Methods of applying laser light to the skin, and apparatus therefor, include methods for removing hair, for synchronizing hair growth, for stimulating hair growth, for treating Herpes virus, for reducing sweat and body odor, for in situ formation of a chromophore in hair ducts, for reducing light loss at the skin surface, for grafting of hair stem cells, and for removing keloid or hypertrophic scars. The hair removal methods include controlling the proportions of photomechanical and photothermal damage by selection of laser parameters, chromophore particle size and/or pulse duration, with optional dynamic skin cooling. Additional hair removal methods include infiltrating a photoactivated drug into hair ducts and exposing the skin to sunlight or administering an anti-proliferative agent into hair ducts, for example, by encapsulating the anti-proliferative agent in a slow release vehicle. The methods of treating Herpes virus, reducing sweat or body odor, and removing keloid or hypertrophic scars include infiltrating a light-absorbing contaminant into hair ducts or other openings in the skin and illuminating the contaminated skin section. The methods for stimulating hair growth include grafting of cloned auto hair stem cells, the hair ducts or administering methionine to a skin section to increase hair growth. Apparatus useful in performing these methods include devices for making a smooth optical boundary between skin and air or for dividing a light beam into a plurality of smaller light beams, and dressings for use before, during and after laser illumination.

Methods and devices for inhibiting hair growth and related skin treatments

A dermatologic treatment apparatus is disclosed which includes one or more housings with at least one housing configured for manipulation in a dermatologic treatment procedure, a light source, and an electrical circuit. The circuit energizes the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path includes an aperture through which eye-safe light pulses are propagated having properties sufficient for providing efficacious treatment. An optical diffuser is disposed along the light path to reduce the integrated radiance to an eye-safe level. The apparatus produces an output fluence not less than 4 J/cm2.

Eye-safe dermatologic treatment apparatus and method

A dermatologic treatment apparatus is disclosed that is cordless and sufficiently compact as to be hand-held. A self-contained housing is configured for gripping by a person's hand for cordless manipulation in a dermatologic treatment procedure. A light source and electrical circuit are contained within the housing. The circuit includes one or more batteries and an electronic control circuit for energizing the light source to produce output light pulses. A light path is within the housing including an aperture through which the output light pulses are propagated out of the housing having properties sufficient for providing efficacious treatment.

Self-contained, diode-laser-based dermatologic treatment apparatus

A method and apparatus are provided for performing a therapeutic treatment on a patient's skin by concentrating applied radiation of at least one selected wavelength at a plurality of selected, three-dimensionally located, treatment portions, which treatment portions are within non-treatment portions. The ratio of treatment portions to the total volume may vary from 0.1% to 90%, but is preferably less than 50%. Various techniques, including wavelength, may be utilized to control the depth to which radiation is concentrated and suitable optical systems may be provided to concentrate applied radiation in parallel or in series for selected combinations of one or more treatment portions.

Method and apparatus for emr treatment

A method, and apparatus are provided for targeting lipid rich tissue to effect a desired method/apparatus involving irradiating the lipid rich tissue (16) with energy at a wavelength preferentially absorbed by lipid cells, such wavelength being preferably in a band between 880 nm to 935 nm, 1150 nm to 1230 nm, 1690 nm to 1780 nm, or 2250 nm to 2450 nm with a fluency, and duration sufficient to achieve a desired treatment. For preferred embodiments the irradiation wavelength is between 900 nm to 930 nm, 1190 nm to 1220 nm, 1700 nm to 1730 nm, or 2280 nm to 2350 nm. The method, and apparatus may for example be used to target one or more sebaceous glands (22) for the treatment of acne or hair removal to target subcutaneous fat for removal thereof, or for targeting fat on an anatomical elements for various purposes.

Method and apparatus for the selective targeting of lipid-rich tissues

An irradiation attachment for an optical fiber (4) which provides an output of light that has a highly uniform intensity. The device includes a hollow spherical shell (1) having a diffusive reflective surface or target (11) supported (12) therein. Light is directed into the hollow spherical shell (1) so that it reflects off the diffusive reflective surface or target (11). The reflected light is internally reflected off the inner surface of the hollow spherical shell (1) several times before passing through an output aperture (8). As a result of the internal reflection within the hollow spherical shell (1), the light leaving the device has a highly uniform intensity. The device is particularly useful for photodynamic therapy.

John Cole

Papers

Irradiance attachment for an optical fiber to provide a uniform level of illumination across a plane