U.S. patent application number 09/804491 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for optical radiation treatment for prevention of surgical scars.
Invention is credited to Cho, George, Furumoto, Horace, Sierra, Rafael A..
Application Number | 20020087207 09/804491 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22870500 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020087207 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho, George ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
Optical radiation treatment for prevention of surgical scars
Abstract
The present invention includes a method for the prevention of a
scar on the skin of a patient after the beginning healing of a
wound or surgical site on that patient. The method comprises the
steps of providing an optical radiation apparatus with a handpiece
communicating therewith, energyzing the optical radiation apparatus
to provide a beam of light, directing the light beam onto a wound
or surgical site of a patient after 2 days and before 2 months from
the date of injury or surgical procedure to the patient. The beam
has a wavelength range of about 530 nm to 1000 nm and the beam has
a fluence range of from 2J/cm.sup.2 to 12J/cm.sup.2. The beam is
preferrably generated by a pulsed dye laser apparatus.
Inventors: |
Cho, George; (Hopkinton,
MA) ; Furumoto, Horace; (Willesley, MA) ;
Sierra, Rafael A.; (Palmer, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald N. Halgren
35 Central Street
Manchester
MA
01944-1311
US
|
Family ID: |
22870500 |
Appl. No.: |
09/804491 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09804491 |
Mar 12, 2001 |
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09231746 |
Jan 15, 1999 |
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6210426 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
607/89 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2018/0047 20130101;
A61B 2018/00452 20130101; A61B 18/203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
607/89 |
International
Class: |
A61N 001/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
after the beginning healing of a wound or surgical site, comprising
the steps of: providing a pulse dye laser apparatus with a laser
handpiece communicating therewith; energyzing said pulse dye laser
apparatus to provide a beam of laser light; and directing said
pulse dye laser beam onto a wound or surgical site of a patient
after 2 days and before 2 months from the date of injury or
surgical procedure on said patient.
2. The method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulse dye laser beam has a
wavelength range of about 575 nm to about 600 nm.
3. The method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulse dye laser beam has a
wavelength of 585 nm.
4. The method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
as recited in claim 2, wherein said pulsed dye laser beam has a
fluence range of from 2J/cm.sup.2 to 12J/cm.sup.2.
5. The method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
as recited in claim 3, wherein said pulsed dye laser beam has a
pulse width range of about 0.1 ms to 1.5 ms.
6. The method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
as recited in claim 3, wherein said pulsed dye laser beam has a
pulse width of about 0.5 ms.
7. The method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
as recited in claim 4, wherein said pulsed dye laser beam has a
beam size range of about 3 mm to about 10 mm in diameter.
8. A method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
after the beginning healing of a wound or surgical site, comprising
the steps of: providing an optical radiation apparatus with a
handpiece communicating therewith; energyzing said optical
radiation apparatus to provide a beam of light; directing said
light beam onto a wound or surgical site after 2 days and before 2
months from the date of injury or surgical procedure, wherein said
light beam has a wavelength range of about 530 nm to 1000 nm, said
light beam has a fluence range of form 2J/cm.sup.2 to
12J/cm.sup.2.
9. The method for the prevention of a scar on the skin of a patient
after the beginning healing of a wound or surgical site as recited
in claim 8, including the steps of: maintaining said wavelength of
said light beam at about 585 nm; and maintaining said pulse width
to a range of 0.1 ms to 10 ms.
10. A method for the treating a patient with a wound or surgical
site in a pre-scarring condition, comprising the steps of:
providing an optical radiation apparatus with a handpiece
communicating therewith; energyzing said optical radiation
apparatus to provide a wound treating beam of light; directing said
light beam onto a wound or surgical site of said patient after 2
days and before 2 months from the date of injury or surgical
procedure, to prevent the occurrence of scar formation at said
wound or procedure site.
11. The method for the treating a patient with a wound or surgical
site as recited in claim 10, wherein said light beam is a pulsed
dye laser beam having a wavelength range of about 530 nm to 100 nm,
and a fluence range of from 2J/cm.sup.2 to 12J/cm.sup.2.
12. The method for the treating a patient with a wound or surgical
site as recited in claim 11, wherein said laser beam has a pulse
width of about 0.1 ms to 10.0 ms, and a beam size of about 3 mm to
about 10 mm in diameter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to laser treatment arrangements, and
more particularly to a laser system for preventing surgical scars
on human tissue.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Scars are a fact of life for most people at one time or
another. Such scars may arise as a result of an accident, injury,
or surgical procedure. Healing of a scar will begin immediately.
The healing process may take a week to a month, depending upon the
severity of the skin injury. In an injury where blood vessels are
severed along with the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin, the
red and white blood cells from those severed vessels leak into the
wound site. The blood cells which are called platelets
"thrombocytes", and a blood-clotting protein called fibrinogen,
help form a clot of the blood. The cells begin to form a network,
and the sides of the injury begin to join together. Cellular debris
from the epidermis layer begins to invade the area amongst the
blood cells. Fibroblasts, or the tissue forming cells, close in
around the injury. Within twenty-four hours, the injured or clotted
area becomes dehydrated, and a scab is formed at the site.
