Systems and methods for tattoo removal using cold plasma

Abstract

A method and system for tattoo removal from a subject by exposing tattoo ink particles trapped within the dermis to a cold plasma is described herein. The tattoo removal method and system can be used to remove the tattoo from the skin of the subject being treated. In addition, the method and system described allows for the extraction of the tattoo ink particles, which may have toxic properties, from the subject's body.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of removing a tattoo from a subject's skin comprising the steps of:
 (i) dislodging and degrading tattoo ink particles by applying cold plasma to a subject's tattooed dermis;   (ii) mobilizing the dislodged and degraded ink particles and by-products thereof; and   (iii) extracting the dislodged and degraded ink particles and by-products thereof from the subject's dermis to render at least a portion of the tattoo undetectable, invisible, and/or non-discernible.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic and/or inorganic components of the tattoo ink particles are degraded by application of an effective amount of cold plasma to oxidize, reduce, fragment, electron decompose, ion decompose, or combinations thereof, the tattoo ink particles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the trapped ink particles are dislodged by applying an effective amount of cold plasma to disrupt local skin cells and tissue structures which are holding the ink particles of the tattoo in the subject's dermis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cold plasma dislodges and degrades the trapped tattoo ink particles without causing consequential thermal or other forms of damage to the subject's dermis or surrounding tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (ii) comprises delivery of a mobilization fluid which facilitates the extraction of the dislodged and degraded ink particles and by-products thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the mobilization fluid is sterile water, a saline solution, or a buffered aqueous solution. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the mobilization fluid further comprises one or more surfactants which improve the mobility and removal efficiency of the degraded ink particles and/or degradation by-products thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  or  7 , wherein the mobilization fluid further comprises local anesthetics, anti-infective agents, antiseptic agents, anti-inflammatory agents, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (iii) comprises extraction of the dislodged and degraded ink particles via suction of a natural bodily fluid containing the dislodged and degraded ink particles and by-products thereof from the subject's dermis and surrounding tissues. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (iii) comprises extraction of the dislodged and degraded ink particles via suction of the mobilization fluid containing the dislodged and degraded ink particles and by-products thereof from the subject's dermis and surrounding tissues. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising repeating the method steps for at least one to one hundred cycles. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein steps (i), (ii), and (iii) are performed concurrently. 
     
     
         13 . A system for removing a tattoo from a subject's skin, the system comprising:
 a cold plasma generation component; and   a treatment component;   wherein the cold plasma generation component provides a cold plasma to the treatment component and the treatment component delivers the cold plasma to a subject's tattooed dermis in an effective amount to dislodge and degrade tattoo ink particles and render the tattoo undetectable, invisible, and/or non-discernible.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a fluid delivery component and an extraction component. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising an extraction component. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the fluid delivery component provides a mobilization fluid to the treatment component and the treatment component delivers the mobilization fluid to the subject's tattooed dermis during and/or subsequent to application of the cold plasma. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  or  16 , wherein the extraction component provides suction to the treatment component and the treatment component applies the suction to the subject's tattooed dermis during and/or subsequent to application of the cold plasma to remove dislodged and degraded ink particles and by-products thereof from the dermis. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  or  17 , wherein the mobilization fluid is sterile water, a saline solution, or a buffered aqueous solution. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the mobilization fluid further comprises one or more surfactants which improve mobility and removal efficiency of dislodged and degraded ink particles and by-products thereof from the dermis. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plasma generation component is integrated into the treatment component. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the plasma generation component, the fluid delivery component, and the extraction component are integrated into a single housing and the components are coupled and connected to the treatment component. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the plasma generation component, the fluid delivery component, and the extraction component, are integrated into the treatment component. 
     
     
         23 . The system of any of  claims 13 - 22 , wherein the treatment component is in the form of a pen or wand and comprises a treatment end. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the treatment end comprises a cartridge unit which contains one or more needle or probe-like structures which penetrate the subject's tattooed skin. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the cartridge unit is removable, replaceable, and/or disposable. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the one or more needle or probe-like structures can oscillate and/or pulse during the tattoo removal treatment. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more needle or probe-like structures are each formed of a multiple sheathed needle.