Tissue treatment system
A hair removal device ( 22 ) includes a cooling surface ( 34 ) which is used to contact the skin ( 6 ) prior to exposure to hair tissue-damaging laser light ( 74 ) passing from a radiation source ( 36 ) through a recessed window ( 46 ). The window is laterally offset from the cooling surface and is spaced apart from the cooling surface in a direction away from the patient's skin to create a gap between the window and the skin. The window preferably includes both an inner window ( 46 ) and an outer, user-replaceable window ( 48 ). The laser-pulse duration is preferably selected according to the general diameter of the hair.
1. Dermatologic tissue treatment device comprising:
a body having a lower skin contacting end housing a metal block and defining a skin cooling element positioned at the skin contacting end of the body; and
a window formed from a solid material through which tissue treating radiation passes to a patient's skin, said window being located in the body at a location spaced from the skin contacting end in a direction along the propagation axis of the radiation in a manner such that an unobstructed open region is defined permitting viewing of the skin during treatment.
2. A device as recited in claim 1 , further including a separate lens system located in the body spaced from and behind the window.
3. A device as recited in claim 2 , wherein said window is replaceably mounted to the body.
4. A device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a radiation pulse actuator button carried by the body.
5. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radiation is generated with a Nd:YAG laser.
6. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength of 1.06 microns.
7. A device as recited in claim 1 , further including a source of coolant liquid for cooling the skin cooling element.
8. A device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the coolant liquid is recycled.
9. A device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the radiation has a pulse duration, a pulse amplitude and a pulse fluence selected to remove hair from the skin.
10. A dermatologic tissue treatment device comprising:
a body having a skin contacting end;
a radiation source disposed in the body;
an aperture formed in the body through which tissue treating radiation from the source passes to a patient's skin, said aperture being located in the body at a location spaced from the skin contacting end in a direction along the optical axis of the radiation in a manner such that an open region is defined permitting viewing of the skin during treatment;
a window aligned with the aperture and formed from a solid material which transmits the tissue treating radiation;
means for removeably mounting said window to said body; and
a separate lens system located in the body spaced from and behind the window.
11. A device as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a radiation pulse actuator button carried by the body.
12. A device as recited in claim 10 , further including an optical element located between the replaceable window and the radiation source.
13. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the radiation is generated with a Nd:YAG laser.
14. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength of 1.06 microns.
15. A device as recited in claim 14 , further including a skin cooling element and a source of coolant liquid for cooling the skin cooling element.
16. A device as recited in claim 15 , wherein the coolant liquid is recycled.
17. A device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the radiation has a pulse duration, a pulse amplitude and a pulse fluence selected to remove hair from the skin.
18. A dermatologic tissue treatment device comprising:
a body having a skin contacting end;
a radiation source disposed in the body;
an aperture formed in the body through which tissue treating radiation from the source passes to a patient's skin;
a window aligned with the aperture and formed from a solid material which transmits the tissue treating radiation, said aperture and window being located in the body at a location spaced from the skin contacting end in a direction along the optical axis of the radiation in a manner such that an open region is defined permitting viewing of the skin during treatment; and
a separate lens system located in the body spaced from and behind the window.
19. A device as recited in claim 18 , further comprising a radiation pulse actuator button carried by the body.
20. A device as recited in claim 18 , wherein said window is replaceably mounted to the body.
21. A device as recited in claim 20 , further including an optical element between the replaceable window and the radiation source.
22. A device as recited in claim 18 , wherein the radiation is generated with a Nd:YAG laser.
23. A device as recited in claim 18 , wherein the radiation has a wavelength of 1.06 microns.
24. A device as recited in claim 18 , further including a skin cooling element and a source of coolant liquid for cooling the skin cooling element.
25. A device as recited in claim 24 wherein the coolant liquid is recycled.
26. A device as recited in claim 18 , wherein the radiation has a pulse duration, a pulse amplitude and a pulse fluence selected to remove hair from the skin.