Patent ID: 6165170
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical system for removing skin, comprising:a pulsed light source capable of delivering a fluence F exceeding an ablation threshold fluence F.sub.th ;a second light source illuminating the skin;a control mechanism, coupled to the pulsed light source, for directing light from the pulsed light source to locations on the skin and controllably ablating a skin location to a desired depth, said control mechanism directing the pulsed light source to deliver multiple pulses of directed light at the locations on the skin and repeatedly scanning the directed light across a designated area of the skin; anda feedback mechanism coupled to the control mechanism, the feedback mechanism comprising at least one photodetector having an input and an output: the input receiving light from the second light source that is scattered/reflected/flouresced by the skin; and the output providing a feedback signal to the control mechanism, which is adapted for detecting a change in the spectral shape or brightness of the light scattered/reflected/flouresced by the skin and causing the pulsed light source to be inhibited at a given skin location, in response to the change.