Destruction for unwanted tissue by deep laser heating of water

United States Patent

Tankovich

[19]

US006083217A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

6,083,217 *Jul. 4,2000

[54] DESTRUCTION FOR UNWANTED TISSUE BY DEEP LASER HEATING OF WATER

[75] Inventor: Nikolai Tankovich, San Diego, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Lumedics, Ltd., San Diego, Calif.

[ * ] Notice: This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

[21] Appl. No.: 08/949,387 [22] Filed: Oct. 14, 1997

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation of application No. 08/564,658, Nov. 29, 1995, abandoned.

[51] Int. C I. A61K 5/06

[52] U.S. CI 606/9; 606/3; 606/13

[58] Field of Search 606/3, 9-19; 128/898

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Inci F. Cilesiz, et al., "Light dosimetry: effects of dehydration and thermal damage on the optical properties of the human aorta" Applied Optics vol. 32(4), 1993, pp. 477-487. Kathy Kincade, "Wrinkles shrivel under file from pulsed lasers.", New Scientist, Jul. 1995, p. 25. "Spectrum corners piece of the skin-resufacing market.", Biophotonics International, Jul./Aug. 1995, p. 32. "Cosmetic lasers: in pursuit of lost youth.", Biophotonics International, Jul./Aug. 1995, pp. 61-62. J. S. Nelson et al., "Dynamic epidermal cooling duuring pulsed laser treatment of port-wine stain. A new methodology with preliminary clinical evaluation.", Archives of Dermatology, Jun. 1995, 131(6):695-700. B. Anvari et al., "Selective cooling of biological tissues: application for thermally mediated therapeutic procedures.", Physics in Medicine and Biology, Feb. 1995, 40(2):241-52. S. Kimel et al., "Differential vascular response to laser photothermolysis.", Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Nov. 1994, 103(5): 693-700.

"Selective Photothermolysis: Precise Microsurgery by Selective Absorption of Pulsed Radiation" by Anderson et al; Science; vol. 220, Apr. 29, 1983, pp. 524-527.

Primary Examiner—David M. Shay

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dan Hubert & Assoc.

A process for destroying relatively deep formations of unwanted sub-epidermal tissue by heating water in the formations with a laser to denature proteins therein. In an exemplary embodiment, a laser beam is operated to irradiate a target region of highly vascularized dermal tissue in a blood-circulating living being, such as a human. The laser light preferably has a wavelength of about 1.45-1.68 fim. This operating parameter provides the laser beam with a low enough water absorption coefficient to facilitate adequate penetration in to the target area while still providing enough energy to heat water to a temperature capable of spatially conforming vascularized tissue in the target area.

27 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets