-25 | 2011-02-24 | 2011-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-25 | 2015-02-24 | 2015-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |