System and method for microablation of tissue
View Patent ↗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.
1. A method comprising:
applying a first laser pulse to tissue for ablating a channel therein having a width and first depth, wherein the width of said channel is smaller than a treatment area in which said channel is located;
non-ablatively heating tissue on the bottom of said channel with a second laser pulse
to create a thermal affected zone having a volume proximate said channel; and
applying a third laser pulse to the bottom of said channel to ablate said channel through the thermal affected zone to a second depth.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying electromagnetic radiation to tissue through said channel for creating a second thermal affected zone having a volume proximate said channel.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
creating a second thermal affected zone of predetermined volume and profile proximate said channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering a treatment through said channel.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said electromagnetic radiation comprises elevating the temperature of the tissue to less than about 100° C.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first laser pulse comprises a series of pulses.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said thermal affected zone comprises a non-uniform volume along the depth of said channel.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said thermal affected zone comprises a non-uniform profile along the depth of said channel.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising increasing the amount of radiation per unit of surface area of the tissue prior to applying said first laser pulse by stretching the skin.