U.S. patent application number 12/135970 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-15 for coaxial suction system for laser lipolysis.
This patent application is currently assigned to CYNOSURE, INC.. Invention is credited to James Henry BOLL, Richard Shaun WELCHES.
Application Number | 20090018531 12/135970 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40130073 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090018531 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WELCHES; Richard Shaun ; et
al. |
January 15, 2009 |
COAXIAL SUCTION SYSTEM FOR LASER LIPOLYSIS
Abstract
A surgical probe apparatus is disclosed including a handpiece
which includes an optical system configured to deliver therapeutic
light to provide treatment of an area of tissue; and at least one
suction port configured to remove a byproduct of the treatment from
the area of tissue in response to an applied vacuum.
Inventors: |
WELCHES; Richard Shaun;
(Manchester, NH) ; BOLL; James Henry; (Newton,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
111 HUNTINGTON AVENUE, 26TH FLOOR
BOSTON
MA
02199-7610
US
|
Assignee: |
CYNOSURE, INC.
|
Family ID: |
40130073 |
Appl. No.: |
12/135970 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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60933736 |
Jun 8, 2007 |
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60987617 |
Nov 13, 2007 |
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60987596 |
Nov 13, 2007 |
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60987819 |
Nov 14, 2007 |
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60987821 |
Nov 14, 2007 |
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61018729 |
Jan 3, 2008 |
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61018727 |
Jan 3, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/2 ;
604/542 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/00119
20130101; A61B 90/361 20160201; A61B 2018/00642 20130101; A61B
2017/00084 20130101; A61B 90/37 20160201; A61B 18/201 20130101;
A61B 2218/007 20130101; A61B 2018/00791 20130101; A61B 2018/00464
20130101; A61B 18/22 20130101; A61B 2018/00166 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/2 ;
604/542 |
International
Class: |
A61B 18/18 20060101
A61B018/18; A61M 1/00 20060101 A61M001/00 |
Claims
1. A surgical probe apparatus comprising: a handpiece comprising:
an optical system configured to deliver therapeutic light to
provide treatment of an area of tissue; and at least one suction
port configured to remove a byproduct of the treatment from the
area of tissue in response to an applied vacuum.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical system comprises
an optical fiber extending between a proximal end adapted to
receive therapeutic light from a light source and a distal end
adapted to emit said therapeutic light into the area of tissue, and
wherein the at least one suction port is located proximal to the
distal end of the optical fiber.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one suction port
is set back from the distal end of the optical fiber towards the
proximal end of the optical fiber.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a hollow treatment
cannula surrounding at least a portion of the optical fiber; a
hollow suction cannula located proximal to the first cannula, said
second cannula comprising the at least one suction port and adapted
to, in response to the applied vacuum direct byproduct through the
suction port away from the area of tissue.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the handpiece comprises a
handle, and wherein the treatment cannula extends from an end
proximal the handle to an end distal the handle, and the suction
cannula extends from an end proximal the handle to an end distal
the handle.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the suction cannula surrounds
at least a portion of the treatment cannula.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the
treatment cannula proximal its distal end extends along a first
axis and at least a portion of the suction cannula proximal its
distal end extends along a second axis substantially parallel to
said first axis.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the
exterior of the treatment cannula is in contact with at least a
portion of the exterior of the suction cannula.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the
exterior of the treatment cannula is in contact with at least a
portion of the interior of the suction cannula.
10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a tip of the end of the
suction cannula distal the handle comprises the at least one
suction port.
11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a side of the suction cannula
comprises the at least one suction port.
12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the suction cannula and the
treatment cannula each comprise a first portion proximal the handle
and a second portion distal said handle, wherein the first portion
of the treatment cannula is positioned within but not coaxial with
the first portion of the suction cannula, and wherein the second
portion of the treatment cannula is positioned within and coaxial
with the second portion of the suction cannula.
