The present invention generally relates to the field of laser treatment of tissue, and particularly, to a system and method for creating microablated channels in skin. The present invention is more particularly directed to treating subsurface tissue through the created channels.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides techniques for inducing collagen cross-linking in human tissue, such as cartilage, by inducing ionization of the water contained in the tissue to produce free radicals that induce chemical cross-linking in the human tissue. In an embodiment, a femtosecond laser operates at sufficiently low laser pulse energy to avoid optical breakdown of the tissue being treated. In an embodiment, the femtosecond laser operates in the infrared frequency range.

A system for performing robotic laser surgery is disclosed. The system comprises at least one surgery equipment, a surgeon terminal, and a communication module. Further, the system includes a surgical computer communicatively coupled to the at least one surgery equipment via the communication module. The surgical computer is configured to transfer data between the surgeon terminal and the at least one surgery equipment. The surgeon terminal is configured to modulate the tunable laser to conduct the surgical procedure in fully autonomous mode or semi-autonomous mode using robot controls. Further, a plurality of sensors is used to real-time data while performing surgical procedure and transmit the real-time data to the surgeon terminal.

The methods, procedures, kits, and devices described herein assist with the healing process of tissue that was previously or simultaneously treated for a therapeutic or cosmetic effect. The methods, procedures, kits, and devices described herein can also provide temporary simulated results of a cosmetic procedure to allow for visual assessment to select the type of procedure or for treatment planning in advance of the surgical procedure.

The present invention uses one or more radiation-emitting devices in combination with a topical radiation block to ablate the skin and remove topographic variations in the skin surface. The energy pathway may be guided by a computer. The device might also include a treatment plate or window to be placed against the skin in order to flatten the skin surface during treatment. The purpose of the topical radiation block is to manage the areas to which the radiation is applied to the skin by allowing the radiation to reach some portions of the skin, while limiting or preventing the radiation from reaching other portions of the skin. In the case of atrophic scarring, for example, the block may be deposited selectively into the atrophic indentations, such that the block limits or prevents the radiation from reaching (and thereby ablating) the indentations, but allows the radiation to reach (and thereby ablate) the surrounding skin tissue. By ablating only the surrounding tissue, the z of the surrounding tissue is reduced, eventually minimizing or eliminating differences in the skin's topography between the indentations and the surrounding tissue. In the case of hypertrophic scarring, the block may be applied selectively to the surrounding tissue, such that the block limits or prevents the radiation from reaching (and thereby ablating) the scars, but allows the radiation to reach (and thereby ablate) the scars. By ablating only the scars, the z of the scars is reduced, eventually minimizing or eliminating differences in the skin's topography between the scars and the surrounding tissue.

According to an aspect, there is provided a treatment device for performing a treatment operation on or to a subject. The treatment device comprises: an optical diffuser arranged on the treatment device such that an outer surface of the optical diffuser is proximate to, or in contact with, skin of the subject when the treatment device is to be used to perform the treatment operation; and an imaging unit for obtaining one or more images using light passing through the optical diffuser into the treatment device; wherein the treatment device is further configured for providing one or more images to a processing unit for determination of whether the treatment device is in contact with the skin.

According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus for use with a treatment device for providing feedback to a user on a treatment operation performed on a body part of a subject, wherein the treatment device is configured to apply light pulses to skin of the body part to perform the treatment operation, wherein a light pulse applied to the skin treats an area of the skin. The apparatus comprises a processing unit configured to receive a first measurement signal from a first sensor, the first measurement signal comprising information about positions and/or movements of the treatment device over time; for a light pulse previously applied by the treatment device to the body part during the treatment operation, process the first measurement signal to estimate a previous treatment position as a position of the treatment device relative to the body part when the light pulse was generated; for the previously applied light pulse and based on the estimated previous treatment position, estimate a previous treatment area for the light pulse corresponding to the area of skin of the body part that the light pulse was applied to when the treatment device was at the previous treatment position; process the first measurement signal to estimate a current position of the treatment device relative to the body part; based on the estimated current position of the treatment device, estimate a current treatment area corresponding to an area of skin that the treatment device would apply a light pulse to while in the current position; and generate a feedback control signal for a feedback unit, wherein the feedback control signal is configured to cause the feedback unit to generate feedback indicating whether the current treatment area corresponds, or substantially corresponds, to a previous treatment area.

The present invention provides a device for rejuvenating a region of skin or mucosal tissue, comprising: a pulsed electromagnetic frequency generator; a plurality of electrodes in communication with the pulsed electromagnetic frequency generator and an RF tissue diathermy device. The electrodes apply the pulsed electromagnetic power and the RF tissue diathermy to the tissue, heating it such that one portion of the region of mucosal tissue is maintained at a predetermined temperature range T.sub.1 while another portion of the region of mucosal tissue is at least temporarily maintained at predetermined temperature range T.sub.2.

A laser irradiation device for performing treatment on human skin includes a casing that includes a grip part and a barrel part; a laser oscillator that is accommodated in the casing and configured to generate a laser beam to be irradiated through the barrel part; a contact sensor unit that includes electrodes exposed at the end of the barrel part and a contact sensing unit configured to sense an electric current flowing through the electrodes; and a skin treatment unit that is detachably connected to the barrel part and is operated based on electric signals transmitted through the electrodes of the contact sensor unit.

Provided herein is a multifunctional aesthetic system including a housing, an electromagnetic array situated in the housing and having one or more electromagnetic radiation (EMR) sources, a controller in electronic communication with the array to operate the one or more of the EMR sources to direct the EMR beam to a treatment area, and one or more sensors in electronic communication with the controller for providing feedback to the controller based on defined parameters to allow the controller to adjust at least one operating condition of the multifunctional system in response to the feedback.