Dermatological Treatment With Visualization

Abstract

The present invention provides a handheld dermatological device for visualizing a skin treatment region prior to, during, or after therapeutic treatment with therapeutic energy. An apparatus according to the teachings of the invention can include an image capture device and a display device mounted to the apparatus and electrically coupled to the image capture device. The display device is capable of displaying images of the treatment area captured by the image capture device. The apparatus can further include a head capable of transmitting therapeutic energy to a treatment area, which can be precisely aligned by the user to a desired portion of the treatment area through the use of the display device. In some embodiments, the apparatus can include one or more illumination sources for illuminating a skin target region, and shield for shielding the image capture device from direct reflection of the illuminating radiation from a selected skin surface portion.

1 . A handheld dermatological device, comprising
 a housing capable of being manually manipulated to position a head portion thereof in proximity of a person's skin surface,   an illuminating source mounted to said housing for illuminating a target skin region,   a solid state laser disposed in said housing for generating radiation,   an optical system coupled to said laser for directing radiation from the laser to the target skin region,   an image capture device mounted in said housing for generating an image of said illuminated target skin region, and   a display coupled to said housing and in communication with said image capture device to display said image.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said solid state laser comprises a rare earth doped laser. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said solid state laser comprises a neodymium (Nd) laser. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said solid state laser comprises a Nd:YAG laser. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a display in communication with said imager to display said image. 
   
   
       6 . A handheld dermatological device capable of being manually manipulated to position a portion thereof in proximity of a person's skin surface, comprising:
 a solid state laser for producing radiation for treatment and for illuminating a target skin region,   an optical system coupled to said laser for directing radiation from said laser to the target skin region,   an image capture device configured to generate an image of said illuminated target skin region, and   a display in communication with said image capture device to display said image.   
   
   
       7 . A handheld dermatological device comprising
 a source for generating treatment radiation for application to a skin target region,   means for indirectly illuminating said target region so as to avoid direct illumination of a surface of said target region, and   an imager for generating an image of said target region by capturing at least a portion of radiation returning from said target region in response to said illumination.   
   
   
       8 . A handheld dermatological device, comprising
 a housing capable of being manually manipulated to position a head portion of the housing in proximity to a person's skin, said housing being adapted for delivery of treatment energy to a target skin region,   an illumination source coupled to the housing for generating radiation to illuminate the target skin region, and   a detector disposed in said housing and adapted to primarily detect tissue scattered radiation emanating from said target skin region.   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said detector is positioned relative to said illumination source so as to primarily detect said scattered radiation. 
   
   
       10 . A method of treating a target skin region, comprising
 illuminating the target skin region,   detecting primarily tissue scattered radiation emanating from said target region in response to said illumination, and   directing treatment energy to at least a portion of the target skin region.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said illuminating step comprises directing radiation along a first direction to the skin surface, and wherein said detecting step comprises detecting said scattered radiation along a second direction offset relative to said first direction 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said illuminating step comprises illuminating a first skin surface with radiation such that at least a portion of the radiation penetrates the skin tissue below a second skin surface, and wherein said detecting step comprises detecting tissue scattered radiation emanating from the second skin surface to obtain an image of the target skin region.