13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the distal end of the optical
fiber is positioned such that substantially no therapeutic light
emitted from said distal end impinges on the suction cannula.
14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the distal end of the optical
fiber is positioned such that at least a portion of the therapeutic
light emitted from said distal end impinges on the suction
cannula.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum unit
configured to selectively generate the applied vacuum at the at
least one suction port.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the vacuum unit is further
configure to selectively produce positive pressure at the at least
one suction port.
17. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a sensor located
proximal the distal end of the optical fiber, said sensor adapted
to generate a signal indicative one or more properties of the area
of tissue; a sensing cannula comprising said sensor, said sensing
cannula extending from an end proximal the handle to an end distal
the handle.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a temperature
sensor adapted to generate a signal indicative of the temperature
of the area of tissue.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a processor
adapted to receive the signal and control the delivery of
therapeutic light based on the signal.
20. A method comprising: providing a surgical probe comprising a
handpiece comprising: an optical system configured to deliver
therapeutic light; and at least one suction: port inserting a
portion of the surgical probe into a patient through an incision to
an area of tissue; using the optical system, delivering therapeutic
light to treat the area of tissue; applying vacuum to the suction
port to remove a byproduct of the treatment.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the therapeutic light comprises
laser light.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the laser light comprises
infrared laser light.
23. The method of claim 20, wherein the handpiece comprises a
hollow treatment cannula surrounding at least a portion of the
optical delivery system; and a hollow suction cannula located
proximal to the first cannula, said second cannula comprising the
at least one suction port; and wherein the applying vacuum
comprises applying vacuum to the suction cannula.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: delivering
therapeutic light to a portion of the area of tissue located
proximal to an end of the suction cannula, and advancing the end of
the suction cannula into said portion of the area of tissue.
25. The method of claim 23, further comprising: directing a portion
of the treatment light onto the suction cannula to heat said
suction cannula; advancing the heated suction cannula through the a
portion of the area of tissue.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims benefit to each of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/987,596, filed Nov. 13, 2007,
U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/987,617, filed Nov. 13,
2007, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/987,819, filed Nov.
14, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/987,821, filed
Nov. 14, 2007, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/018,727,
filed Jan. 3, 2008, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.
61/018,729, filed Jan. 3, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application
Ser. No. 60/933,736, filed Jun. 8, 2007, the contents each of which
are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a laser liposuction method.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a coaxial
suction system for laser lipolysis.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Plastic surgeons, dermatologists and their patients
continually search for new and improved methods for treating the
effects of an aging or otherwise damaged skin. One common procedure
for rejuvenating the appearance of aged or photodamaged skin is
laser skin resurfacing using a carbon dioxide laser. Another
technique is non-ablative laser skin tightening, which does not
take the top layer of skin off, but instead uses a deep-penetrating
laser to treat the layers of skin beneath the outer epidermal
layer, tightening the skin and reducing wrinkles to provide a more
youthful appearance.
[0004] For such techniques for laser skin tightening treatment, it
has been difficult to control the depth and amount of energy
delivered to the collagen without also damaging or killing the
dermal cells. Much of the energy of the treatment pulse is wasted
due to scattering and absorption in the outer epidermal layer, and
the relatively high pulse energy required to penetrate this outer
layer can cause pain and epidermal damage.
[0005] Some skin tightening techniques include using a hollow
tubular cannula that contains an optical fiber connected to a laser
source. The cannula can be inserted subcutaneously into a patient
so that the end of the fiber is located within the tissue
underlying the dermis. The source emits a treatment output, for
example an output pulse that is conveyed by the fiber to the
dermis, which causes collagen shrinkage within the treatment area,
thus tightening the skin.
[0006] To improve one's health or shape, patients have also turned
to surgical methods for removing undesirable tissue from areas of
their body. For example, to remove fat tissue, some patients have
preferred liposuction, a procedure in which fat is removed by
suction mechanism because despite strenuous dieting and exercise,
some of the patients cannot lose fat, particularly in certain
areas. Alternatively, laser or other light sources has been applied
for heating, removal, destruction (for example, killing),
photocoagulation, eradication or otherwise treating (hereinafter
collectively referred as "treating" or "treatment") the tissue.
[0007] Conventionally, both a skin tightening technique and a laser
liposuction technique requires two steps. First, a step to insert a
first cannula containing a surgical waveguide through an incision
point to heat and ablate a target tissue with a laser. And second,
a step to insert a second cannula through the same incision point
to suction out a byproduct from the first step.
[0008] In applications including those mentioned above, it is often
desirable to monitor the temperature of a specific location, for
example, a location within a surgical field, in real time. Such
monitoring may prevent, for example, skin or other tissue damaged
caused by, for example, overheating.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The inventors have realized that for many applications it is
advantageous to simultaneously treat (e.g. with a laser) body fat
or other suitable tissue and suction off the byproducts of the
treatment laser-tissue interaction.
[0010] In some embodiments, a surgical probe apparatus includes a
hand piece, where the hand piece itself includes an optical system
configured to deliver therapeutic light to provide treatment of an
area of tissue, and the surgical probe further includes at least
one suction port configured to remove a byproduct of the treatment
from the area of tissue in response to an applied vacuum. In some
embodiments, at least one suction port is located proximal to the
distal end of the optical fiber. In some embodiments, at least one
suction port is set back from the distal end of the optical fiber
towards the proximal end of the optical fiber.
[0011] In some embodiments, the optical system includes an optical
fiber extending between a proximal end adapted to receive
therapeutic light from a light source and a distal end adapted to
emit said therapeutic light into the area of tissue.
[0012] In some embodiments, the surgical probe further includes: a
hollow treatment cannula surrounding at least a portion of the
optical fiber, a hollow suction cannula located proximal to the
first cannula, the second cannula comprising the at least one
suction port and adapted to, in response to the applied vacuum
direct byproduct through the suction port away from the area of
tissue.
[0013] The handpiece includes a handle, where the treatment cannula
extends from an end proximal the handle to an end distal the
handle, and the suction cannula extends from an end proximal the
handle to an end distal the handle. In some embodiments, the
suction cannula surrounds at least a portion of the treatment
cannula.
[0014] In some embodiments, a portion of the treatment cannula
proximal its distal end extends along a first axis and at least a
portion of the suction cannula proximal its distal end extends
along a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis. In
some embodiments, at least a portion of the exterior of the
treatment cannula is in contact with at least a portion of the
exterior of the suction cannula. In some embodiments, at least a
portion of the exterior of the treatment cannula is in contact with
at least a portion of the interior of the suction cannula.
[0015] In some embodiments, a tip of the end of the suction cannula
distal to the handle includes the at least one suction port. In
some embodiments, a side of the suction cannula includes the at
least one suction port. In some embodiments, the suction cannula
and the treatment cannula each includes a first portion proximal
the handle and a second portion distal said handle, wherein the
first portion of the treatment cannula is positioned within but not
coaxial with the first portion of the suction cannula, and wherein
the second portion of the treatment cannula is positioned within
and coaxial with the second portion of the suction cannula.
[0016] In some embodiments, the distal end of the optical fiber is
positioned such that substantially no therapeutic light emitted
from said distal end impinges on the suction cannula. In some
embodiments, the distal end of the optical fiber is positioned such
that at least a portion of the therapeutic light emitted from said
distal end impinges on the suction cannula.
[0017] In some embodiments, a vacuum unit is configured to
selectively generate the applied vacuum at the at least one suction
port. In some embodiments, the vacuum unit is further configured to
selectively produce positive pressure at the at least one suction
port.
[0018] In some embodiments, the surgical probe apparatus further
includes a sensor located proximal the distal end of the optical
fiber, the sensor adapted to generate a signal indicative of one or
more properties of the area of tissue, a sensing cannula including
the sensor, the sensing cannula extending from an end proximal the
handle to an end distal the handle.
