Patent ID: 11896301
Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 15:
16. A handheld device for applying energy pulses to skin of a subject to perform a treatment operation as the handheld device is moved across the skin, the handheld device comprising:
an aperture that is to be placed adjacent to the skin;
means for generating energy pulses and for providing the energy pulses through the aperture to perform the treatment operation on skin adjacent the aperture, wherein the means for generating energy pulses has a minimum pulse repetition period following generation of an energy pulse before a subsequent energy pulse can be generated;
first means for measuring a skin property and for outputting a first measurement signal representing measurements of the skin property at a first sensing position, wherein the skin property is a property that changes in response to application of an energy pulse to the skin, and wherein the first means for measuring the skin property is positioned in front of the aperture relative to an intended motion direction of the handheld device over the skin;
second means for measuring the skin property and for outputting a second measurement signal representing measurements of the skin property at a second sensing position, wherein the second sensing position is behind the aperture relative to the intended motion direction;
a memory unit; and
means for controlling operation of the handheld device configured to control the first means for measuring the skin property to obtain the first measurement signal, to control the second means for measuring the skin property to obtain the second measurement signal, and to store a profile of at least the first measurement signal in the memory unit;
wherein, when the handheld device is moving in the intended motion direction over the skin, the means for controlling operation of the handheld device is further configured to:
analyze the profile of the first measurement signal to determine when the first means for measuring the skin property is passing over a previously treated area of skin;
on detecting that the first means for measuring the skin property is not passing over a previously treated area of skin, control the means for generating the energy pulses to generate an energy pulse when the minimum pulse repetition period following generation of a previous energy pulse has expired;
on detecting that the first means for measuring the skin property is passing over a previously treated area of skin, perform consecutive operations comprising:
preventing generation of an energy pulse, even when the minimum pulse repetition period following the generation of a previous energy pulse has expired;
marking a point in the profile of the first measurement signal, wherein the marked point relates to a position on the previously treated area of skin;
using information about the marked point, analyze a profile of the second measurement signal to identify a similar marked point in the profile of the second measurement signal; and
on identifying the similar marked point in the profile of the second measurement signal, controlling the at least one energy source to generate an energy pulse when the minimum pulse repetition period following the generation of the previous energy pulse has expired.