Patent ID: 8187256

Claim:
A method of removing a portion of a tattoo, said method comprising the steps of: providing a device capable of generating a pulse of electromagnetic radiation having a temporal pulse length that is controllable by hardware comprising a programmed computer, to be in the range of 100 to 300 femtoseconds in duration and have a bandwidth in a range of 10 GHz to 100 THz; locating a position of a pigment defining said portion of said tattoo on or within a dermal layer of said patient; providing a focusing element comprising at least one lens, to focus said pulse of electromagnetic radiation to a focal volume having a diameter less than the thickness of said dermal layer containing said pigment and to an intensity that is equal to or greater than 10 11 Watts/cm; positioning, comprising using said programmed computer, said focusing element such that said focal volume will occur in a range of 10 μm to 2000 μm below an upper surface of said dermal layer containing said pigment; and initiating, comprising using said programmed computer, generation of said pulse of electromagnetic radiation by said device, thereby producing a localized, multi-photon process event in or within a vicinity of said pigment causing molecules of said pigment to dissociate and no longer appear colored.