[0019] In some embodiments, the sensor is a temperature sensor
adapted to generate a signal indicative of the temperature of the
area of tissue. In some embodiments, the surgical probe apparatus
further includes a processor adapted to receive the signal and
control the delivery of therapeutic light based on the signal.
[0020] In another embodiment, a method is defined including
providing a surgical probe, where the surgical probe includes a
hand piece, the hand piece itself including: an optical system
configured to deliver therapeutic light and at least one suction
port. The method further includes inserting a portion of the
surgical probe into a patient through an incision to an area of
tissue, delivering therapeutic light to treat the area of tissue
using the optical system, and applying a vacuum to the suction port
to remove a byproduct of the treatment.
[0021] In some embodiments, the method includes defines the
therapeutic light as a laser light. In some embodiments, the laser
light comprises infrared laser light.
[0022] In some embodiments, the hand piece includes a hollow
treatment cannula surrounding at least a portion of the optical
delivery system and a hollow suction cannula located proximal to
the first cannula, the second cannula comprising the at least one
suction port; where the applying vacuum comprises applying vacuum
to the suction cannula.
[0023] In some embodiments, the method further includes delivering
therapeutic light to a portion of the area of tissue located
proximal to an end of the suction cannula, and advancing the end of
the suction cannula into said portion of the area of tissue.
[0024] In some embodiments, the method further includes directing a
portion of the treatment light onto the suction cannula to heat
said suction cannula and advancing the heated suction cannula
through the a portion of the area of tissue.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the invention will be apparent from the following more particular
description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference
characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a surgical hand piece
supporting a surgical waveguide and an independent suction
unit.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows an block diagram of a laser liposuction
system.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a surgical hand piece where a treatment cannula
supporting a surgical waveguide is interior to a suction unit
cannula.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a coaxial surgical waveguide and suction unit
cannula, where a fiber optic line coupled to the surgical waveguide
is displaced off-axis, along the perimeter of the suction
cannula.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a laser liposuction probe 100.
The laser liposuction probe 100 includes a surgical hand piece 105
that supports both a surgical waveguide cannula 110 and a suction
unit cannula 115. The surgical waveguide cannula 105 supports a
surgical waveguide 120. The surgical waveguide 120 delivers energy
through the liposuction probe 100; the suction unit cannula 115
functions to remove a byproduct through the liposuction probe
100.
[0031] In an exemplary embodiment of the laser liposuction probe
100, the surgical hand piece 105 merges the surgical waveguide 120
and a suction tube 125 into the surgical waveguide cannula 110 and
the suction unit cannula 115, respectively. In some embodiments,
the surgical waveguide cannula 110 may have a diameter of
approximately 2-4 mm. In some embodiments, the suction unit cannula
115 may have a diameter of approximately 0.5-1.0 mm. In some
embodiments, the surgical waveguide 120 may be a fiber optic
waveguide.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows a surgical hand piece 105 supporting a surgical
waveguide cannula 110 and a suction unit cannula 115. A laser 230
provides energy to a treatment site 235 through the surgical
waveguide 120. The laser 230 provides energy in accordance with a
controller 240. The controller 240 may determine one or more of the
following settings for the laser 230: a laser power, a laser pulse
repetition rate, a laser duty cycle, and a laser wavelength.
[0033] A suction system 245 provides a suction to remove a
byproduct from the treatment site 235 through the suction unit
cannula 115. In some embodiments, the byproduct may be a fluid
and/or an ablated tissue from the treatment site. The suction
system 245 provides suction in accordance with the controller 240.
The controller 240 may determine one or more of the following
settings for the suction system 245: a suction pressure, a suction
aperture, a suction flow rate, and a suction pulse repetition
rate.
[0034] The controller 240 may determine the one or more settings
for the laser 230 and the suction system 245 from a set of feedback
data 250 from a set of sensors mounted on or in the hand piece 105.
