Method and apparatus for dermatological treatment and fractional skin resurfacing

Abstract

A system and method for performing fractional resurfacing of a target area of skin using electromagnetic radiation are provided. An electromagnetic radiation is generated by an electromagnetic radiation source. The electromagnetic radiation is caused to be applied to a particular portion of a target area of skin. The electromagnetic radiation can be impeded from affecting another portion of the target area of the skin by a mask. Alternatively, the electromagnetic radiation may be applied to portions of the target area of the skin, other than the particular portion.

1 - 109 . (canceled) 
     
     
         110 . An apparatus for treating dermatological conditions, comprising:
 at least one light source providing an electromagnetic radiation;   at least one masking member configured to (i) prevent at least one portion of a target area of skin from being exposed to at least one portion of the electromagnetic radiation that is provided to the target area, and (ii) apply an unmasked portion of the electromagnetic radiation to at least one of thermally damage or ablate epidermal tissue and dermal tissue of the target area of the skin extending from a surface of the skin through an entire depth of the epidermal tissue and to at least a particular depth within the dermal tissue of the skin; and   a cooling device configured to cool at least one portion of the at least one masking member.   
     
     
         111 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is optical radiation. 
     
     
         112 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the light source is at least one of an ablative laser, a carbon dioxide laser, or an Er:YAG laser. 
     
     
         113 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the at least one masking member masks a significant portion of the target area from the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         114 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the at least one masking member includes at least one aperture which causes the production of the unmasked portion. 
     
     
         115 . The apparatus of  claim 114 , wherein the at least one aperture has a width of at least 50 μm and at most 1000 μm. 
     
     
         116 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the cooling arrangement cools the at least one masking member to at least 37° C. and at most negative 20° C. 
     
     
         117 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the at least one masking member includes at least one channel extending therethrough. 
     
     
         118 . The apparatus of  claim 117 , wherein the cooling arrangement cools the at least one masking member by providing a cooling agent through the at least one channel. 
     
     
         119 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the at least one masking member is coated by a metal material so as to effectuate a reduction of an absorption of the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         120 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the at least one masking member includes at least partially transparent plate portion which is composed of a material having an effective thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         121 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , wherein the light source is a fiber laser. 
     
     
         122 . The apparatus of  claim 110 , further comprising an x-y translator and a control module which controls the x-y translator and providing settings to the at least one light source. 
     
     
         123 . A method for treating dermatological conditions, comprising:
 controlling an electromagnetic radiation source to generate an electromagnetic radiation;   preventing at least one portion of the target area of the skin from being exposed to the electromagnetic radiation with at least one masking member;   causing an unmasked portion of the electromagnetic radiation to be applied to a target area of skin, wherein the unmasked portion is configured to at least one of thermally damage or ablate epidermal tissue and dermal tissue of the target area of the skin extending from a surface of the skin through an entire depth of the epidermal tissue and to at least a particular depth within the dermal tissue of the skin; and   cooling the at least one masking member.   
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation is optical radiation. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the preventing procedure causes a masking of at most 90% of the target area from the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the unmasked portion is produced using via at least one aperture of the at least one masking member. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 126 , wherein the at least one aperture has a width of at least 50 μm and at most 1000 μm. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the at least one masking member is cooled to at least 37° C. and at most negative 20° C. 
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the cooling procedure is performed by providing a cooling agent through a at least one channel provided in the at least one masking member. 
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 123 , further comprising coating the at least one masking member with a metal material so as to effectuate a reduction of an absorption of the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 123 , wherein the at least one masking member includes at least partially transparent plate which is composed of a material having an effective thermal conductivity. 
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 123 , controlling an x-y translator and providing settings to the electromagnetic radiation source. 
     
     
         133 . An apparatus for treating dermatological conditions, comprising:
 at least one light source providing at electromagnetic radiation;   at least one optical plate configuration configured to (i) prevent at least one portion of a target area of skin from being exposed to at least one portion of the electromagnetic radiation that is provided to the target area, and (ii) apply an unprevented portion of the electromagnetic radiation to at least one of thermally damage or ablate epidermal tissue and dermal tissue of the target area of the skin extending from a surface of the skin through an entire depth of the epidermal tissue and to at least a particular depth within the dermal tissue of the skin; and   a cooling device configured to cool at least one portion of the at least one optical plate configuration.   
     
     
         134 . The apparatus according to  claim 133 , wherein the at least one optical plate configuration has at least one section that is transparent. 
     
     
         135 . A method for treating dermatological conditions, comprising:
 controlling an electromagnetic radiation source to generate an electromagnetic radiation;   preventing at least one portion of the target area of the skin from being exposed to the electromagnetic radiation with at least one masking member;   causing an unprevented portion of the electromagnetic radiation to be applied to a target area of skin, wherein the unmasked portion is configured to at least one of thermally damage or ablate epidermal tissue and dermal tissue of the target area of the skin extending from a surface of the skin through an entire depth of the epidermal tissue and to at least a particular depth within the dermal tissue of the skin; and   cooling the at least one masking member.