Neutrophils or white blood cells travel from the blood vessels into
the injured area and ingest microorganisms, cellular debris, and
other foreign material. Division of the epidermal cells begins at
the edge of the injury, and those cells begin to build a bridge
across that tissue wound. Monocytes, or white blood cells, migrate
toward the wound from its surrounding tissue.
[0005] Monocytes enter the wound site itself within two to three
days after the wound or surgical procedure was created. Those
monocytes ingest the remaining foreign material. The epidermal
cells complete a patch of new skin under the scab that is formed.
After a new epidermal surface has been formed, the protective scab
is sloughed off. Then the tissue forming cells called fibroblasts
begin to build scar tissue with collagen.
[0006] The epidermis has been restored after about ten days from
the injury or surgical procedure, and the scab is typically gone. A
tough scar tissue continues to build up, and bundles of collagen
accrue along the lines of the original injury or surgical cut.
[0007] Once scars have formed, treatment of them has generally been
limited to various resurfacing procedures, such as dermabrasion and
chemical peels. Continuous wave carbon dioxide, argon, and pulsed
dye lasers have been applied onto scar tissue in an attempt to
improve the appearance of a variety of scars and keloids.
[0008] These attempts at scar treatment are performed with the
attempt to ensure their removal. Such treatment is often
ineffective, short-lived, and sometimes even results in additional
scar formation.
[0009] It is an object of the present invention, to provide a
unique wound treatment aimed at scar prevention.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
an efficient cost effective treatment for skin injuries due to
accidents or surgical procedures, aimed at preventing the initial
formation of scar tissue.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention comprises an arrangement for the
prevention of scar formation on a wound or a surgical site. The
scar prevention is accomplished by the use of an optical radiation
apparatus such as a pulse dye laser. The pulse dye laser is
connected to a handpiece by an elongated flexible optical fiber.
The laser handpiece is supported at the distal end of the elongated
flexible optical fiber and includes a lens for directing a beam of
light to a surgical site or a site of an injury. The apparatus of
the present invention creates a beam of light preferably having a
wavelength range of between about 530 nm to about 1000 nm. The beam
of optical radiation of the present invention preferably has range
of pulse width between about 0.1 ms. to 10.0 ms. The fluence of the
laser may extend from a range of about 2J/cm.sup.2 to about
12J/cm.sup.2. Such a laser pulse is intended to coagulate blood
vessels in their initial formation stage to reduce fibroblast
activity. Such reduction in fibroblast activity will minimize
collagen formation to permit the injury or surgical site to have a
more normal looking skin.
[0012] The method of operating the optical radiation apparatus of
the present invention includes the application of the optical
radiation of wavelength range between about 530 nm and 1000 nm,
with a pulse width in a range of about 0.1 ms to 10.0 ms onto the
situs of an injury of surgical procedure of a patient, critically
within a time constraint of that injury or procedure preferably
between about two days after the injury or surgical procedure has
taken place, and certainly before two months of that date of injury
or surgical procedure. By coagulating the blood vessels, which are
typically smaller than 0.1 mm, collagen formation may be minimized
and thus scar formation is also minimized or prevented. Additional
treatment of the surgical site of injury may be provided by the
optical radiation apparatus at follow-up intervals, preferable
within that two day to two month time period from the occurrence of
that injury or surgical procedure or first treatment.
[0013] Thus it has been shown that the utilization of the optical
radiation apparatus with a wave length range of between about 535
nm and 1000 nm, and a fluence of about 2J/cm.sup.2 to about
12J/cm.sup.2 within a relatively short time interval after the skin
injury, may minimize or prevent any scar tissue formation.
[0014] The invention thus comprises a method for the prevention of
a scar on the skin of a patient after the beginning healing of a
wound or surgical site, comprising the steps of providing an
optical radiation apparatus with an optical radiation handpiece
communicating therewith, energyzing the optical radiation
apparatus, to provide a beam of light through the handpiece; and
directing the beam from the handpiece onto a wound or surgical site
after 2 days and before 2 months from the date of injury or
surgical procedure. The method also includes the beam of light
having a wavelength range of about 530 nm to about 1000 nm. The
method also includes the beam having a fluence range of from
2J/cm.sup.2 to 12J/cm.sup.2. The pulsed dye laser beam also has a
beam size of about 3 mm to about 10 mm in diameter.
[0015] The invention also comprises a method for the prevention of
a scar on the skin of a patient after the beginning healing of a
wound or surgical site, comprising the steps of: providing a pulsed
dye laser apparatus with a laser handpiece communicating therewith;
energyzing the pulsed dye laser apparatus to provide a beam of
laser light; directing the laser beam onto a wound or surgical site
after 2 days and before 2 months from the date of injury or
surgical procedure, wherein the pulsed dye laser beam preferably
has a wavelength range of about 575 nm to about 600 nm., the pulsed
dye laser beam having a fluence range of form 2J/cm.sup.2 to
12J/cm.sup.2, the pulsed dye laser beam having a pulse width range
of about 0.1 ms to 1.5 ms, and wherein the pulsed dye laser beam
has a beam size range of about 3 mm to about 10 mm in diameter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The objects and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an optical radiation
apparatus and an appropriate handpiece directed towards a wound
site on a patient, which wound site is shown in cross-section;
and
[0018] FIGS. 2 A, B, C, and D represent sectional views of a
surgical or wound site of a patient, from injury to healing of that
site.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to
FIG. 1, there is shown the present invention that comprises an
arrangement for the prevention of scar formation on a wound or a
surgical site. The scar prevention is accomplished by the use of an
optical radiation apparatus 10 such as a pulse dye laser 12. The
pulse dye laser 12 is connected to a laser handpiece 14 by an
elongated flexible optical fiber 16. The laser handpiece 14 is
supported at the distal end of the elongated flexible optical fiber
16 and includes a lens 18 for directing a beam/pulse of laser light
20 to a surgical site or a site of an injury 22 on the skin of a
patient "P". The laser 12 of the present invention creates a beam
of light 20 preferably having a wavelength range of about 530 nm to
about 1000 nm, but preferably about 585 nm, and a beam size of
about 3 mm to 10 mm in diameter. The beam of pulse dye laser of the
present invention preferably has pulse width range of about 0.1 ms
to about 1.5 ms. The fluence of the laser 12 may extend from a
range of about 2J/cm.sup.2 to about 12J/cm.sup.2. As shown in FIGS.
1 and 2A, such a laser pulse 20 is intended to coagulate blood
vessels 24 in their initial formation stage to reduce fibroblast
activity. Such reduction in fibroblast activity will minimize
collagen formation to permit the injury or surgical site to have a
more normal looking skin.
[0020] The method of operating the pulse dye laser generator in
accordance with the principles of the present invention includes
the application of a preferred range of the optical laser radiation
20 of 575 nm to 600 nm, with a preferred pulse width range of 0.1
ms to 1.5 ms, preferably applied to the patient "P" between two
days after the injury or surgical procedure has taken place, and
before two months of that date of injury or surgical procedure. By
coagulating the blood vessels 24 in their formation stage, which
vessels then are typically smaller than 0.1 mm, the formation of
collagen may be minimized and thus scar formation is also minimized
or prevented. Additional treatment of the surgical site of injury
may be provided by the pulse dye laser 12 at follow-up intervals,
preferable within that two day to two month time period from the
first treatment. FIG. 2A shows a side view of a surgical or wound
site on a patient "P", with cellular debris in the wound. FIG. 2B
shows that wound site with a representation of a forming scab with
endothelial cells at the side of the wound beginning to divide.
FIG. 2C depicts new skin forming under the scab and FIG. 2D depicts
the continuing formation of scar tissue. It is during the period
depicted by FIGS. 2B through 2D when the optical radiation is
preferably performed on the patient "P".
[0021] Thus it has been shown that the utilization of the pulse dye
laser apparatus 10 generating a laser beam 22 with a preferred
range of wave length of from about 575 nm to about 600 nm, with a
preferred wave length of about 585 nm, and a pulse width range of
about 0.1 ms to about 1.5 ms, with a preferred pulse width of about
0.5 ms and a fluence of about 2J/cm.sup.2 to about 12J/cm.sup.2
within a relatively short time interval after the skin injury, may
minimize or prevent any scar tissue formation.
[0022] The invention also includes a method for the prevention of a
scar on the skin of a patient after the beginning healing of a
wound or surgical site, comprising the steps of providing an
optical radiation apparatus 10 with a handpiece 14 communicating
therewith, energyzing the optical radiation apparatus 10 to provide
a beam of light 20, directing the light beam 20 onto a wound or
surgical site 22 after 2 days and before 2 months from the date of
injury or surgical procedure, wherein the light beam has a
wavelength range of about 530 nm to 1000 nm, and the light beam has
a fluence range of form 2J/cm.sup.2 to 12J/cm.sup.2. The method
includes the steps of maintaining the wavelength of the light beam
at about 585 nm, and maintaining the pulse width to a range of 0.1
ms to 10 ms. The invention also includes a method for the treating
a patient "P" with a wound or surgical site in a pre-scarring
condition, comprising the steps of providing an optical radiation
apparatus 10 with a handpiece 14 communicating therewith,
energyzing the optical radiation apparatus 10 to provide a wound
treating beam of light 20, directing the light beam onto a wound or
surgical site 22 of the patient "P" after 2 days and before 2
months from the date of injury or surgical procedure, to prevent
the occurrence of scar formation at the wound or procedure site.
The light beam is preferably a pulsed dye laser beam having a
wavelength range of about 530 nm to 1000 nm, and a fluence range of
from 2J/cm.sup.2 to 12J/cm.sup.2. The laser beam preferably has a
pulse width of about 0.1 ms to 10.0 ms, and a beam size of about 3
mm to about 10 mm. in diameter.
* * * * *