Patent ID: 7762964
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for enhancing the absorption of light in targeted skin structures, comprising: an intense pulsed light source; a U-shaped evacuation chamber positionable on a skin target; a handpiece for directing intense pulsed light to the skin target which is connected to, or integral with, the evacuation chamber; a clear transmitting element mounted in the distal end of the U-shaped evacuation chamber, the transmitting element being transparent to intense pulsed light directed to the skin target and suitable for transmitting the intense pulsed light in a direction substantially normal to a skin surface adjoining the skin target; a rim for sealing the peripheral contact area between the skin surface adjoining the skin target and the wall of the handpiece; and means for applying a vacuum to the evacuation chamber including a first conduit and a second conduit in communication with the U-shaped evacuation chamber, the second conduit including a distal opening that can be occluded during vacuum application, the level of the applied vacuum suitable for drawing the skin target to the evacuation chamber and for increasing the concentration of blood and/or blood vessels within a predetermined depth below the skin surface of the skin target, optical energy associated with the directed intense pulsed light being absorbed within the predetermined depth.