Automatic color-activated scanning treatment of dermatological conditions by laser
US5531740A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 6, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 6, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2009/00897
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for automatically delivering a laser beam [30] to an intricate colored region [23] of a treatment area [32], e.g. for laser photocoagulation treatment of venular malformations and other dermatological conditions. Reflected light from the treatment area [32] travels into the delivery console [28] to a color-sensitive detector which signals a control system to permit the laser beam [30] to be delivered to the treatment area [32] only when the beam is focused on a spot having a predetermined color. By scanning over the treatment region, the laser automatically treats only the area having a specified color. Since reflective optics are employed, the reflected light precisely indicates the color of the region where the treatment beam is focused. Reflective optics also provide a smaller and more precise spot size for the treatment beam.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.