The set of feedback data 250 includes data taken from sensors
including: a hand piece 105 acceleration sensor, a hand piece 105
velocity sensor, a hand piece 105 position sensor, a treatment site
235 temperature sensor, a treatment site 235 tissue type sensor,
and a suction unit cannula 115 pressure.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a surgical hand piece 305 where a surgical
waveguide cannula 310 supports a surgical waveguide 320 interior to
a suction unit cannula 315. Of course, anu suitable arrangement of
treatment and suction cannulas is possible. Cross section (a) in
FIG. 3 shows the surgical waveguide cannula 310 positioned outside
of the suction unit cannula 315. In some embodiments, as shown in
cross sections (b)-(d) of FIG. 2, the surgical waveguide cannula
310 is placed inside, either of axis or coaxial to, the larger
suction unit cannula 315. A configuration where the surgical
waveguide cannula 310 is placed inside the suction unit cannula 315
has an advantageous external profile for, for example, pushing
through a tissue, but the configuration may not offer the best
performance for efficient fat suctioning.
[0036] Various embodiments may feature other suitable cross
sectional profiles, as shown in cross sections (b)-(d) of FIG. 2.
For various applications, a suitable profile can be chosen based on
one or more considerations, including efficient aspirate (or other
treatment byproduct) removal, probe resistance through tissue and
fat, manufacturability, and cost.
[0037] In various embodiments, the surgical hand piece 305, the
surgical waveguide cannula 310, and the suction unit cannula 315
are configured to improve and optimize a laser treatment
efficiency, for example, a laser tissue interaction and a laser
tissue ablation. For example, in some embodiments, a surgical
waveguide tip 321 (e.g. laser probe) is set in advance of a suction
unit orifice 316 to heat and disrupt the target tissue in advance
of a forward stroke performed by a surgeon.
[0038] In positioning the surgical waveguide tip 321 in advance of
the suction unit orifice 316, the surgical waveguide tip 321 is
inhibited from directing energy from the laser into the side of the
suction unit cannula 315. Note however, in some embodiments, the
surgical waveguide tip 321 can be intentionally positioned such
that a portion of the energy from the laser impinges the side of
the suction unit cannula 315. For example, such a configuration may
be used in applications where it is advantageous that the suction
unit cannula 315 is to be heated by the laser.
[0039] In various embodiments, a mechanical configuration of the
surgical waveguide tip 321 and the suction unit orifice 316 may be
chosen based on considerations of the application at hand. As an
example, the mechanical configuration of the surgical waveguide tip
321 and the suction unit orifice 316 may be chosen based on how the
surgical waveguide tip 321 and the suction unit orifice 316 move
through the tissue and how effectively the suction unit orifice 316
passes tissue and fluid and remains unclogged.
[0040] In some embodiments, the suction unit cannula 315 may
include a temperature sensor 355. The temperature sensor 355 may be
selected from a group including: a thermocouple, a thermistor, a
pyrometer, and an infrared (IR) thermal sensor.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a coaxial surgical cannula 400. The coaxial
surgical cannula 400 includes a surgical hand piece 405, a surgical
waveguide cannula 410, and a suction unit cannula 415, where an
optical fiber 422 coupled to a surgical waveguide 420 is displaced
off-axis, along the perimeter of the suction unit cannula 415. In
FIG. 4, the surgical waveguide 420 is positioned central to the end
of both the surgical waveguide cannula 410 and the suction unit
cannula 415, thereby improving the energy distribution of the laser
with respect to a coaxial surgical cannula axis 401. In some
embodiments, a circular cross section of the suction unit cannula
415 is preferred to allow for the best flow of ablated tissue and
fluid.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the surgical waveguide cannula 410
deflects from the coaxial surgical cannula axis 401 at or near a
surgical waveguide tip 421 to an axis displaced from the coaxial
surgical cannula axis 401 along the perimeter of the suction unit
cannula 415. The geometry of FIG. 4 allows for the addition of a
temperature probe 455 to the interior of the suction unit cannula
415. The temperature probe 455 may be selected from the following:
a thermister, a thermocouple, a pyrometer, and an infrared (IR)
thermal sensor.
