Skin cooling apparatus and method

Abstract

Skin cooling apparatus is provided for use with a medical treatment device such as a hypodermic syringe or a skin ablation laser or other electromagnetic source. The skin cooling apparatus provides selective, localized cooling of the target area that is acted upon by the medical treatment device. Included is a support body engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device, for supporting and orienting the medical treatment device to the target area. A solid state cooling device such as a thermoelectric or Peltier device is carried by the support body and includes a cooling surface facing the target area of a patient's skin surface. The support body may be flexible so as to allow the medical treatment device to be inclined relative to the skin surface. The support body may also include aiming structure for directing the medical treatment device to a particular point within the target area.

1 . Skin cooling apparatus for use with an electromagnetic radiation treatment device that interacts with a target area of a patient's skin surface for selective, localized cooling of the target area, comprising:
 a hollow support body for engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device and orienting the electromagnetic radiation treatment device to the target area;   the support body having a distal end adjacent the target area and a proximal end remote from the target area; and   a solid state cooling device carried by the distal end of the support body, and including an exposed cooling surface facing the target area.   
     
     
         2 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the electromagnetic radiation treatment device comprises a conductor for conducting the output of an electromagnetic radiation source to the target area. 
     
     
         3 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the conductor comprises a cable engaged with the support body, for directing laser ablation electromagnetic radiation energy to the target area. 
     
     
         4 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the conductor comprises an optic fiber cable. 
     
     
         5 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support body includes an aiming structure for aiming the treatment device with respect to the target area. 
     
     
         6 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the solid state cooling device is powered by a battery carried by the support body. 
     
     
         7 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the solid state cooling device comprises a thermoelectric heat pump. 
     
     
         8 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the thermoelectric heat pump has a body defining a hole through which the medical treatment device interacts with the patient's skin surface. 
     
     
         9 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the solid state cooling device comprises a thermoelectric heat pump having a body defining a hole comprising the aiming structure. 
     
     
         10 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the solid state cooling device includes a heating surface spaced from the cooling surface, with a heat sink in thermal contact with the heating surface. 
     
     
         11 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising forced air source for cooling of the heat sink. 
     
     
         12 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support body is flexible so as to orient the treatment device at different angles to the skin surface at the target area. 
     
     
         13 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the support body includes a bellows portion for orienting the medical treatment device at an angle to the cooling surface. 
     
     
         14 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the solid state cooling device includes a body defining a conical shaped opening comprising an aiming structure for aiming the medical treatment device with respect to the target area. 
     
     
         15 . A method of selective, localized cooling of the target area of a patient's skin surface in conjunction with a medical treatment device that interacts with the target area, comprising:
 engaging at least a portion of the medical treatment device with a flexible support body so as to orient the medical treatment device to the target area;   the support body having a distal end adjacent the target area and a proximal end remote from the target area and includes a solid state cooling device that provides cooling to a cooling surface when the solid state cooling device is electrically energized;   contacting at least a portion of the target area with the cooling surface; and   energizing the solid state cooling device so as to provide cooling to the target area.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  further comprising the steps of:
 providing the support body with a flexible portion; and 
 flexing the support body so as to dispose the medical treatment device at an angle to the skin surface of the target area. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the solid state cooling device includes a heating surface spaced from the cooling surface, the method further comprising the steps of:
 placing a heat sink in thermal contact with the heating surface; and 
 cooling the heat sink with forced air cooling. 
 
     
     
         18 . Skin cooling apparatus for use with a laser that interacts with a target area of a patient's skin surface for selective, localized cooling of the target area, the laser having a waveguide, the skin cooling apparatus comprising:
 a flexible, support body engaging at least a portion of the waveguide for orienting the laser to the target area;   the support body having a distal end adjacent the target area and a proximal end remote from the target area; and   a solid state cooling device adjacent the distal end of the support body and surrounded by the support body, including an exposed cooling surface for direct contact with the target area and defining a hole through which the laser is aimed at the target area; wherein the support body is pivotable for laser orientation at different angles to the skin surface of the target area and the hole is a conical hole through which the laser is aimed at the target area, the conical hole having a relatively smaller laser exit aperture at the cooling surface than a laser entrance aperture into the cooling device.   
     
     
         19 . The skin cooling apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the support body includes a bellows portion for orienting the laser.