Method and Apparatus for Monitoring and Controlling Laser-Induced Tissue Treatment

Abstract

The present invention provides improved methods and apparatus for controlling light-induced tissue treatment. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the invention provides for improved, real-time control of the light beam operational parameters which enables greater safety, efficiency, uniformity and continuity of the treatment process.

1 . An apparatus for controlled tissue treatment comprising:
 a light emitter that emits at least one light beam;   a manually-manipulated handpiece adapted to deliver the at least one light beam to an area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones during movement of the handpiece relative to the area of tissue, wherein a tissue treatment depends upon one or more operational parameters of the at least one light beam, and the movement of the handpiece relative to the area of tissue is defined by a plurality of variable positional parameters such that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the tissue treatment;   a controller operably coupled to the handpiece for controlling the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter; and   a detector configured to calculate the variation in at least one positional parameter;   wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust in real-time the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to cause at least one of a different non-zero treatment rate and a different treatment pattern;   further comprising a scanning mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust a scan parameter of the scanning mechanism to compensate for a change in the at least one positional parameter.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue treatment is pre-selected, and the controller controllably adjusts in real-time the one or more operational parameters in order to continue the pre-selected tissue treatment. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pattern of discrete treatment zones is characterized by a density of treatment zones, and the controller controllably adjusts in real-time the one or more operational parameters whereby the tissue treatment can continue at a pre-selected density of treatment zones. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the scanning mechanism includes at least one of a piezoelectric element, a MEMS element, a counter-rotating wheel, and an acousto-optical element. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light beam has a wavelength in a range between about 700 nm and about 3000 nm, the light beam has an energy per pulse in a range between about 1 mJ and about 1 J, and the light beam has an optical fluence in a range between about 10 J/cm 2  and about 1000 J/cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to detect a presence of a contrast-enhancing substance applied to a target treatment portion, and wherein the controller and the scanner are configured to cause the light beam to treat only the target treatment portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to optically measure at least one of speed and velocity when used with a contrast-enhancing agent. 
     
     
         8 . A method for delivering a dermatological treatment comprising the steps of:
 applying a contrast-enhancing substance to an area of skin to be treated;   emitting at least one light beam from a handpiece towards the area of skin to be treated, the light beam having at least one operational parameter affecting a dosage of a skin treatment;   moving the handpiece relative to the area of skin, wherein, during the moving, the handpiece delivers the at least one light beam to the area of skin to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones; the movement of the handpiece is defined by at least one variable positional parameter; and that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the dosage of the skin treatment;   measuring in real-time a variation in at least one positional parameter, wherein the measuring is affected by the contrast-enhancing substance; and   controllably adjusting in real-time the at least one operational parameter in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to adjust a non-zero treatment rate to a different non-zero treatment rate.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein measuring in real-time variations in at least one positional parameter comprises detecting variation in a parameter selected from the group consisting of a velocity of the handpiece relative to the skin to be treated, a speed of the handpiece relative to the skin to be treated, and a position of the handpiece relative to the skin to be treated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern of discrete treatment zones is characterized by a density of treatment zones and wherein adjusting in real-time at least one operational parameter comprises modifying the pulsation rate of a light source of the light beam to continue treatment with a pre-selected density of discrete treatment zones. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein controllably adjusting the at least one operational parameters adjusts the treatment rate whereby the skin treatment can continue at a pre-selected dosage. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein controllably adjusting includes scanning the at least one light beam in a manner that limits blurring at least one of the discrete treatment zones. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern of discrete treatment zones is characterized by a density of treatment zones, and controllably adjusting the at least one operational parameters adjusts the treatment rate whereby the skin treatment can continue at a pre-selected density of treatment zones. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of applying a contrast enhancing agent comprises the step of topically applying the contrast enhancing agent substantially uniformly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the contrast enhancing agent applied during the applying step makes the measuring step more robust by improving accuracy of the measuring the variation in at least one positional parameter, wherein the at least one positional parameter is selected from the group consisting of a speed, a velocity, or a change in position of the handpiece relative to the treatment area. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the contrast-enhancing substance includes at least one of a plurality of particles, a suspension, a colloid, an emulsion, and a dye. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the contrast-enhancing substance includes at least one of FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #5, and FD&C Yellow #6. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein measuring in real-time a variation in at least one positional parameters comprises detecting variation in a parameter selected from the group consisting of a velocity of the handpiece relative to the skin to be treated, a speed of the handpiece relative to the skin to be treated, and a position of the handpiece relative to the skin to be treated. 
     
     
         19 . A method for delivering a dermatological treatment comprising the steps of:
 substantially uniformly applying a contrast-enhancing substance to an area of skin to be treated;   emitting at least one light beam from a handpiece towards the skin to be treated, the light beam having at least one operational parameter affecting a clinical result of a skin treatment;   moving the handpiece relative to the area of skin, wherein, during the moving, the handpiece delivers the at least one light beam to the area of skin to be treated, the movement of the handpiece is defined by at least one variable positional parameter and that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the clinical result of the skin treatment;   measuring in real-time a variation in at least one positional parameter, wherein the measuring is enhanced by the contrast-enhancing substance; and   controllably adjusting in real-time the at least one operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to adjust a non-zero treatment rate to a different non-zero treatment rate.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the handpiece delivers the at least one light beam to the area of skin to be treated in a pattern of discrete treatment zones that is characterized by a density of treatment zones and wherein controllably adjusting in real time the at least one operational parameters adjusts the treatment rate whereby the skin treatment can continue at a pre-selected density. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of emitting at least one light beam from a handpiece towards the area of skin to be treated comprises scanning the at least one light beam, and the step of controllably adjusting the at least one operational parameters causes at least one of an angular beam deviation of the at least one light beam and a translational beam motion of the at least one light beam. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for controlled tissue treatment comprising:
 a light emitter that emits at least one light beam;   a moveable handpiece adapted to deliver the at least one light beam to an area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of treatment zones during movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue, wherein a tissue treatment depends upon one or more operational parameters of the at least one light beam, and the movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue is defined by a plurality of variable positional parameters such that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the tissue treatment;   a controller operably coupled to the handpiece for controlling the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter; and   a detector configured to calculate the variation in at least one positional parameter;   wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust in real-time the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to cause at least one of a different non-zero treatment rate and a different treatment pattern; and   wherein the detector is configured to detect a presence of a contrast-enhancing agent that is substantially uniformly applied to the area of tissue to be treated.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a scanning mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust a scan parameter of the scanning mechanism to compensate for a change in the at least one positional parameter. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for controlled tissue treatment comprising:
 a light emitter that emits at least one light beam;   a moveable handpiece adapted to deliver the at least one light beam to an area of tissue to be treated in a pattern of treatment zones during movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue, wherein a tissue treatment depends upon one or more operational parameters of the at least one light beam, and the movement of the handpiece across the area of tissue is defined by a plurality of variable positional parameters such that variation in at least one positional parameter affects the tissue treatment;   a controller operably coupled to the handpiece for controlling the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter; and   a detector configured to calculate the variation in at least one positional parameter;   wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust in real-time the one or more operational parameters in response to the variation in at least one positional parameter to cause at least one of a different non-zero treatment rate and a different treatment pattern; and   further comprising a scanning mechanism, wherein the controller is configured to controllably adjust a scan parameter of the scanning mechanism in response to a measurement of at least one positional parameter.