Picosecond optical radiation systems and methods of use
Methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed for delivery of pulsed treatment radiation by employing a pump radiation source generating picosecond pulses at a first wavelength, and a frequency-shifting resonator having a losing medium and resonant cavity configured to receive the picosecond pulses from the pump source at the first wavelength and to emit radiation at a second wavelength in response thereto, wherein the resonant cavity of the frequency-shifting resonator has a round trip time shorter than the duration of the picosecond pulses generated by the pump radiation source. Methods, systems and apparatus are also disclosed for providing beam uniformity and a sub-harmonic resonator.
1. A method for treating pigment particles, the method comprising:
providing a picosecond pulse radiation source comprising a mode locked laser, wherein the mode locked laser is a multi transverse mode laser comprising,
a solid state crystal medium;
a resonator defined by a first mirror and a second mirror at opposite ends of a resonator optical axis, the solid state crystal medium disposed therein;
a fundamental frequency which is the speed of light divided by a round trip optical path length (2 L) of the resonator;
a mode locking element that is modulated at a frequency that is a sub-harmonic (l/n) of the fundamental frequency, which is the speed of light divided by round trip optical path length (2L) where n is a whole number greater than 1;
generating a pulse of optical radiation, using the pulse radiation source, wherein the pulse has a duration of less than 1000 picoseconds; and
directing the pulse to one or more pigment particle target to disrupt the one or more pigment particle target and promote clearance thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein an output energy pulse from the resonator is at least a 100 mJ/pulse.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein directing the pulse further comprises directing the pulse from the pulse radiation source through a treatment beam delivery system to one or more pigment particle target to disrupt the one or more pigment particle target and promote clearance thereof.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the treatment beam delivery system is operable to apply a treatment beam to tissue comprising a tattoo, a pigmented lesion, or a skin disorder, wherein the treatment beam is generated using the pulse of optical radiation.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein a length of the resonator (L) is less than 2 meters.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the pulse of optical radiation to pump a wavelength shifting resonator.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pigment particle target is a tattoo.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pigment particle target is a pigmented lesion.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pigment particle target is tissue changed by a skin disorder.
10. A method for treating pigment particles, the method comprising:
providing a picosecond pulse radiation source comprising a mode locked laser, wherein the mode locked laser is a multi transverse mode laser comprising,
a solid state crystal medium;
a resonator defined by two mirrors along a resonator optical axis, the solid state crystal medium disposed therein;
a fundamental frequency which is the speed of light divided by a round trip optical path length (2 L) of the resonator;
a mode locking element that is modulated at a frequency that is a sub-harmonic (l/n) of the fundamental frequency, which is the speed of light divided by round trip optical path length (2 L) where n is a whole number greater than 1;
generating a pulse of optical radiation, using the pulse radiation source, wherein the pulse has a duration of less than 1000 picoseconds; and
directing the pulse to one or more pigment particles to disrupt the target and promote clearance thereof.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the pulse is at least a 100 mJ/pulse.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein directing the pulse further comprises directing the pulse from the pulse radiation source through a treatment beam delivery system to one or more pigment particle target to disrupt the one or more pigment particle target and promote clearance thereof.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the treatment beam delivery system is operable to apply a treatment beam to tissue comprising a tattoo, a pigmented lesion, or a skin disorder, wherein the treatment beam is generated using the pulse of optical radiation.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein a length of the resonator (L) is less than 2 meters.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using the pulse of optical radiation to pump a wavelength shifting resonator.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more pigment particle target is a tattoo.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more pigment particle target is a pigmented lesion.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more pigment particle target is tissue changed by a skin disorder.