[0043] In various embodiments, the size and shape of a set of
aspiration ports 460 in the suction unit cannula 415 and the
suction pressure may be a function of a given application. For
example, a byproduct of a set of standard liposuction surgeries and
laser liposuction surgeries may be different. A standard
liposuction may produce a byproduct with a chunky `cottage cheese`
texture, while a laser lipolysis may result in a less chunky
byproduct, with a `smoothie` consistency.
[0044] The size and shape of the set of aspiration ports 460 may be
selected based on the consistency of the liposuction and lypolysis
byproduct. For example, for a typical laser lipolysis applications,
the set of aspiration ports 460 may be chosen to be smaller and
more numerous compared to aspiration ports for a standard
liposuction. In some embodiments, to prevent clogging, the suction
vary between suction and a brief high pressure pulse to disrupt
clogs (i.e. a plunger effect).
[0045] While various embodiments have been particularly shown and
described above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art
that various changes in form and details may be made therein
without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0046] For example, it is to be understood that although in the
examples provided above laser light is used for treatment, other
sources of treatment light (e.g. flash lamps, light emitting
diodes) may be used.
[0047] In some embodiments, a safety accelerometer may be
incorporated in a surgical waveguide assembly. For example, an
accelerometer may be included within a sterile sheath and attached
to, for example, the hand piece assembly. The accelerometer may be
attached to for example, an electronic processor via wiring
contained in the sterile sheath. During treatment, the
accelerometer measures acceleration of the hand piece and may
determine, for example, if the hand piece has come to rest in a
single position for too long a period of time, potentially leading
to unsafe heating levels, triggering, for example, a warning, or
treatment laser shut off.
[0048] In various embodiments, other safety devices (e.g. position
sensors, temperature sensors, etc.) may similarly be incorporated
with the surgical waveguide and hand piece. Control systems may
process information from these safety sensors and control (e.g.
shut off) the applied treatment light based on this
information.
[0049] One or more or any part thereof of the treatment, sensing,
or safety techniques described above can be implemented in computer
hardware or software, or a combination of both. The methods can be
implemented in computer programs using standard programming
techniques following the method and figures described herein.
Program code is applied to input data to perform the functions
described herein and generate output information. The output
information is applied to one or more output devices such as a
display monitor. Each program may be implemented in a high level
procedural or object oriented programming language to communicate
with a computer system. However, the programs can be implemented in
assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language
can be a compiled or interpreted language. Moreover, the program
can run on dedicated integrated circuits preprogrammed for that
purpose.
[0050] Each such computer program is preferably stored on a storage
medium or device (e.g., ROM or magnetic diskette) readable by a
general or special purpose programmable computer, for configuring
and operating the computer when the storage media or device is read
by the computer to perform the procedures described herein. The
computer program can also reside in cache or main memory during
program execution. The analysis method can also be implemented as a
computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer
program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer
to operate in a specific and predefined manner to perform the
functions described herein.
[0051] A number of embodiments of the invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0052] For example, it is to be understood that although in the
examples provided above laser light is used for treatment, other
sources of treatment light (e.g. flash lamps, light emitting
diodes) may be used.
[0053] As used herein the term `light` is to be understood to
include electromagnetic radiation both within and outside of the
visible spectrum, including, for example, ultraviolet and infrared
radiation.
[0054] While the invention has been described in connection with
the specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is
capable of further modification. Furthermore, this application is
intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the
invention, including such departures from the present disclosure as
come within known or customary practice in the art to which the
invention pertains, and as fall within the scope of the appended
claims.
[0055] All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned
in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the
same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent
application was specifically and individually indicated to be
incorporated by reference.
* * * * *