Method and apparatus for treating wrinkles in skin using radiation

Abstract

A method for treating wrinkles in skin involves the use of a beam of pulsed, scanned or gated continuous wave laser or incoherent radiation. The method comprises generating a beam of radiation, directing the beam of radiation to a targeted dermal region between 100 microns and 1.2 millimeters below a wrinkle in the skin, and thermally injuring collagen in the targeted dermal region. The beam of radiation has a wavelength of between 1.3 and 1.8 microns. The method may include cooling an area of the skin above the targeted dermal region while partially denaturing the collagen in the targeted dermal region. The method may also include cooling an area of the skin above the targeted dermal region prior to thermally injuring collagen in the targeted dermal region.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for treating a wrinkle in human skin, comprising: 
 a source generating a beam of radiation having a wavelength within a range at which a tissue absorption coefficient is in the range of between 1 and 20 cm −1 ;    a delivery system coupled to the source for directing the beam of radiation to a targeted dermal region to cause thermal injury sufficient to elicit a healing response that produces substantially unwrinkled skin; and    a cooling system for cooling an epidermal region of the skin above the targeted dermal region, to thereby minimize injury to the epidermal region.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the beam of radiation has a fluence of between 10 and 150 joules per square centimeter.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the beam of radiation has a power density of between 5 and 100 watts per square centimeter.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the beam of radiation has a wavelength of between about 1.3 and 1.8 microns.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the beam of radiation is directed to a targeted dermal region between 100 microns and 1.2 millimeters below a wrinkle in the skin.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the cooling system comprises a container of cold fluid, wherein the cold fluid can be sprayed onto the skin to extract heat from the skin on contact.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the cooling system further comprises a skin contacting portion having a first end in optical communication with a fiber coupled to the source and a second end, the skin contacting portion projecting the beam of radiation to the targeted dermal region through second end of the skin contacting portion.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein: 
 the skin contacting portion further comprises a window located at the second end of the skin contacting portion, the window being in optical communication with the fiber; and    the skin contacting portion includes a fluid passage extending across at least a portion of the window, the fluid passage circulating a cooling fluid across the window.    
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for treating a wrinkle in human skin, comprising: 
 a source generating a beam of radiation having a wavelength within a range at which a tissue absorption coefficient is in the range of between 1 and 20 cm −1 ;    a delivery system coupled to the source for directing the beam of radiation to a targeted dermal region between 100 microns and 1.2 millimeters below a wrinkle in the skin, wherein the beam of radiation causes thermal injury to the targeted dermal region sufficient to elicit a healing response that produces substantially unwrinkled skin; and    a cooling system for contact cooling an epidermal region of the skin above the targeted dermal region, to thereby minimize injury to the epidermal region.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the beam of radiation has a fluence of between 10 and 150 joules per square centimeter.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the beam of radiation has a power density of between 5 and 100 watts per square centimeter.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the beam of radiation has a wavelength of between about 1.3 and 1.8 microns.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the delivery system further comprises a fiber coupled to the source, the fiber carrying the beam of radiation; and wherein the cooling system further comprises a skin contacting portion having a first end in optical communication with the fiber and a second end, the skin contacting portion projecting the beam of radiation toward the targeted dermal region through the second end of the skin contacting portion.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the skin contacting portion further comprises a window located at the second end of the skin contacting portion, the window being in optical communication with the fiber; and wherein the skin contacting portion has a fluid passage extending across at least a portion of the window, the fluid passage circulating a cooling fluid past the window.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for treating a wrinkle in human skin, comprising: 
 means for generating a beam of radiation having a wavelength of between about 1.3 and 1.8 microns or having a wavelength within a range at which a tissue absorption coefficient is in the range of between 1 and 20 cm −1 ;    means for directing the beam of radiation to a targeted dermal region to cause thermal injury sufficient to elicit a healing response that produces substantially unwrinkled skin; and    means for cooling an epidermal region of the skin above the targeted dermal region, to thereby minimize injury to the epidermal region.