Treatment of cutaneous vascular and pigmented lesions
US5586981A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 24, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 25, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2018/00452
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
According to the invention, a method is provided for disrupting the targeted lesion in skin, such as is necessary in treatment of vascular or pigmented lesions. A microplasma is generated in a target region of skin, the microplasma disrupting the skin ("plasma ablation") to enable removal of the targeted lesion. The microplasma absorbs radiation energy and expands, creating high pressure in the surrounding region which causes disruption of the targeted lesion in that region. A beam of pulsed laser radiation can be used to generate the microplasma by properly controlling the peak irradiance, the pulse duration and the focal spot size of the beam. The invention enables use of a laser having small pulse energy. A synchronized laser beam scan device can be used to scan the beam to provide a highly efficient system for rapid skin treatment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.