Patent ID: 8029553
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A local analgesia and pain relief treatment process for stimulating nerves to deactivate TRPV1 or TRPV2 positive nerve cells, comprising steps of: A) generating pulses of infrared light with a diode laser, B) directing said pulses to illuminate a target skin region containing at least one or more TRPV1 or TRPV2 positive nerve cells, to deliver laser energy to the target skin region producing measurable temperature increases in the skin surface temperature in response to each pulse defining for each pulse a maximum skin surface temperature, C) monitoring the skin surface temperature of the target skin region with an infrared temperature sensor, and D) controlling said diode laser to produce multiple laser pulses with duration of between 50 and 200 ms and repetition rates between 0.1 and 4 pulses per second and with pulse energies chosen to apply sufficient heat energy in the target skin region to maintain the maximum surface temperature of the target skin region at approximately 70 C to 75 C for at least nine seconds, producing controlled pain in the target skin region to thereby deactivate the TRPV1 or TRPV2 positive nerve cells to provide local analgesia or pain relief to the illuminated skin region.